Flies Are Out of Control in NJ: My Husband the Bug Expert Has 5 Tips to Help Get Rid of Them

If you live at the Jersey Shore, you know we deal with our fair share of bugs during the summer. But this year? The flies are something else.

And I'm not talking about greenheads. I'm not talking about mosquitoes.

I'm talking about those annoying, dirty flies that seem to be EVERYWHERE.

They've been hanging around since the first week of summer, and honestly, I'm about ready to pull my hair out. They're outside, they're around the doors, and somehow, this year, they're even making their way into our house.

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And I have to admit, I have a little bit of an advantage because my husband is a bug expert. That's what he does for a living.

So I asked him a simple question: What can we actually do to help get rid of these horrible flies?

He gave me five things we can all try.

1. Reduce Your Garbage

This one may seem obvious, but garbage can be a big attraction for flies.

If you have bags of garbage sitting around, especially during the hot and humid Jersey Shore summer, try to get them out of the house and into your garbage cans as quickly as possible.

Keeping garbage cans clean can help, too.

2. Pick Up Dog Waste and Spray Down Pet Urine

If you have a dog, this one is important.

Pick up the dog waste.

And don't forget about pet urine. My husband recommends spraying down areas where your dog regularly goes to the bathroom.

Anything that gives flies a reason to hang around is something you want to eliminate as much as possible.

3. Get Rid of Anything Sticky

Here's one I probably wouldn't have thought about.

Sweet drinks and food can attract flies.

If you spilled soda, juice, something sweet or sticky on your deck, patio, table or even the floor, make sure you clean it up.

That little sticky spot you barely notice?

A fly might notice it immediately.

So wipe down those outdoor tables, chairs, counters and anywhere else food or drinks have been sitting.

4. Try Fly Traps With Your Outdoor Ceiling Fan

If you have a covered deck or outdoor area with a ceiling fan, my husband has another suggestion.

You can use fly traps with fans.

If your fly trap is hanging from the ceiling near an outdoor ceiling fan, he says to leave the fan on slow or low speed.

The idea is to help keep air moving without creating so much wind that you're simply blowing the flies around.

It could be worth trying if your covered deck has become a fly hangout.

5. His Favorite Advice: Call a Professional

And then there's my husband's favorite piece of advice:

Call a professional.

Yes, I know. He's a bug expert, so maybe I'm not surprised that's his answer!

But honestly, if you're dealing with a serious fly problem that just won't go away, sometimes it's better to have someone who knows exactly what they're looking for come out and figure out where the flies are coming from.

According to my husband, professionals have been dealing with fly problems around the Jersey Shore since the spring.

And apparently, I'm not the only one who is completely over it.

What About Those Fly Bags?

You've probably seen those fly bags hanging outside. My husband says you can certainly try them, but there's one BIG problem. They can smell really bad.

And when you're already trying to get rid of something gross and annoying, the last thing you want is to create another smell in your yard.

So yes, they may catch flies, but there's definitely a downside.

Honestly, I Just Want the Flies GONE!

I have lived at the Jersey Shore for a long time, and this is the first year we've had flies this bad around our house. It's nuts.

You open the door and they're there. You sit outside and they're there. You try to enjoy your deck and suddenly you're swatting flies instead of relaxing.

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And don't even get me started on trying to eat outside! If you don't have a fly problem at your house this summer, consider yourself lucky!

For the rest of us, maybe these five tips from my bug-expert husband will help.

And now I'm curious…

Are you dealing with horrible flies at your house this summer? What are you doing to get rid of them?

Because at this point, I'm willing to try just about anything!