To keep flies out of your house while the door is open, you need to combine three things: a physical barrier, air movement, and removing what attracts them.

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Wondering how to keep flies out of your house when the door is open? Learn practical, forum-tested tricks: screens, fans, scents, cleanliness, and clever DIY barriers that let fresh air in but keep flies out.

How to Keep Flies Out of Your House When the Door Is Open

You can’t get to “zero flies” with an open doorway, but you can get close enough that they stop being a daily annoyance.

I’ll walk through practical methods people actually use, plus what tends to work best in real life.

1. Use a “soft” barrier at the door

These options let you keep the door open while giving flies something to bounce off instead of flying straight in.

a) Magnetic or mesh fly screens

  • Install a magnetic screen curtain over the doorway so you can walk through, and it falls closed behind you.
  • Look for:
    • Fine mesh (small enough for midges/gnats)
    • Weighted bottom or side magnets so it doesn’t blow open
    • Size that overlaps the frame slightly so there are no big gaps
  • Good for:
    • Patio doors
    • Back doors used a lot by kids or pets

b) Plastic strip/flap doors

  • Clear PVC strip curtains (like in commercial kitchens) work surprisingly well.
  • Flies struggle to navigate the moving strips, but people can still push through easily.
  • Better for:
    • Utility rooms
    • Back doors where appearance matters less

c) Bead or fabric curtains

  • Old-school but useful: bead curtains, macramĂŠ, or fabric strips hanging in the doorway.
  • The constant movement and partial barrier disrupt flies’ flight path.
  • They’re less effective than fine mesh, but better than an open, empty doorway.

2. Use air movement to “push” flies away

Flies are light and weak fliers; a bit of air pressure can keep them from crossing the threshold.

a) Fan pointed at the doorway

  • Place a box fan or oscillating fan inside the house, pointed outward through the door.
  • Aim so there’s a visible airflow stream out of the house.
  • Why this works:
    • Air is blowing out, so flies have to fight against a mini wind tunnel to get in.
  • Tips:
    • Use the highest setting when the door is fully open.
    • Angle it slightly downward so it blows across the threshold.

b) “Air curtain” effect (DIY version)

  • If you have an AC unit or strong vent above/near the door, direct the airflow so it blows outwards.
  • This mimics the air curtains used in shops and restaurants to keep insects and dust out.

3. Make the doorway less attractive to flies

Even with a barrier, if your doorway smells like a fly buffet, some will still try.

a) Move attractants away from the door

Keep these items far from exterior doors :

  • Open trash or recycling
  • Pet food bowls
  • Dirty dishes or food scraps
  • Compost caddies
  • Overflowing bins or food packaging

Try to:

  1. Keep bins closed with tight lids.
  2. Take food waste out regularly (especially meat, bones, and fruit).
  3. Avoid leaving plates or glasses near the open door.

b) Keep the immediate doorway area clean

  • Wipe door frames and threshold regularly to remove:
    • Sticky drink spills
    • Grease
    • Squashed insects
  • Check for:
    • Old cobwebs mixed with dust and dead insects (these can attract more bugs).
    • Damp mats or rugs by the door.

4. Use scents and plants that flies dislike

These won’t create an invisible force field, but they can tip the odds in your favor when combined with physical barriers.

a) Essential oils at the door

People commonly report some success with:

  • Eucalyptus
  • Lemongrass
  • Peppermint
  • Lavender
  • Citronella

Ways to use them:

  • Put a few drops on:
    • Cotton pads in a small saucer by the door
    • Cloth strips tied near the top of the door frame
  • Refresh daily or as soon as the smell fades.

b) “Buzz-off” plants by the doorway

If you have pots or a small step, place these just outside the door:

  • Basil
  • Mint
  • Rosemary
  • Lavender
  • Lemon balm
  • Marigolds

They work best as part of a bigger strategy, not on their own.

5. Control indoor attractants so flies don’t want to stay

Even if a few flies slip in when the door opens, you can make the inside less interesting to them.

a) Kitchen and dining area habits

  • Cover food, even if it’s cooling.
  • Rinse recyclables with sugary residue (bottles, cans, cartons).
  • Don’t leave:
    • Cut fruit
    • Wine/beer glasses
    • Open juice
    • Pet food
      sitting out for hours.

b) Bins and drains

  • Empty kitchen bins frequently, especially in hot weather.
  • Clean the bin itself:
    • A quick rinse
    • Wipe with soapy water or a mild bleach solution
  • Every week or so:
    • Pour hot water and some dish soap (or baking soda + vinegar) down sink drains to clear gunk where flies might breed.

6. Smart traps (without attracting more flies to the door)

Traps are best used away from the door so they don’t lure flies into the doorway area.

a) Simple vinegar trap

  • Take a small jar or cut plastic bottle.
  • Add:
    • A little apple cider vinegar
    • A drop of dish soap (breaks surface tension so they sink)
  • Cover with cling film and poke tiny holes, or invert the top of the cut bottle as a funnel.
  • Place:
    • On a windowsill or counter away from the open door.

b) Sticky traps (in moderation)

  • Hang fly paper or sticky traps:
    • Near problem areas, but not right by the door.
  • Replace regularly before they get covered or dusty.
  • They’re useful for reducing numbers, but not pretty, so people often tuck them out of direct sight.

7. Structural fixes around the door

If you’re in a place where flies are a constant issue, a bit of small home improvement can go a long way.

a) Seal gaps and cracks

  • Check around:
    • Door frame edges
    • Threshold
    • Where pipes or cables go through the wall nearby
  • Use:
    • Weatherstripping for the sides and bottom of the door
    • Caulk/sealant for cracks in the frame or wall

b) Use a proper screen door (if possible)

  • A hinged or sliding screen door gives you:
    • Fresh air
    • Light
    • A full-height physical barrier
  • Choose:
    • Fine mesh
    • Good closure (springs, magnets, or latches)
    • A pet flap if needed, so you’re not constantly propping it open

8. Forum-style “real life” tips (with a bit of humor)

On forums and Q&A threads, people often share what actually works for them day to day. A few recurring ideas:

  • “Point a fan at the door.”
    • Especially effective when you don’t want a permanent screen.
  • “Never leave the house. It’s the only way.”
    • Not practical, but it shows how universal the struggle is.
  • “Encourage spiders near windows and doors.”
    • Spiders are free, self-maintaining fly traps—if you’re not too squeamish.
  • “Swing a tea towel like nunchucks.”
    • Funny, and it will kill a few, but it’s more therapy than strategy.

These highlight something useful: a combination of barrier + airflow + cleanliness is what people come back to, not a single magic product.

9. Putting it all together: a simple action plan

If you want a quick, realistic setup that works in most homes:

  1. Put a magnetic mesh curtain over the door you like to leave open.
  2. Place a fan inside, aimed outward across the doorway when the door is open.
  3. Move bins, pet food, and fruit bowls away from that door.
  4. Place one or two herb pots (basil, mint, rosemary) just outside the entrance.
  5. Keep one vinegar trap inside the house, away from the door, as a background “fly sink”.
  6. Wipe the threshold and frame regularly so they’re clean and not sticky or greasy.

This gives you airflow and light while cutting the number of flies drastically, without turning your home into a science lab or sealing it up like a fridge.

TL;DR (Quick Scoop)

  • Use a physical barrier : mesh screens, magnetic curtains, bead/plastic strip doors.
  • Add strong airflow : a fan pointing out through the doorway acts like a DIY air curtain.
  • Remove attractants : food, bins, pet bowls, and sticky surfaces near the door.
  • Layer repellents : herbs and essential oils around the doorway help a bit.
  • Use traps away from the door to mop up the rest, not right at the entrance.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.