Fruit flies can be a problem all year round, and are a particularly common sight in our kitchens throughout the summer months because of the warm weather.
Also known as banana and vinegar flies, the tiny pests have an innate ability to to plague our homes – and with August predicted to be worst for the little critters, it's handy to know how to get rid of them.
To help Brits keep fruit flies out of their homes this summer, Rachael Kiss, an expert from Alliance Online has shared the "most successful" hack for getting rid of fruit flies.
She explained: "Summer is just around the corner which means longer, brighter days for Brits itching for some glorious sunshine. However, when warmer weather arrives, insects are more likely to appear in the house and cause a nuisance, and pesky fruit flies prove to be the biggest culprit."
According to Rachael, you can create a trap at home using 'natural' ingredients that you probably already have in your cupboard.
She explained: "The most used, and arguably the most successful, fruit fly prevention tactics are traps and repellents. Traps and repellents are easy to set up as you will likely already have all the ingredients ready at home.
"For a trap, fill a small bowl or jar with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of washing-up liquid. Cover the container with plastic wrap and poke some small holes to entice the flies - this works with red wine too!"
Apple cider vinegar can be picked up for as little as £1.30 from the likes of Tesco and Aldi.
According to Rachael, 'natural repellents' also work well for preventing fruit flies in your home. She explained: "Natural repellents are strong deterrents for fruit flies. The strong scent of dried basil, mint and bay leaves can be simply left where you tend to find fruit flies which should repel them from the area.
"Alternatively, mix water with essential oils like lemongrass, lavender, or eucalyptus which can be sprayed as a natural repellent."
If you want to prevent fruit flies plaguing your home to begin with, Rachael recommends keeping "surfaces clean and sanitised", especially in the kitchen where food is being prepared and served".
She added: "Take out the rubbish bin more often than usual ahead of fruit fly season, so food waste doesn’t end up rotting - the perfect attraction and breeding ground for fruit flies."
Also, you should keep your drains clean, and they can "breed and lay eggs in organic matter in damp areas like drains". Rachael also recommends cleaning your drains with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to eliminate buildup and deter fruit flies.
It won't be surprising that fruit flies are attracted to "the ripeness of fruit and vegetables and the smell of fermentation," so keeping these fresh items refrigerated in an airtight container will help.
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