There’s nothing more annoying than spotting the first fruit fly of the season. Even if you swat it, you know that one’s soon going to multiply to many, and then you’ll be batting them away from your kitchen for weeks to come.
While fruit flies become abundant in the late summer, they’re active all year round, particularly when things start to heat up. Heat can make fruit (and veg) ripen, ferment and rot more quickly, all of which are irresistible to fruit flies. So, make no mistake, they’ll happily hang around your bins as much as your fruit bowl.
And that’s not all. Fruit flies prefer a humid environment, and drains give them a sheltered spot to breed. So you might find them hovering around here, too.
Fruit flies are a nuisance, but you can put a stop to them with a few household ingredients. You might already have what you need for this quick fix!
Get rid of fruit flies in 5 easy steps
Here’s what you need to do:
1. Half-fill a pint glass with cider vinegar.
2. Squirt some washing-up liquid on top.
3. Top the pint glass up with water.
4. Stir, to create bubbles on the surface of the liquid.
5. Leave the glass out on the countertop or windowsill in your kitchen and wait for the imminent demise of your irritating house guests…
Why does this secret recipe work so well? The fruit flies are naturally attracted to the scent of apples from the cider vinegar. Because of this, they head straight for the liquid, but the bubbles formed on top of the pint glass means they are unable to fly back out.
How to prevent fruit flies
Fruit flies adore the smell of ripened fruit and vegetables in particular. Fruit flies can also be found around your drains and kitchen bins – because they’re looking for somewhere suitable to lay eggs.
Considering this, the best way to prevent fruit flies is to keep a clean and tidy kitchen. Empty your bins regularly and unblock your sink to remove any potential breeding grounds. Make sure you keep on top of your fruit stock, using it up well before it begins to ferment, and cleaning the fruit bowl regularly.
Stone fruit, such as mangos and nectarines, can go in the fridge as soon as they’re ripe to better preserve them. This protects them from any fruit flies, too. This is also a great way to make fruit and veg last longer.
Fruit fly removal kit
Eat Wholesome Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
