Fruit flies are small flies that often appear in your
kitchen out of nowhere and are usually hovering near unrefrigerated produce.
Also known as vinegar flies, these are very difficult to get rid of as a result
of their ability to lay 500 eggs at a time!
Here are a few simple tips on how to get rid of fruit flies:
Put food away
Try not to leave ripened fruit or vegetables such as onions,
potatoes and tomatoes out on the worktops or tables. If you need to, then
ensure that these foods are not exposed and as much as possible; try to
refrigerate all fruits and veggies. Uncovered food is a huge attraction for
fruit flies!
Clean up
Be sure to properly clean out the contents of empty bottles
and cans before throwing them in the bin. In addition, cleaning recycling bins
often is important to eliminate and prevent fruit flies. Take extra care to
make sure that there are not small bits of food of spilled juices in the bin
itself.
Find the eggs!
Fruit flies multiply rapidly as a result of their short life
cycle from egg to adult, which only takes 8-10 days! They like to lay their
eggs in places that provide moisture and food, such as sink drains, bins and
even damp mops and sponges. Keep an eye on these areas and clean them
regularly, not only to eliminate fruit flies but prevent them from returning in
the future!
Try rue
Rue is a bitter herb with a pungent aroma. Although rue is
harmless to humans, the strong scent is somewhat of a deterrent for fruit
flies. If you keep your fruit in a bowl on the kitchen table and often have to
fight these pesky flies away from it, try putting in a few sprigs of rue in the
bowl. You could even keep small pots of the herb around your kitchen. Make the
fruit flies rue the day they entered your home!
Home-made traps!
There are numerous variations of homemade traps that you can
find on the internet but here is a popular one:
Form
a cone shaped funnel with a piece of paper, sealing it with tape and sticking
it in to a clean jar or wine bottle. Use a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or a
slice of ripe banana as bait. Place one or more of these traps on counters
where the flies are most often hovering. The flies can easily go inside but
can’t fly out so once you’ve trapped all the visible flies, release them
outside or kill them with spray.
Use sprays and gels
If
all else fails, there is always the option of using spray to remove fruit
flies. A pyrethrum based insecticide can be used to kill adult flies but this
will only work if you hit them – meaning that eggs lurking in the drain will go
unharmed. If boiling water and soap do not clear out your drain then try a
drain gel!
Fruit
flies are the worst in the summer as a result of fruit ripening more quickly in
the warm weather. Use these simple tips to save yourself from the hassle of
reoccurring fruit flies!
Fruit
flies are not the worst thing that can happen to your home, so make sure you
protect your property and
your family with great value home insurance. Get a quote from Discount Insurance on 0800 294 45221 today!
