Spring has finally sprung in the UK, with temperatures reaching over 20 degrees over the last week or so.
However, when warmer weather arrives, insects are more likely to enter the house and cause a nuisance, with pesky fruit flies being the biggest culprit.
With these household pests thriving in heat, the food hygiene experts at Alliance Online have provided their top five tips to keep your kitchen clean and free of fruit flies.
- Keep surfaces clean and sanitised
Keep surfaces clean and sanitised to prevent fruit flies and other unwanted insects from being attracted to food remnants, however small. Fruit flies typically appear in the kitchen when food is being prepared and served, especially during the summer months when doors and windows are often left open.
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.
- Store fruit and vegetables properly
Fruit flies are attracted to the ripeness of fruit and vegetables and the smell of fermentation, so seal and refrigerate food and keep it in an airtight container. There are numerous airtight containers currently on the market and, thankfully, they aren’t too expensive, so it’s worth investing in if you’re sick of fruit flies.
- Traps and natural repellents
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 on hand. 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!
Natural repellents are strong deterrents for fruit flies. The strong scent of dried basil, mint, and bay leaves can be left where you typically find fruit flies, which should repel them from the area. Alternatively, mix water with essential oils such as lemongrass, lavender, or eucalyptus, then spray it as a natural repellent.
- Keep drains clean
Fruit flies can breed and lay eggs in organic matter in damp areas, such as drains. Clean your drains with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to eliminate any buildup and deter fruit flies from breeding there. If you don’t have baking soda or vinegar, boiling water could work just as well.
- Use a fan
Using a fan is another preventative measure to deter fruit flies. Fruit flies are weak fliers and dislike strong air currents. By placing a fan near where fruit flies congregate, you can create an environment with increased air circulation, which makes it more difficult for the fruit flies to fly and land on surfaces.
In addition to cooling your home during hot weather, the fan’s constant air movement can disorient fruit flies, making it harder for them to navigate and find food sources.
