Fruit flies have a funny habit of appearing in August, usually just when your fruit bowl is looking particularly lovely. Tiny, persistent and rather too pleased with themselves, they can be surprisingly tricky to get rid of.
The good news is that a few simple, natural changes can make all the difference.
Remove their food source
• Keep ripe and overripe fruit in the fridge for a few days
• Remove any fruit or vegetables that are starting to go soft
• Empty your food waste and compost regularly
• Give your fruit bowl, worktops and recycling bin a good clean
Make a simple trap
• Pour a little vinegar into a small glass or jar
• Add a couple of drops of dish wash
• Place it near your fruit bowl or wherever you've spotted the flies
• Replace it regularly
Fruit flies love vinegar so this will attract them to the trap, while the washing up liquid makes it difficult for them to escape.
Freshen things up with eucalyptus
Eucalyptus has a wonderfully fresh, clean scent and can help deter unwanted little visitors.
• Dilute eucalyptus essential oil appropriately with water
• Add to a suitable spray bottle
• Use around appropriate hard surfaces to keep your kitchen smelling fresh
Don't forget the sink
Fruit flies can gather around drains too, so give your sink a thorough clean and flush the drain with plenty of hot water, keeping the area clean and dry afterwards.
I always keep a little basil plant near my kitchen sink too, as fruit flies apparently aren't fans of the scent. Or, if you prefer something a little more fragrant, try popping a Basil & Neroli Candle nearby. A rather lovely way to keep the kitchen smelling fresh, while hopefully making it a little less inviting for our tiny flying visitors.
A little summer housekeeping
The trick is really quite simple: remove what attracts them, keep things clean, set a little Scented Vinegar trap and introduce some fresh natural fragrance.
A little housekeeping, a little eucalyptus and, hopefully, considerably fewer tiny flying houseguests.
B x
