By KRISTEN GARRIDO
Tired of spending the day swatting at fruit flies? Here are ten simple yet effective methods to rid your home of these tiny nuisances and regain your peace.
Set a shallow dish with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. They're attracted to the scent, but the soap breaks the surface tension, causing them to drown.
Certain essential oils like peppermint, lemongrass, and lavender act as natural repellents for fruit flies. Dilute them with water and spray around potential entry points.
Similar to the apple cider vinegar trap, fruit flies are drawn to the aroma of red wine. Once they enter the trap, they become trapped and unable to escape.
Commercial fruit fly traps use a combination of attractants to lure and capture fruit flies. They're convenient, mess-free and offer effective control over infestations.
Regularly clean kitchen surfaces, dispose of rotting fruits and seal garbage cans tightly to eliminate breeding grounds for fruit flies.
Mix equal parts of vinegar and water with a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. Use this solution to directly target and eliminate fruit flies on contact.
Create sachets filled with dried herbs like basil, mint, or rosemary and place them near areas where fruit flies are commonly found.The strong scents act as natural deterrents.
Pouring boiling water down drains can flush out fruit fly breeding sites, particularly in sink drains where organic matter accumulates.
When all else fails and in severe infestations or persistent cases, consider contacting professional pest control services.
Each of these methods offer unique advantages, catering to different preferences, resources, and levels of infestations choose which works best for you.