I’m a cleaning pro – getting rid of fruit flies is easy with my trick, and a 55p Asda buy is key
IF you are fed up with fruit flies invading your home, then don’t worry, we’ve got just the thing for you.
Fruit flies can be a real nuisance in the summer – as hot weather is the perfect temperature for them to thrive.
So if fruit flies have entered your home in search for food and you aren’t sure how to get rid of them, then you’ll need to check this out.
And if you’re on a budget, you’ll be pleased to know that you won’t need to go out and splash the cash on pricey cleaning products – as this two-ingredient solution is great for those trying to save cash.
Even better, you won’t have to spend hours on your hands and knees scrubbing your kitchen surfaces, as thanks to cleaning pro Lynsey Crombie, this trick couldn’t be simpler.
Thankfully, Lynsey Crombie, also known as the Queen of Clean, has a natural alternative to keep flies away – and for good.
The cleaning lover, who is also a best-selling author, said: “Getting rid of fruit flies is easier than it seems with my really simple DIY homemade trap.
“The best part is it uses only two ingredients and a few common household items, getting rid of pesky fruit flies naturally and easily.”
If you want to make your own homemade fruit fly trap, you will need – apple cider vinegar, washing up liquid, cling film, a rubber band or hair bobble and a jam or mason jar.
Apple cider vinegar and washing up liquid are effective solutions for killing fruit flies as these pests will be attracted to the strong smell, which is very similar to the smell of rotting fruit.
Normally, fruit flies would land on the surface of the liquid to feed on it, but the washing up liquid reduces the surface tension, causing flies to immediately go under the liquid and drown.
All you’ll need to do is pour roughly 40 ml of apple cider vinegar into an old jar and then add a few drops of washing up liquid.
Lysney explained: “The flies are attracted to the smell of the apple cider vinegar because they love fermenting fruit.
“They enter the holes in the plastic wrap, go to check out the vinegar, then get stuck in the soap. It’s a clean and quick way to get rid of fruit flies in just a few days.”
Common garden pests
Common pests in the garden don’t need to be a cause for alarm. If you can identify them, you can work on getting rid of them and preventing them from returning.
Aphids (Greenfly, Blackfly)
Aphids are extremely common and can impact plant growth. They have tiny soft pear-shaped bodies, and are usually green or black. You may spot them clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular – or may find a sticky substance on your plants that gives away aphids have been there sucking at the sap.
Whitefly
These small white-winged insects are related to aphids, at just 1 or 2 mm in length, and look very much like white moths as adults. They can be found on the underside of leaves, preferring younger, fresher leaves. They fly in clusters when you disturb them. Their lifecycle is only three weeks long, which means an infestation can occur very rapidly.
Slugs
An unmissable, squashy-looking body plus small sensory tentacles on its head. Slugs move along on one muscular foot. They range in scale from surprisingly small to terrifyingly large; limax cinereoniger species can grow comfortably beyond 20 cm in length.
Cabbage Moth Caterpillar
Cabbage moth caterpillars happily make their way into the heart of the vegetables, The caterpillars are distinguished in shades of yellow or browny green with no hair.
Mealy Bug
Mealybugs are tiny oval-shaped insects that have a white, powdery wax coating. There are several different species, many of which have what looks like legs coming from their sides and back end. In their earliest stage of life, it’s entirely possible to mistake them for fungus and not recognise them as insects at all.
You must then tightly cover the jar with cling film and secure it over the top of the jar with a rubber band or hair bobble.
Following this, carefully poke small holes into the plastic wrap using a toothpick, but make sure the holes are not too big, otherwise there is a chance the flies will be able to fly out.
Keep pests out all summer
IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know.
Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
Lynsey added: “Then just leave the trap out for a few days in areas where fruit flies gather.
“Toss every few days and refresh with a new solution if needed. So easy and no more fruit flies.”
If you don’t have any apple cider vinegar in your cupboard, you can nab a bottle for just £1.40 from Asda.
And if you’ve run out of washing up liquid, or don’t want to use your posh stuff for this hack, you can pick up a cheap bottle for just 55p, also from Asda.
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