How to combat kitchen menaces: Beating fruit flies naturally

They're small, annoying, and exceptionally persistent. When the kitchen bowls fill up with fruit, a cloud of black flies can be a real nightmare, keeping you up at night. It's better to prevent than to cure, but when the problem arises, there are ways to deal with it.

In summer, unwanted guests appear in many homes—small, black flies. All it takes is to forget about a left-out banana or leave an open juice bottle, and suddenly, we have a problem. These tiny insects multiply rapidly, so seeing even one fly is worth acting quickly. You don't have to run to a specialized store for insecticides immediately—open your kitchen cabinets and look for a solution.

Fruit flies usually enter our kitchens through open windows, attracted by the aroma of fruits and vegetables. The sweet smell and fruit vinegar emitted by overripe fruit work like magnets. Drawn by the allure of food and the vision of an ideal place to lay eggs, they flock to the fruit basket.

Some plants can effectively repel fruit flies. Herbs such as basil, mint, and lavender have scents that flies can't stand. Placing these plants on the windowsill can help keep the kitchen free of insects.

Pieces of fruit or peels can serve as bait. You can use bananas, apples, grapes, or even watermelon. Remember that the fruit should be somewhat overripe to attract flies even more. Then, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and make a few small holes with a fork. Flies, attracted by the sweet smell, will fly in through the holes but won't be able to get out.

You can also prepare a trap with fruit vinegar and dishwashing liquid. The vinegar's sweet smell will attract flies, and the dishwashing liquid will drown them. After a few hours, you can enjoy a peaceful kitchen. Fruit vinegar attracts flies with its sweet smell, and the dishwashing liquid reduces the water's surface tension, causing the flies to sink.

Dealing with flies may take some time—you can't trap all the flies simultaneously. However, it's worth arming yourself with patience to eliminate this pesky problem.