Households across the UK are being urged to put soaked cotton wool balls by windows around their home this autumn to help deter fruit flies.
Fruit flies are a common household pest that can appear all year round, but their activity tends to peak in late summer and autumn. Their increased activity around this time of the year is due to ripening fruit, with the warmer weather causing fruit to ripen and decay faster, creating the ideal breeding ground for the pests. The pests can get inside your home through open windows and doors, cracks in walls, or simply on produce from the shop or your garden. Once inside, they breed quickly and before you know it you can find your home overrun with them.
But pest experts say there is an effective natural solution to deter fruit flies from entering your home, and all you need is some cotton wool balls and a few essential oils.
Fruit flies are repelled by the smell of certain natural oils, including lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, clove and eucalyptus, so by introducing these scents into your home you can effectively keep the pests at bay.
Experts at Organic Aromas said: “When it comes to repelling fruit flies, not all essential oils are created equal. Some oils are particularly effective due to their strong scents and specific compounds. Among the best are:
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Citrus oils
- Thyme
- Tea Tree
“These oils offer a natural, non-toxic way to keep fruit flies out of your home while also providing other benefits like pleasant aromas and even therapeutic effects. Each of these oils has unique properties that make them especially good at deterring fruit flies.”
Experts recommend soaking balls of cotton wool in some of these essential oils and placing them on windowsills around your home, or simply wiping the oil along the windowsill, to deter fruit flies from entering.
Experts at Natty Naturals explain: “Lavender, peppermint, clove, lemongrass, all deter fruit flies. They can’t stand the smell. You can dab some cotton balls in these oils and wipe around the home, especially in the kitchen area, and deter these rascals all while making your home smell naturally amazing.”
As well as focusing on windows and doors, experts also recommend placing soaked cotton wool balls near your bins as fruit flies are attracted to rotting fruit and food that you’ve thrown away. Sprinkling some baking soda in your bin regularly can also help keep flies out as it neutralises any odours.
Experts at Sloane & Sons Tub Chairs said: “An obvious way to prevent flies from coming into your house is to eliminate attractive scents, particularly from your kitchen bin where decaying food waste can easily provide the perfect fly feast.
“Regularly sprinkle a layer of baking soda at the bottom of your bin before inserting a new bin liner. The baking soda neutralises odours and absorbs any excess moisture, making your bin less appealing to flies.
“For additional repellence, soak cotton wool balls in essential oils such as peppermint or lavender and place them near the bin area. The strong scents serve as natural deterrents, keeping flies away while also freshening up your kitchen space.”
