While summer can be wonderful, pesky fruit flies and gnats can be frustrating, especially when they multiply quickly. Learn how to banish them for good.

Summer is a time for celebration- basking in the sun and enjoying meals and drinks with family and friends. A large part of that is fruit. Whether you’re having a fruit snack, making yourself a breakfast smoothie or having a refreshing cocktail, fruit is the star of the show.

The problem is, with fruit comes fruit flies. These pesky little creatures can put a dampener on the best of Summers but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with them. Take a look at how to get rid of fruit flies for good.

What Are Fruit Flies?

Fruit flies are similar to gnats and can be very annoying when you’re trying to enjoy a meal or snack. The most frustrating thing about fruit flies is the fact that they’re never alone. There’s always more than one of them- often a group of them. These pests multiply extremely quickly, so you may find that once you have a few the group will begin to grow.

Can You Prevent Fruit Flies?

It can be really difficult to stop fruit flies from entering your home, especially at this time of year. The majority of the time, fruit flies enter the home via fruit bought at grocery stores or they enter through small cracks in doors or windows when fruit and veg are present in the home. Most homes will experience an infestation at some point.

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Once fruit flies are in your home you’ll probably be wondering how to kill fruit flies. The first thing you can do is keep your countertops and kitchen area clean. Wipe down all the surfaces using an anti-bacterial spray and clean out any dishes that have been used for fruit and veg.

If the fruit flies are still hanging around even when the kitchen is clean, try setting a homemade trap for them. Get a small container and make some small holes in the lid. Put something appealing to fruit flies inside.

They’re most attracted to fermenting fruit but a small amount of wine, vinegar or beer will also work. Although the flies get in the container, it can be extremely difficult for them to find their way out. Once you’ve caught a few flies, clean out the container and repeat until you’re rid of the annoying pests.

You can also set a trap outside. Lure the fruit flies outside by leaving a small piece of fruit or a fruit drink outside on a warm day. Leave the windows and doors open while you’re at home and wait for the flies to go outside. Once outside, close your windows and doors and bring the fruit back inside to dispose of.

Fruit Flies: Keep Them at Bay

You can also keep fruit flies at bay by using ingredients you may already have in your cupboard. Fruit flies hate cloves and rue (a herb you can find in many gardens). Take a look at some more natural ways to keep a fly-free home.