Fruit flies can be a pesky nuisance, especially during the warmer months when fresh fruits and vegetables are abundant. These tiny insects seem to appear out of nowhere and can quickly multiply, making it challenging to enjoy your kitchen and dining area.
While there are numerous commercial products available to eliminate fruit flies, many contain chemicals that you may not want to use in your home, depending on the insect involved. Fortunately, there’s a natural and effective solution: lemons.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies With Lemon
You can get rid of fruit flies with lemon by creating a trap or spraying with lemon fruit. The lemon trap is made using a small container with a small opening that traps fruit flies.
The lemon spray repels fruit flies and gives your home a refreshing aroma. Here’s how you can make a lemon trap and spray it to get rid of fruit flies.
How to Make Lemon Fruit Fly Trap
You’ll need a lemon, a cutting tool like a knife, and a plastic container with a lid.
- Start by cutting a ripe lemon in half.
- Next, squeeze out the juice into the container and also place the lemon halves in the container.
- Cover the lid and make a small opening on the lid. The hole should be small enough for the fruit flies to enter but not escape.
- Your fruit fly trap is now ready. Proceed to place it where you notice the fruit flies.
Note: This process doesn’t kill the fruit flies but traps them to stop them from laying eggs on your fruits.
How to Make Lemon Fruit Fly Spray
To deter fruit flies and prevent them from entering your kitchen, you can create a lemon spray. You’ll need 3 lemons, 3 cups of water (711 ml), 1 ½ cups of vinegar (356 ml), a funnel, a large pot with a lid, a strainer, and a large spray bottle.
- Start by slicing the lemons into small disks.
- Next, place the slices into a large pot and use either a fork or spoon to mash the lemons a little.
- After that, add the water to the pot and close the lid. Allow the mixture to boil, and then reduce the heat to let the lemons simmer in the water for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and leave the mixture overnight, or for about eight hours.
- It’s time to remove the lemons from the water. Pour the mixture over a strainer into a bowl.
- Add the vinegar to the bowl containing the lemon water and stir.
- It’s time to pour the mixture into the bottle. Remember to shake before each use.
Spray it around your kitchen, focusing on areas where you typically spot fruit flies, such as near the trash bin, fruit bowls, and compost containers.
The strong citrus scent of the lemon spray will repel fruit flies and discourage them from lingering in your kitchen. Make sure to reapply the spray every few days or after cleaning your kitchen to maintain its effectiveness.
Does lemon kill flies?
Citrus oil, including lemon oil, is a natural fly repellent. While it can help repel flies due to its scent and properties, it does not necessarily kill them. The presence of lemon peels or extracts in an area may deter flies from buzzing around that specific area, but it does not have a direct lethal effect on flies.
Conclusion
By using lemons to combat fruit flies, you can enjoy a fruit fly-free home without resorting to harsh chemicals that harm these insects. These natural remedies are safe, affordable, and readily available. Incorporate these lemon-based solutions into your routine, and you’ll be able to reclaim your kitchen from those annoying fruit flies in no time.