Getting Rid of Fruit Flies – 6 Natural Approaches

Paula — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 07:25:37 +0000

Getting rid of fruit flies. If you have a kitchen, then chances are, you’ve Googled this. These pesky little critters can come into your home via a bad piece of fruit you got at the store or even just follow you in when you open the door. Fear not! Getting rid of fruit flies is easier than you think. 6 Tips on Getting Rid of Fruit Flies Getting rid of fruit flies naturally is better for you, your family, and the environment Rather than putting out baits, trying sprays, or calling a pest control service, simply follow these tips, and you can go about getting rid of fruit flies naturally and on the cheap. Keep it Clean Getting rid of fruit flies is best done by never getting them in the first place. If you read my article about getting rid of ants, then you’re going to see a recurring them here: keeping the kitchen clean. I’m not saying you must live in a sty to attract bugs. It doesn’t take much to get their attention. To keep fruit flies away: Clean up sticky messes immediately Keep a close eye on your fruit and throw out any bad fruit Keep counters wiped down Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar Fruit flies eat rotten fruit, so apple cider vinegar makes the perfect bait for them. The tangy sweetness of the apple cider vinegar mimics fruit that is overripe or rotten. To make a fruit fly trap, simply remove the cap from an apple cider vinegar bottle – you only need a little in the bottle – and secure plastic wrap over the opening with a rubber band. Poke a small hole in the plastic wrap and set the whole thing on the counter. The fruit flies go in, but the can’t get out. Apple Cider Vinegar and Dish Soap Some of the fruit flies escaping your trap? Simply put cider vinegar in a bowl and add three to four drops of dish soap. The soap reduces surface tension, so when the fruit flies land on the water, they sink and drown. Red Wine This is one method of getting rid of fruit flies that just makes sense. After all, what is wine at its most basic form but fruit juice? Simply use the plastic wrap method I mentioned earlier with the apple cider vinegar. The red wine attracts the fruit flies, and the plastic wrap keeps them from escaping. Milk, Sugar, and Pepper Another method of getting rid of fruit flies is mixing one pint of milk, four ounces of raw sugar, and two ounce of ground pepper in a sauce pan and simmering it for ten minutes. Pour the mixture into a shallow dish where you have fruit flies. The mixture will attract the fruit flies, and they will drown in it. Fruit Trap This is another effective method of getting rid of fruit flies. To do this, you’ll need an 8 x 10 piece of paper, a clean jar, and a piece of ripe fruit like banana or peach. Fold the paper into a cone with a very tight opening at one end and tape it in place. Then place a piece of banana or peach in the bottom of your jar and set the paper cone in the opening of the jar. The fruit flies can get in, but they can’t get out. After you’ve captured all the flies, release them outside, and they’ll go about their merry way. Getting Rid of Fruit Flies CAN be Done Getting rid of fruit flies can be difficult, but if you’re patient, you can get rid of the little monsters without the use of chemicals. Any of these methods are effective for getting rid of fruit flies. If you have a fruit fly issue, give these a try. Let me know how they worked for you in the comments below.

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Getting Rid of Wasps Naturally

Paula — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 07:03:22 +0000

By now you have probably searched how to get rid of wasps naturally many times this summer. Is there anything more annoying in the summer months than wasps? There’s a point in August where every time I set foot in my outdoor office (i.e.. my deck in the backyard) I am practically swarmed by wasps. That makes me nuts. But at the same time I don’t want to spray harsh chemicals around the yard. I mean we play there all the time and I work there too. So how do you get rid of wasps naturally? Is it even possible, or are they resistant to anything but a heavy handed approach? Well, I am here to tell you it is possible sometimes to banish these annoying flying insects from your outdoor playground. Getting rid of wasps naturally is the best way to remove wasps from areas of your home where they might present a danger. Because wasps are an integral part of our ecosystem, getting rid of wasps, even naturally, should only be a last resort. 5 Simple Ways of Getting Rid of Wasps Naturally It’s important to use natural ways to get rid of wasps for a couple of reasons. First, some bug sprays used to kill wasps can also be lethal to animals that might ingest the dead bugs. Second, some of these chemicals can be harmful, and since wasp killer comes in a spray form, it’s quite easy to accidentally inhale it. Soapy Water This is an easy, all-natural, and effective method of getting rid of wasps. Simply put about 1/4 cup of dishwashing liquid in a hose end sprayer, run the water until you get suds, and blast the nest with the soapy water from as far away as possible while still maintaining a strong water stream. The soap allows the water to penetrate the exoskeleton of the wasps, drowning them from the outside. Do this at or after dusk when all the wasps are in the nest. Might be gross, but it’s also one of the most effective ways to get rid of wasps. False Nests False nests work, because wasps are territorial. They won’t build a nest in the vicinity of another nest. You can find a variety of false nests out there from realistic to decorative. I believe the more realistic the better. Every little bit helps! Wasp Traps Another natural way of getting rid of wasps is the use of traps. Wasps like fresh bait, so change it often. Also the use of a savoury bait such as tuna or another meat will attract wasps, but not bees. Never use a sweet bait, as you will catch bees, and the bee population is already declining at an alarming rate. So leave them alone please. Homemade Wasp Spray You can also make your own homemade wasp spray. The recipe is extremely easy to prepare, and it does a wonderful job. This spray does double duty as a killer and a repellent. In a heat safe container, combine ginger, cayenne pepper, and horseradish with boiling water and let it steep overnight. After that combine 2 tbsp liquid soap with your root concoction. The soap kills the wasps, and the pepper/root tea repels them. OH By the way if you have other rodents in the garden this Critter Ridder organic pest repellant works brilliantly. [tweetthis]Homemade wasp spray is useful this time of year.[/tweetthis] Block Off Nests If you have an underground wasp problem, one of the easiest ways to get rid of them is simply blocking off the entrance and exit. You’ll need a good flashlight, because this is best done at night when the wasps are sleeping. After you find the holes, press a bowl or other barrier firmly over the holes and into the ground. You’ll trap all of the wasps, and they’ll eventually starve. You can also pour your soapy water mixture into the holes to further increase your odds of success. Just be quick about it! All-Natural Can be Effective These all natural methods of getting rid of wasps actually work, and they are completely harmless to you, your animals, and the environment. If you have nuisance wasps, I highly recommend any of these methods over using a harsh chemical spray. With these methods of getting rid of wasps, there’s no need to! FYI here’s my post on getting rid of ants naturally. This post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. If you make a purchase via one of the links I receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for reading.

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Getting Rid of Fruit Flies – 6 Natural Approaches

Getting Rid of Wasps Naturally