The insects, also known as vinegar flies or fruit flies, can become a nuisance in summer. At higher temperatures, different scents prefer to lure them into the kitchen.
Fruit flies in the apartment probably no one wants. On warm summer days, however, it can quickly happen that the flies land in the kitchen where the fruit or vegetables are. At higher temperatures, the insects, which are also often referred to as vinegar flies or fruit flies, are attracted by the scents. They lay their eggs on overripe fruit or rotting potatoes, but vinegar or wine also magically attracts the flies.
+Fruit flies are attracted by the scent of fruit. (Symbolic image)
© Daniel Naupold/dpa
Avoid fruit flies in the apartment: store fruit in the refrigerator
Basically, if you don't want fruit flies in your kitchen, you should use up ripe fruit quickly or store it in the refrigerator. Don't worry: even at low temperatures, it won't lose its aroma. Fruit juices should also not be left open in the kitchen. Empty bottles are best rinsed out as a precaution. And on warm days, you should also make sure that there are no leftovers in the kitchen and that the waste containers are always closed or that you dispose of the residual waste directly.
Getting rid of fruit flies in the kitchen with the help of vinegar
If fruit flies have already spread in the kitchen, you can get rid of them with the help of home remedies. So you can set a trap for them with the sweet or sour smell that attracts them, as 24garten.de reports. Accordingly, you can mix some wine vinegar with a little fruit juice and a splash of washing-up liquid in a bowl or glass (and, if necessary, place a foil over the container that you have perforated beforehand) and then leave the container for a while. The smell of vinegar or juice attracts the fruit flies. The detergent, in turn, ensures that the liquid loses the surface tension, so that the pests drown in it when they land.
You can find everything you need to know about household and gardening tips in the living newsletter from our partner Merkur.de.
Five home remedies replace common cleaning products - and can be found in almost every cupboard
Five home remedies replace common cleaning products - and can be found in almost every cupboard
Gentler method with the help of a banana peel
A gentle method is recommended, with which you can catch fruit flies alive: Place a banana peel in an open plastic bag as an attractant, so the tip. If numerous flies have landed there after a few hours, you can bring the bag and its contents closed to the organic waste bin in front of the door, where you release the fruit flies.
Category list image: © Daniel Naupold/dpa
