Are you getting bugged by all those pesky fruit flies and gnats that are hanging around your kitchen this summer?
For folks who’ve worked hard to prepare their home for the sale, they’re being driven to distraction by these pests hanging around fruit bowls in the kitchen and dining room.
They’re horrified at the thought that prospective buyers will think badly of their home because of such an irritating problem.
Unfortunately, there’s also a health issue at play. Gnats carry bacteria and will spread it on to your fruit. Fruit flies lay 500 eggs and will do so on ripening food and houseplant soils.
As an experienced agent, I’ve seen this problem occur almost every summer. But there’s a solution if you take the right steps.
The challenge
Fruit flies live for around 50 days, so they’re going to hang around unless you do something about them. Gnats don’t last that long but reproduce rapidly and so multiply in big numbers if left alone.
How bad can it be?
Fruit flies don’t just hang around pot plants and fruit bowls. They’ll lay eggs on your sponges, mops, in drains and the garbage disposal. So, yeah, we need to get those little suckers!
Your opening salvo
A mixture of non-chlorine bleach and water (1:5 ratio) will neutralize the area around your sink and anywhere you leave food out. Once done, you must keep these areas dry.
Seal it up
You need to keep doors and windows closed, otherwise you’re putting out the welcome mat. I appreciate that’s not easy in the summer.
Store your fruit
A bowl of fruit encourages everyone to eat well and not dip into the cookie jar. It looks lovely, too, but we need to stow everything, including onions and potatoes kept loose in your larder. Leaving out wine and sugary drinks is a no-no, too.
Spray solutions
There are a number of commercial products available with varying chemical intensity. Select one that you feel is adequate for your problem. Never spray over food. Be aware that while a pyrethrum-based aerosol will zap flies, it will leave their eggs unharmed.
Lay-in-wait
Fly traps can be bought at a hardware store, or you can make your own. There’s no end of YouTube videos to show you how. A great bait for a homemade trap is apple cider vinegar.