As summer takes hold of the UK in its fiery grip, household pests enter their busiest period of the year. Rising temperatures speed up breeding cycles, while increased humidity and windows left wide open make it considerably easier for pests to find their way indoors. UK pest control data confirms that pest activity spikes sharply during seasonal peaks, with rodent activity climbing by more than 30% between key periods and certain insect populations multiplying several times over during warmer spells.
Fruit flies: a hygiene concern
One of the most pesky and unhygienic household pests that make their presence felt in the summer are fruit flies. These little creatures bring with them severe hygiene concerns as they are a vessel for the transmission of harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria from garbage and drains straight onto fresh food.
DIY fruit fly trap
Home maintenance experts at Howarth Timber and pest control experts at deBugged The Pest Control Blog have shared an ingenious DIY hack to trap fruit flies and get rid of them for good.
Howarth Timber explains: "Fruit flies thrive in warm kitchens where ripe fruit and organic waste are present, so prevention starts with removing anything that attracts them in the first place." They add: "Bins should be emptied frequently and kept tightly sealed, while sink drains also need attention as food waste build-up can quickly create breeding sites. Pouring boiling water down the drain regularly can help clear residue and reduce activity."
The home maintenance experts share: "For any [fruit flies] that do appear, a simple natural trap can be made using apple cider vinegar in a bowl covered with cling film and small holes to attract and trap the flies." A 350ml bottle of Aspall Apple Cyder Vinegar is available at Asda for as little as £1.48, making it an incredibly budget-friendly solution.
The experts add: "Essential oils such as lemon or eucalyptus can also be used around kitchen surfaces to help deter them."
Pest control experts' spin
Pest control experts at deBugged The Pest Control Blog have echoed the advice, adding their own spin to the DIY fruit fly trap. They say: "You can make your own with a jar, by adding apple cider vinegar (to attract fruit flies) and a few drops of washing-up liquid (to make them sink when they land)." To make it a foolproof method which traps fruit flies, the pest control experts recommend a simple and effective addition: "You can add a paper funnel to the top of the jar, which makes it harder for flies to escape. Even better if you can use yellow paper, which attracts fruit flies."
Replace the solution every two to three days. You can also buy yellow sticky-paper traps and small containers with funnels.
