With temperatures hitting 29°C today, fruit flies are appearing in kitchens across the UK. One moment your kitchen is fine; the next, tiny flies hover around your fruit bowl and worktops. Though small, they quickly become a nuisance, especially if you have ripe fruit on the counter. While some people turn to traps and sprays, others are trying a simpler, 1p item: placing a 1p coin in the fruit bowl.
How the 1p coin trick works
Glen Peskett, a DIY expert from Saxton Blades Multi Tools, says the coin can help keep fruit flies at bay. “Fruit flies love ripe fruit, so if you've got bananas, apples or anything sitting out on the counter, they're going to take an interest pretty quickly,” Glen said. “The idea behind the 1p trick is that the copper might help put them off a little, although it is not something that is guaranteed to work every time. Still, it is a simple one to try if you've got a few of them hanging around.”
Thankfully, the hack takes seconds to set up and costs nothing if you already have a spare coin. Simply place a clean 1p coin in your fruit bowl alongside your fruit. Some people claim it reduces the number of fruit flies, while others say they notice little difference.
Cleanliness is key for lasting results
Peskett emphasizes that the trick is far more likely to work if you also address what attracts fruit flies. “A lot of the time, fruit flies are only there because they've found an easy food source,” he added. “You can try different tricks, but if you've got overripe fruit sitting out or food waste building up, they'll keep coming back. Keeping things clean and getting rid of anything that's attracting them will make the biggest difference.”
Recommended steps include removing overripe fruit, wiping up sugary spills, emptying food bins regularly, and keeping kitchen surfaces clean. These measures help make your home less inviting to fruit flies, complementing the 1p coin trick.
