Fruit flies will be raiding your homes during the summer looking for nutrients – and if you keep your items in a bowl on the side, there’s one thing you can do to keep the pests away
Fruit bowls can be a focal point for flies and pests if they are left to fester in the sweltering heat of summer.
This can be even worse if your full fruit bowl was left in situ while you went away on holiday. On your return your fruit bowl could resemble brown mush, and it could be swarming with tiny fruit flies who feed off the decaying food items.
The UK is set to see a continuation of the hot weather within the coming days, and this can contribute to the fast acceleration of our nutritious food going off if it’s left open to the elements. A sizzling mercury can help the production of ethylene gas, a natural hormone that triggers ripening.
This is why we see our fruit softening quickly in the heat. But social media influencer and cleaning expert Anna Louisa says she has the solution.
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‘Fruit flies lay their eggs’
She said: “Ripe, fermenting fruit attracts pests such as fruit flies that feed on the fruit and lay their eggs on it. If you do leave fruit in a bowl, add some basil leaves – they act as a natural fruit fly deterrent.”
Interestingly, the strong scent of the basil leaves is irritating to fruit flies, making them avoid that specific area. Even better, it can also help to cover the smell of ripening fruit.
The recommended method is to keep a plant near your window or put a couple of basil leaves around the fruit bowl, and the strong scent is said to make it too uncomfortable for fruit flies to stick around.
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Alternatively, fruit flies also dislike the scent of lavender, eucalyptus and even peppermint. So, the options are endless and quite accessible in any supermarket or local store. They can be found in the vegetable aisle for as little as 52p.
Other ways to preserve your fruit
If you are going away on holiday and would like to preserve some of your fruit, Anna Louisa recommends placing the items in the fridge or freezer to try and extend their shelf life.
Not every item will stand the test of time, with the likes of strawberries going off within days, but some hardy fruits such as apples can last weeks, with grapes remaining edible for up to one week.
But removing perishables from the fruit bowl before you go off on holiday can at least prevent the infestation of fruit flies and the foul odour that accompanies rotting fruit on your return.