Latest news with #kitchenpests
CNET
2 days ago
- General
- CNET
Get Rid of Fruit Flies Fast, With the Trick Experts Swear By
Fruit flies might not be dangerous, but nobody wants them swarming the kitchen. These little pests tend to show up once summer hits, especially in June and July, and they're drawn to anything sweet or damp. Leave out a soda can, a glass of wine, or even a ripe piece of fruit, and you'll probably see them appear. To learn how to stop fruit flies and clear them out once they've already moved in, we spoke with entomologist Jody Green from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She explained the main causes of infestations and, more importantly, the steps you can take to keep them from sticking around. Below, you'll all the expert tips you need to prevent kitchen fruit fly infestations -- or get rid of them if they've already arrived. Don't miss any of CNET's unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add us as a preferred Google source on Chrome. What's the cause of fruit fly infestations? Ripe produce and sugary foods are magnets for fruit flies. Helin Loik-Tomson/Getty Images The common name that entomologists give fruit flies is "vinegar flies." That's because they're naturally attracted to fermented liquid, and when fruit rots, it also ferments. But fruit flies don't thrive only on rotten fruit or vinegar. They also love sugary substances like soda, wine and beer, and you can find them in the bottom of your trash bin or any wet place with a substantial food source. "Substantial food source" may mean something different to you than to the small but mighty fruit fly, Green said. "It may not be the food you are wanting to eat, but fruit flies are so tiny it only takes a tiny microhabitat" -- like the residual soda in a can in your recycling bin or leftover bits and crumbs in a takeout container in your garbage, Green explained. Those are prime spots for fruit flies to breed. Once the weather warms, it takes less time for fruit fly eggs to turn into babies. Read more: Keep Bugs Out of Your Kitchen With These Common Houseplants How to prevent fruit fly infestation Take the garbage out as often as possible during warmer months. Taylor Martin/CNET Cleaning is the key to preventing fruit flies from taking over your kitchen. Keeping your place as dry and free of food as possible prevents pests from continuing their life cycle. Throw away garbage and take out recycling frequently. Clean out the bottom of bins when liquid accumulates, wipe down counters after you're finished cooking, and keep your sink and garbage disposal free of old food, empty of dishes and as dry as possible. Read more: This Magic Kitchen Bin Turns Chicken Bones and Food Scraps Into Dirt Overnight Storing fruits and vegetables in the fridge instead of on the counter will also make it harder for the fruit flies to find them. And since they're attracted to rotting fruit, you should carefully pick your produce at the store to make sure you aren't bringing any rotten or bruised pieces home, Green said. It's especially important to store foods that ferment quickly. Fruit flies thrive on the rot produced by cabbages, strawberries, bananas and other fruits and vegetables that can often break down before you notice them aging out of edibility. Sugary substances should also be stowed away, cups should be lidded or washed out and trash bags should be regularly switched out to prevent fruit fly infestations. She also added that you should recycle or compost cardboard boxes that hold produce as soon as possible because fruit flies could be breeding in them. Any place that catches water or is moist, like a wet kitchen rag or the rug beside the sink, could become a breeding ground for fruit flies. Try vinegar and dish soap to slow down an infestation BackyardProduction / Getty Apart from consulting our experts, we also did some digging on the r/CleaningTips subreddit to see what other people experience. Some users found their issue wasn't fruit flies but fungus gnats. It's worth confirming the infestation by identifying the insect. Many users also noted that an ACV and dish soap trap caught a lot of the flies and helped fight their infestations. To make a vinegar and soap fruit fly trap, put a few ounces of apple cider vinegar mixed with a few drops of dish soap in a small dish and cover with plastic wrap. Poke holes in the wrap so the fruit flies can get in but not out and place the trap near your fruit fly infestation. What do fruit flies look like? Once fruit flies descend on your kitchen, it's tough to get them to flies are about an eighth of an inch long, have red eyes (though some species have darker eyes) and are light brown with dark rings around their abdomen. They also have two wings (many insects have four). For more home tips, here are the best air purifiers for clean air and the best cordless vacuums. Fruit fly FAQs Can I get fruit flies without leaving out fruit? Yes, you can get fruit flies even if you don't leave fruits and vegetables outside of the fridge. Though fruit flies are attracted to fermented fruits and vegetables, they also love sugary substances. The flies will similarly swarm wine, beer, soda and other sugary liquids if you leave cups of them around the house. How clean do I need to be to avoid a fruit fly infestation? Fruit flies are able to subsist off very small amounts of food or drink -- the scraps of a takeout box or the soda left at the bottom of a can, for instance. You'll want to make sure you wash out any container before placing it in the trash can or recycling bin, especially in warmer months when fruit flies are breeding at a rapid pace.
CNET
11-08-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNET
Sick of Bugs? These Houseplants Are Natural Bug Shields for Your Kitchen
Nothing kills the mood for cooking faster than spotting ants on the counter or gnats circling the sink. It just isn't sanitary or mood-lifting to prep for dinner or putter around in the kitchen with bugs around. Warmer months often bring more kitchen pests, but you don't have to rely on chemical sprays to keep them at bay. Certain houseplants not only add greenery to your space but also release scents and oils that naturally repel common insects. By placing the right plants in strategic spots, you can create a fresher, more inviting kitchen while quietly protecting it from unwanted guests. You may not have considered using houseplants to rid your home of bugs, but some common herbs and other plants can act as natural repellents. As a bonus, these plants add visual charm to your home and some can be used to add flavor to your cooking or cocktails. Below you'll find six houseplants known to deter insects naturally. Read more: This Houseplant Cleans Air 30 Times Better Than a Typical Plant For more, see the best plants for cooling the air in your home, find out which plants are easiest to keep alive and peruse our list of the best places to buy plants online. Best plants to repel bugs Herbs Herbs can do double duty as flavor enhancers and bug repellents. Kay Fochtmann/EyeEm Potent herbs like basil, mint, sage and rosemary are great for topping spaghetti or making mojitos, but their scent stops insects like house and fruit flies from coming near. Consider lining a sunny kitchen window with a few of your favorite food and drink garnishes. Not only will the bugs stay away, but you'll enjoy the benefits of fresh herbs year-round and without the hefty price tags found in most supermarkets. Pro tip: Lemongrass contains citronella oil, which is often used in candles and sprays to repel mosquitos. Marigold Marigolds give off a potent scent that not all critters enjoy. Jessica Dolcourt/CNET The yellow and orange flower is so much more than a pretty accent to an oversized pot or home garden -- it's a gnat- and midge-fighting beast that emits a distinct and powerful odor that sends critters scurrying. Perhaps best of all, marigolds are an easy plant to cultivate within your home since they require little maintenance and grow quickly. Lavender Lavender is soothing for us humans, but not so much for certain insects. nevarpp/Getty Images Lavender boasts calming properties that help us drift to sleep at night, but it has the opposite effect on insects like moths and beetles. Snip a few purple stems and incorporate them into an elegant flower bouquet to ward off any unwelcome visitors. You can buy live lavander plants on and other sites. Catnip Alina Bradford/CNET Your feline friend may experience an immediate sense of euphoria when exposed to catnip, but roaches and mosquitoes have the opposite reaction. According to scientists, the plant contains an active component that triggers the chemical receptor in insects that causes pain and itchiness. Like humans, when insects feel the slightest bit of discomfort, they tend to retreat and not return to the source of suffering. Amazon sells a four-pack of catnip plants for $23. Chrysanthemums Try some Chrysanthemum to slow down common kitchen insects. Corbis This popular flower is an insect's worst enemy. In fact, a chrysanthemum's hit list is extensive and includes roaches, ants, silverfish, lice, bed bugs and mites. Keep these away from your pets, though, as they can be toxic when ingested. Carnivorous plants The Venus flytrap is the most famous bug eliminator in the plant kingdom. Joel's Carnivorous Plants Lean into the obvious choice and opt for the endlessly entertaining carnivorous plant. Typically, these hungry wonders, like the Venus flytrap, lure in unsuspecting prey with a scent that mirrors delicious fruits and flowers. Once its hairlike lobes, otherwise known as trichomes, are activated, its leaves snap shut and reopen 10 days after the insect has been completely digested. Of course, you'll need a whole lot of carnivorous plants to tackle swarms, but they make great additions to target the occasional fly or two. No matter your preference, these plants, flowers and herbs make wonderful (and natural!) additions to a kitchen pest management plan. They also happen to be delicious and/or beautiful. If you're still not convinced, consider other all-natural alternatives like coffee grounds, essential oils, banana peels, white vinegar and onions. Each has also been proven to stave off an infestation if left out on kitchen counters.
