Table of Contents
Updated December 22, 2024
These natural insect repellent ideas are a great way to keep your fruit and vegetables safe and free of pesky insects causing bug bites (mostly mosquito bites) hovering nearby, so use Natural Insect Repellent for Fruit Flies, Drain Flies, and other Insects.
Since we love fruit – particularly bananas and strawberries – at my house, we need a lot of fruit! Fruit flies love overripe fruit, specks of food, and even scum trapped in your kitchen drain.
Last summer, it was HOT, and the fruit spoiled much faster than it used to.
I decided to use some great natural bug spray in my home and share it with you so your fruit would be safe!
I needed a way to get rid of the fruit flies that would be safe if one of our pets or our daughter got into it, so going with a natural insect repellent was the best option for our family.
Natural Insect Repellent for Fruit Flies, Drain Flies and Other Insects
I needed a way to get rid of the fruit flies that would be safe if one of our pets or our daughter got into it, so going with a natural insect repellent was the best option for our family.
While some suggest using baking soda to dry out bed bugs, it is not a reliable primary solution for pest infestations.
Understanding Common Household Insects
There are more than 100 different types of bugs in your house daily. Household insects can be more than a nuisance; they can pose health risks and damage your home.
Understanding the types of insects you might find in your home is the first step in preventing and eliminating them.
Common household pests include ants, spiders, bed bugs, cockroaches, and flies. These bugs can enter your home through various means, such as cracks and crevices, open windows, and even on used furniture and items.
Bed bugs, for instance, are notorious for hitching a ride on infested clothing or second-hand furniture. By knowing what bugs you might find in your home, you can take targeted actions to keep them at bay.
Backstory
Last summer, we had a huge drain fly problem — I swear our house is clean, but it’s like the apocalypse with all the crazy weather we have been getting at home lately.
Leaving dirty dishes in the sink can attract fruit flies and other pests, so keeping your kitchen clean is important.
I thought the solution I used last year to eliminate the drain flies would work for the fruit flies.
It worked! It is also a simple natural insect repellent, making it even better!
Supplies Needed: Dish Soap
- Apple cider vinegar (balsamic vinegar should work)
- Water
- A bowl
- Cling Wrap
- Sharp knife
What To Do
- Pour a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into your bowl.
- Add enough water so the bowl is about halfway full.
- Cover the bowl tightly with cling wrap. You should not have any creases in the wrap.
- With a sharp knife, poke a few small holes into the cling wrap.
- Put the bowl near your fly problem, and you are done!
- The flies will be attracted to the apple cider vinegar and find their way through the holes. They will be trapped under the cling wrap, unable to escape.
These natural alternatives are safe for commercial insect repellents and are best for fruit flies, drain flies, and gnats.
It can also keep away some spiders, ants, and other pesky bugs.
The vinegar is appealing to them but also deadly.
While this may seem cruel, it is a great, safe, and inexpensive option.
That’s a great benefit, considering how expensive pest control can be.
As well as how dangerous most chemicals are for you, your family, and your pets.
Please keep this natural insect-repellent solution away from children and pets.
Yes, it is all-natural, but it will be very, very gross if they drink it.
It’s wise to keep it safe so they don’t get into or spill it.
For many kitchens, a small bowl with apple cider vinegar like this is the perfect solution for those little annoying insects that tend to be common during warmer months.
Suppose you are storing your fruit outside your refrigerator (as is best with many fruit options). In that case, this is an ideal natural insect repellent option that is simple, inexpensive, and useful.
Be sure to clean up any residues from cooking oil in your kitchen, as even small amounts can attract pests like spiders, roaches, flies, and ants.
Here are some All-Natural Essential Oils Bug Spray Repellents:
Fastest Essential Oil Insect Spray
It’s as straightforward as mixing these ingredients for natural solutions and adding them to a spray bottle:
- 1/2 cup water (or vinegar)
- 1/2 cup natural witch hazel
- 1 tablespoon vodka or rubbing alcohol
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
- 20 drops of lemon eucalyptus essential oil
- 30 drops citronella essential oil
- 30 drops of geranium essential oil
- Optional: 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
Note: I am not a Doctor, but we recommend caution when using these repellents on young children. Always do a small patch test to look for an allergic reaction.
Citronella Oil Insect Spray
All-natural Citronella oil has been a common insect repellent for many years.
Lavender oil is often added to improve the odor.
The only downside we can find is that, as compared to DEET, Citronella oil evaporates quickly.
In high concentrations, it can irritate the skin (just like DEET).
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or OLE Insect Repellent
Consumer reports, “Two of the three active ingredients that have regularly earned recommended status in our organic insect repellent ratings—picaridin and lemon eucalyptus oil, or OLE—are derived from plants.
But several other plant-based chemicals, including lemon grass, neem oil, and soybean oil, typically end up at the bottom of our ratings.”
Peppermint Oil – Bug and Rodent Repellent
Peppermint oil is an effective repellent for more than just pesky mosquitos. While it works well, it only lasts about 45 minutes after application, and it is still a natural product – mak. Make sure you keep your pump spray nearby.
Coconut oil is often used to dilute mixtures instead of water that may be too strong for a user.
Baby friendly Deet-free Repellent for Bed Bugs
This organic mixture uses Soybean Oil as a carrier oil (Thyme oil is occasionally used) in 95.25% volume, plus Rosemary, Citronella, Geranium, Cedarwood, Peppermint, and lemongrass oils.
Why should I use Natural Mosquito Repellent to Prevent Bugs from Invading?
The number one reason I search for a repellent of creepy critters that may cause Tick bite (causes Lyme disease) is to keep my whole family comfortable and safe.
The most common effective repellents (e.g., Avon Skin-So-Soft) contain DEET and picaridin, which the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommends.
The worst side effect is that Deet may cause skin irritation.
Preventing Insect Infestations
Preventing insect infestations is about making your home less inviting to these pesky bugs. Here are some practical tips to prevent bugs from invading your space:
- Store food in airtight containers to prevent insects from accessing food sources. Clean up crumbs and spills immediately to avoid attracting bugs.
- Maintain cleanliness: Keep your home clean and clutter-free. Regular vacuuming and dusting can help eliminate potential hiding spots for insects.
- Seal cracks and crevices: Use caulk or steel wool to seal all cracks, gaps, and crevices around windows, doors, and pipes. This blocks common entry points for insects.
- Use essential oils. Peppermint and citrus oils are natural repellents. Spray peppermint or citrus oil around entry points and where insects are commonly found.
- Yard maintenance: Keep your yard clean and debris-free, such as leaves and branches. This reduces the chances of insects finding easy access to your home.
Following these tips can significantly reduce the likelihood of an insect infestation and keep your home bug-free.
Getting Rid of Insects
A combination of non-chemical and chemical methods can be effective in getting rid of insects. Here are some tips to help you get rid of standard household insects:
- Ants: Mix equal parts water and dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray directly on ants and their entry points to kill bugs on contact.
- Spiders: Use a vacuum cleaner to remove spiders and their webs. Seal cracks and crevices to prevent re-infestation. Citrus is a great way to rid your home of spiders.
- Bed bugs: Wash and dry infested clothing and bedding in high heat to kill bed bugs and their eggs. Use a steam cleaner on your mattress and box spring, and seal cracks and crevices around these areas.
- Cockroaches: A mixture of boric acid and sugar can effectively kill cockroaches. Seal cracks and crevices around food and water sources to prevent easy access. Neem oil kills a wide variety of bugs, including moths and cockroaches. Cooking oil and syrup can be used to trap cockroaches.
- Flies: To kill flies, use a spray bottle containing water and dish soap. Eliminate standing water and food sources to reduce their breeding grounds. Basil will kill the presence of flies in your home immediately.
Always follow safety precautions when using chemicals to get rid of insects. Identifying your insect infestation type is crucial to using the appropriate control method. Keeping your home, particularly the kitchen, clean and clutter-free deters bugs by removing their places to feed and hide. Combining these methods can eliminate insects and keep your home safe and comfortable.
Check out this excellent topic for around the house!
Very helpful!! We have a horrible fruit fly problem this year, will try this for sure! Thanks for sharing.
This is great! For some reason it never dawned on my to put cling wrap on the bowl. We have a bit of a fruit fly issue every summer where I live, so this will definitely come in handy for next year {or this year if the lil buggers decide to make a comeback}
Awesome!! I do the same thing, but instead of the cling wrap I squeeze some dish soap in the apple cider vinegar and leave it out- the dish soap breaks the Hydrogen bonds in the vinegar so the flies get into the vinegar but get stuck b/c they don’t float on top of it like normal (nerd alert); instead they sink in! I love the cling wrap idea, too! 🙂
I have used this before and it works 100%. I just set it out the fruit flies are at the top of the cup floating!
SORRY, this DID NOT work at all, plastic wrap or not !!!!
Sorry to hear that. I have always had success with it. I have heard some people add a drop of dish soap to the water to help trap the bugs. I find I need to make super tiny holes (just the very top of a sharp knife) or they will fly out. Hopefully these tips help as having bugs in the house is not very fun.
I have always read this advice but it never worked for me. I stumbled upon a great trap though with the same Saran Wrap and bowl technique using a small slice of ripe tomato. This caught far more fruit flies & I also sprayed the inside of the wrap w/ cooking oil so they would stick to that if trying to escape back out the top! Now this hasn’t helped me with my current issue of gnats that came in on my potted plants that were out all summer. I can’t seem to trap those with anything and they are so pesky!
That all sounds great , but what about the eggs they lay in the drain ? ?? They are almost impossible to get rid of . What do you do about them ? Someone please help ! !!!!!
That is a great idea! I will have to try it! We had a horrible problem with fruit flies before, although not right now, so I’ll keep this in mind.
Thank you for this hot tip – I think we could all use this! Flies are gross.
Nice tip! I pinned this and will be using in my home. Thanks for sharing it at Wonderful Wednesday!
Thanks for sharing! I always love a good natural recipe to take care of the home. Drain flies are a problem here too no matter how much I clean.
Great tip! I am definitely planning to try this next time I see these little suckers!
Visiting from Idea Box
xoxo
Lisa
This idea sounds so easy; I’ll be trying it later today! Pinning.
Thank you for this! I haaaaate bugs!
Sounds so simple that I definitely need to try this because those dang bugs drive me CRAZY! Thanks for sharing Katrina. Pinned!
I’m not sure why some years we get them and some we don’t. This sounds like a very helpful way to get rid of the fruit flies. Thanks for sharing a the #HomeMattersParty
Finally! An answer of how to get rid of the bane of my existence!
Can’t thank you enough!
Here from Inspire Me Monday.
What a great solution! I love it that you don’t have to buy anything special to solve the problem. I just started on the Weight Watches Diet and am eating a lot more fruit that I used to. Already have some of those pesky little buggers in my kitchen. I am so going to try this!!!
Pinning 🙂
I so need to try this! Pinning and sharing!
Done. Now let’s see if I can get rid of those little pests.
HI Katrina!
Thank you for this awesome post! I have been struggling with this exact problem for weeks and it is driving me crazy! I’m going to try your apple cider vinegar method this afternoon! I have recently started hosting a new link party with Refresh Living and Vintage Refined and we would love to have you come link some of your awesome posts with us. The party starts every Tuesday at 7pm CST.
I hope to see you there!
Cat
Hi Cat,
Let me know how it works. It works really well for us – good luck 🙂
Vinegar is amazing–so many uses! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we love partying with you! Hope to see you next Friday. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
I’ve been noticing a ton of fruit flies in our kitchen lately so I’ll have to try this! Thanks for the tips 🙂
Thank you for this great tip. Will definitely try it.
Also thanks very much for all the wonderful Receipes, Information on various subjects.
I have a horrible problem with drain flies, my home is spotless, there are no fruit left out, I have tried every trick and remedy to get rid of these things. Pest control hasn’t even worked!! Help me please, I’m desperate. Been in this house 5 years, first time I have had this problem, started 3-4 months ago.
Did you try the apple cider vinegar in a bowl method as put in the post? If you do not have apple cider vinegar you can put some white vinegar and vanilla extract and mix with water.
Great advice! Thanks for sharing at Idea Box Link Party this week. I’ve featured this goodie on my blog this week.
xo, clem
I discovered vinegar’s great use by accident when I put a bowl of white vinegar on the counter to clean the air of the cooked food smell. By the end of the day, the bowl was full of gnats. Haven’t tried the plastic wrap yet.
This is great information that we all need.
Thank you for joining us and sharing at Thoughts of Home.
We are so glad you are here!
Laura
White Spray Paint
That is such a great tip! I will have to try it and pass it on to my girls too.We had a horrible problem with fruit flies last year, although not right now, so I’ll keep this in mind.
Thank you for sharing this post with us at TOHOT!
Jemma
Love finding natural remedies for troublesome things. Will share this with our daughter. Will warn her not to leave where her Beagle dog can get into it. Thx for warning about that. Have wonderful fun week
Thanks for this article. So in my case i just use the fruit traps to get rid of drain flies! Helpes good for me.
Instead of a bowl, I use a jar. I put a rubber band around the plastic wrap to keep it in place. I use an ice pick or awl to poke the holes.