Is your home an unwitting hotel for unwelcome guests? No one wishes to share their home with pests that contaminate and are a downright nuisance. But how can you keep your home pest-free?
We have gathered our top tips for keeping out spiders, moths and fruit flies.
Spiders
Whilst most spiders are harmless, no one enjoys sudden frights and dusty cobwebs. If you’re one of the many people afraid of these eight-legged pests, follow these simple tips to help keep them out of your home.
Declutter regularly
Spiders enjoy lurking in dark, cluttered spaces, so, if you want to keep them away, it is important to frequently declutter your home. Whether you book a cleaner regularly, or do the housework yourself, be sure your home is vacuumed and dusted often, as this will help to remove egg sacs, webs and other insects.
Pay special attention to your windows, as spiders love to lay eggs on windowsills. Washing your windows and windowsills, as well as, dusting the blinds will all help to keep your home free from spiders.
Spray strong scents
Spiders hate white vinegar because of the acetic acid it contains. So, why not try using white vinegar more around the house, it is a great natural cleaning product! It can be used to clean many things around the house (kitchen countertops, fridges, windows) and at the same time, keep the spiders at bay!
You can also invest in scented candles or essential oils, such as peppermint or citrus, as spiders are repelled by these strong scents. Add a few drops of oil to a spray bottle of water and spritz around the house, focusing on hidden corners. Essential oils will help to keep your home smelling lovely and spider free!
Seal up cracks and crevices
Be sure to inspect your home from the inside and out to seal up any cracks or crevices, especially around doors and windows. Ensuring your home is sealed tight will help to prevent rodents, insects, as well as spiders from entering.
Moths
According to a study carried out by English Heritage, the number of clothes moths in our homes have doubled in the space of five years!
Clothes moths can be real pests, infesting our wardrobes and ruining our favourite knitwear. So, here are a few tips to help you prevent moths infesting your homes and to help solve the problem if they already have.
Keep your clothes and your wardrobe clean
Whilst some moths are attracted to light, clothes moths prefer dark, warm places, which is why they often take up residence in our wardrobes. Deep cleaning your wardrobe every few months will help keep the moths away and get rid of them if they are already there. During the deep clean, you should take out all of your clothes, vacuum all corners to remove any larvae and wipe down the insides of your wardrobe.
Strangely enough, moths are attracted to human sweat, so be sure to wash your clothes regularly and avoid placing dirty clothes back into your wardrobe.
If you are worried you may have a moth infestation, wash all affected items of clothing on a high temperature. If high temperatures are not suitable for your clothes, you can try to freeze them instead. Place your clothes into bags and then into the freezer overnight, as this can also help to kill eggs.
Store your clothes the right way
As winter draws to an end, it is time to pack away all of our warm jumpers and knitwear. Choose to store your knitwear in air-tight bags or plastic storage boxes to protect them from being damaged by moths.
Use natural products
Like spiders, clothes moths are repelled by certain natural scents. Make your own natural moth repellent by investing in cedar wood, eucalyptus or lavender oils, scented candles and potpourri.
Fruit Flies
Believe, it or not, female fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time and repeat this every day for up to 20 days! It is not surprising then that fruit flies can quickly take over our kitchens. Whilst they are especially common during late summer, fruit flies can be a nuisance all year round. Prevent and get rid of fruit flies in your home with these simple tips.
Eliminate the sources of attraction
Fruit flies are attracted to ripened and rotting fruit and vegetables. So, the first step in preventing them is to ensure all old fruits are discarded. Keeping your fruit in the fridge will help them to stay fresher for longer and prevent them from attracting flies. However, if you do prefer a fruit bowl, be sure to cover it.
As bins are full of our food waste, they are the perfect breeding site for fruit flies, so be sure to regularly change your bins before they overflow.
Keep your kitchen tidy
Having a clean and tidy kitchen will go a long way in keeping the fruit flies away. Be sure to wipe up any spills or crumbs on your kitchen counter as soon as possible, as fruit flies are not only attracted to fruit! Also, keep your sink clean and free from dirty dishes, as drains are another breeding ground for fruit flies.
Make a trap
If you find fruit flies have infested your kitchen, don’t panic! Try making this home-made trap with apple cider vinegar:
- Fill half a glass with apple cider vinegar
- Cover the glass with clingfilm and secure this with an elastic band.
- Poke a few tiny holes into the clingfilm using a toothpick.
- The flies should fly into the trap and be unable to escape.
- Repeat this over a few days.
You can also try this same trap, using other things, such as a piece of rotten fruit.
