AS the weather warms up, homes become a haven for pesky fruit flies and ants.
But you can make the mini-critters buzz off with simple, low-cost deterrents.
Here are some of the best . . .
CORE INGREDIENT: In the battle against fruit flies, a slug of apple-cider vinegar should be top of your list.
Place the vinegar in the bottom of a glass, cover it with clingfilm held in place with an elastic band, and prick the film with a pin to create tiny holes.
From tongue scraping to saying no, here are 12 health trends to try in 2023
The flies will be enticed into the sweet-smelling vinegar.
SMELL OF SUCCESS: Fruit flies may love the smell of apples but they hate the scents of peppermint, lavender and cloves.
Keep a bunch of lavender close by, or soak cotton wool balls in these essential oils and leave them out in places plagued by the mini flies.
BANISH THE BOWL: A full fruit bowl is a lovely sight but leaving it out on the worktop could be the cause of your fruit fly problems.
They will head straight for ripe fruit and vegetables and find a spot for laying their eggs. Instead, keep ripe fruit in the fridge.
CLEAN UP: Another trick for keeping fruit flies at bay is to keep your kitchen clean.
Wash out wine bottles and glasses as soon as you have finished with them.
Clean pots and pans rather than leaving them on the worktop, and rinse plates and put them in the dishwasher straight after a meal.
ANT ATTACK: For ants, keep kitchen cupboards clean, with crumbs cleared away and sticky jars wiped down.
For an extra line of defence, put a trail of curry powder, pepper or cinnamon anywhere that ants might be getting in.
How to de-clutter if you have a beauty stash to last you a lifetime
The strong, spicy smell confuses them.
They also hate the smell of mint.
Put a few drops of peppermint essential oil on a cotton wool ball and then wipe it over ant entry points.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
Deal of the day
HOW is this for a bright idea? Habitat has cut the price of its industrial tripod floor lamp by half, from £110 to £55.
SAVE: £55
Cheap treat
A RANGE of Peppa Pig products are arriving at Lidl, including a £3.99 two-pack of T-shirts.
Top swap
PULL a pint ahead of Father’s Day with the Fizzics Draftpour beer dispenser for £129.99 from Lakeland.
Or fill a glass from Aldi’s beer dispenser, £24.99.
SAVE: £105
Shop & save
ONLINE discount retailer Approved Food has great deals on until Wednesday.
An example is Tango orange (500ml) for 10p instead of £1.55. Go to store.approved food.co.uk.
SAVE: £1.45
Hot right now
WANT eco products at a discount? A bundle of festival hygiene items in sustainable bamboo is £24.99, was £54.99, at cheekypanda.com.
PLAY NOW TO WIN £200
JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.
Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.
Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
