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The bad news: midges in the kitchen can multiply up to several hundred within a week. Good news: fruit flies, also called fruit flies or fruit flies, are the most harmless species - they don't bite, don't carry diseases, and can be easily removed at home.
Where do midges come from in the kitchen, these little annoying pests? There are only three possible answers here:
- They flew in from the street at the smell of some stale aromatic or spoiled product.
- Midge eggs got into your kitchen along with purchased fruits or vegetables.
- They appeared in the soil of indoor plants due to waterlogging or because they were standing on a balcony, street, or near an open window. If you notice that insects are hovering in flower pots, then these can either be the same “fruit flies” or flower flies (sciarids). How to distinguish them? Flower midges are more like black mosquitoes, and fruit midges are more like small flies. You can see the difference in the photo below. If you realize that fruit flies are infested in the flower pots in the kitchen, then this article is for you, and if you find sciarids, then take a look at a separate article with detailed instructions.
Since midges are not only flying adults, but also voracious larvae and eggs, the fight against them must be comprehensive. Read our step-by-step instructions on how to get rid of midges in the kitchen.
Is midge dangerous for humans and how does it enter the kitchen?
Drosophila flies, vinegar flies and wine flies, which is what small black midges are called, in the kitchen harm your prestige and disturb peace of mind. They are not dangerous to human life and health. These annoying creatures are found almost everywhere, with the exception of regions with a harsh cold climate. If you look at this little thing under a magnifying glass, you will find that it looks like an ordinary fly.
These creatures prefer to live in a group, so the midge swarms over food that is attractive to it
Where do these insects come from in the apartment? It seems that the doors and windows are closed, the windows are protected by a fine mesh, and the midge is there, flying like a cloud over your flowers or trash can. There are main sources of insects entering your apartment:
- box with vegetables and fruits. As soon as some fruit becomes slightly spoiled, it becomes a tasty bait for midges. If eggs were laid on an apple or grape in a store, the insects will appear in a matter of hours, even the temperature of the vegetable drawer in the refrigerator will not stop them;
- The trash can is the most favorite place for these creatures. Spoiled foods are ideal soil for reproduction and nutrition;
- sink drain - food waste accumulates in the glass or sump. You may not see them, but know: the midge finds this dirt and uses it to feed and reproduce;
- ventilation systems with exits to neighbors. Rarely does anyone protect the internal exits to the ventilation ducts with a fine mesh, so it is not difficult for insects to move to you from less clean neighbors;
- indoor plants - midge eggs are often found in the soil and wait for favorable conditions for them: heat and humidity.
You may accidentally buy contaminated soil or bring a flower from the store that is infected with Drosophila.
What to do if these insects are in your home?
Below are step-by-step instructions for exterminating household pests:
- It is necessary to place mosquito nets on all windows, the size of the holes in which will be minimal. If there are no mosquitoes on the windows yet, try not to open the windows so that the insects do not fly in from the outside.
- Eliminate all potential sources of excess moisture in your home. Do not flood pots with plants, wipe the sink dry after each use, and ventilate the bathroom well.
- Set up homemade traps with vinegar, fruit juice and midge detergent. Place one of these devices in each room. Replace these traps once every few days.
- Dip a piece of fabric into pine oil, then place the pieces next to each window and doorway. The smell will repel pests and they will not be able to enter the room.
Basic principles: how to get rid of midges in an apartment or private house
We figured out where wine midges come from and listed the main reasons for their appearance. Now it's time to talk about how to get rid of midges in the kitchen. Don’t rush to look for the phone number of the pest control service. Start by reviewing your habits, because they are often the main reason for the proliferation of harmful insects. Find the source of the problem and eliminate it: get into the habit of washing fruits and vegetables brought from the store, take out the trash more often than you usually do, and do not leave dirty dishes in the sink for too long.
If you deprive a midge of food, it will not actively reproduce in your home
But if the problem has already appeared, there are several ways to quickly solve it.
Related article:
How to get rid of cockroaches in an apartment forever : homemade products and industrial insecticides, why cockroaches can settle in an apartment, what to do to prevent this from happening, tips for making traps with your own hands and recipes for preparing insect repellent mixtures, reviews of the effectiveness of different methods - in our publication.
Destroying Tips
These insects live in flocks and do not scatter throughout the room. Therefore, it will be very easy to destroy them in the early stages of infection. Do not give them time to reproduce; the longer they stay indoors, the more offspring they produce, which means their numbers increase every day.
Cleaning pipes is very important, but you can’t do it with chemicals alone. Be sure to use mechanical methods. Use metal brushes, which will be most effective, as well as metal cables. The pipe walls should be cleaned as best as possible.
You won't be able to get rid of them in one day. By cleaning the pipes, you can destroy the offspring, but you should also get rid of the adults. As a rule, fighting them takes about 20 days. The appearance of new individuals is normal, and you need to be prepared for it.
When fighting them, you should store all products in containers and bags that are hermetically sealed. Having deprived midges of food sources and their usual environment, they can fly to food. When using chemicals, be sure to follow the instructions and safety precautions.
Folk and industrial remedies for midges in the kitchen
So you've noticed a swarm of tiny insects in your kitchen. First, identify the place that attracted them. If it's a plate of fruit, sort it out, wash it and throw away any that have spoiled. You already know where midges on fruit come from; most likely, you brought them from the store. Cover the plate with a napkin or, better yet, put it in the refrigerator.
The trash can must be urgently taken out and washed with powder so that the smell does not remain in it
The sink drain should be filled with cleaning liquid or a solution of soda and vinegar.
There are very effective folk recipes on how to get rid of small midges in the kitchen. Let's take a closer look at them.
Folk recipes: what helps against midges
A person can use many methods to combat annoying insects, and most of them are based on the use of improvised means. So, how to get rid of midges at home, several options.
Remedy 1: Fresh Horseradish Root
The fruit fly does not like the pungent odor of this plant. If you place pieces of horseradish on shelves and cabinets, the flies will panic and seek refuge. Leave the window open for them.
Remedy 2: camphor oil
If there is an aroma lamp in the house, pour camphor into it and place it indoors. You can simply heat the oil in an iron mug over a burner. You can use essential oils of fir, eucalyptus, clove, lemon and lavender with the same effect.
Remedy 3: smoke
If you have tobacco, juniper pine, incense or fir cones on hand, light it in an ashtray. Close the door to the kitchen, but don't forget to open the window. The smoke will drive away the midge.
Remedy 4: Vinegar and Soapy Water
Add a glass of warm water, a little dishwashing liquid, apple cider vinegar and sugar. Instead of vinegar, you can add wine. The smell will be similar to the favorite delicacy of insects. Cover the top of the glass with vacuum film and make a small hole. The midge will rush into the trap and drown. Place these traps in places where insects gather.
Remedy 5: wormwood and wheatgrass
A decoction of wormwood or wheatgrass weed is sprayed in places where fruit midges appear. By the way, this method will also save you from mosquitoes in nature; apply the composition to exposed areas of the body.
Remedy 6: vanillin
Vanilla aromas are very appropriate in the kitchen, but fruit flies do not like them. Sprinkle vanilla bean solution around the kitchen or place vanilla sticks on the shelves.
Remedy 7: Garlic
Crush a few cloves of garlic and soak in water for a couple of hours. Use the prepared tincture for watering plants.
Remedy 8: Geranium
Place a couple of pots of geraniums on your kitchen windowsill. The fly really does not like this fragrant flower and will avoid your kitchen.
Factory products: how to poison midges
We have studied options on how to get rid of midges using folk remedies. Household chemical stores offer chemicals in aerosol packages and various types of Velcro to combat midges.
Tool 9: Velcro
Simple and safe means for people. These are simply tapes with a layer of glue on which insects sit and stick. This tape, strewn with the corpses of flies, does not look very pretty, but it works very effectively. The main thing is to place it in a place where you won’t accidentally touch it, or your cat or dog won’t fall into such a trap.
Remedy 10: Aerosol insecticides
These chemicals can be harmful to people and pets, so they are sprayed in an unoccupied area. Don't forget to cover the aquarium if you have fish in your kitchen. After spraying the chemical, the doors to the room are closed, and after an hour the kitchen is thoroughly ventilated. Popular products include Raptor, Dichlorvos, Deta, Raftamid, Cobra and Moskitol.
Where do they come from?
Small midges do not appear on their own. In most cases, people bring them into the house themselves. There are no flies in cereals in the kitchen. Usually bugs or fire moths settle there.
Where do red midges come from in the kitchen:
- come in the form of eggs with purchased or garden vegetables, berries, fruits;
- fly through a window or hood;
- Insect eggs are laid on the fur of pets or on the soles of shoes.
Soil fly eggs are already in the soil. Insects begin to reproduce under favorable conditions: waterlogging, abuse of fertilizers.
How to get rid of midges in the kitchen mechanically
Various types of Velcro are an effective remedy. It's easy to make your own sticky trap.
Remedy 11: cardboard and honey
Cut out a strip of yellow cardstock. If you don't have it on hand, use thick yellow paper. Brush it with honey, secure it with tape on a wooden skewer and stick it into a flower pot or apple in a fruit bowl.
How to remove onions?
The onion midge breeds and multiplies inside the onion. This happens if you store supplies incorrectly, for example inside a bag, packing it tightly. In such an environment, the onions become damp and begin to rot. If you notice that midges are swarming around your onions, carefully sort through your supplies. Spoiled vegetables must be disposed of immediately.
Onion midge is well destroyed with the help of pine aroma . Soak the cotton wool in pine ether, place it near the vegetable storage area and wait. The midge itself will leave this place due to the discomfort it feels.
If there are too many midges, household traps will help you, which will be discussed below.
How to get rid of house flies in the kitchen, depending on their origin
Tiny flies can swarm around fruits, onions, settle in cereals and flour, and live in sewers or flower pots. Depending on their habitat, you should select the appropriate product.
How to quickly get rid of fruit gnats
If a swarm has settled above a fruit basket, prepare a simple trap for it.
Remedy 12: syrup and soda
The trap will require a bottle. Sweet syrup, fruit soda or juice is poured into the bottom. Roll a piece of paper into a ball and insert it into the neck of the bottle. The flies will get inside through a tiny hole at the tip of the bag, and will not be able to get out back. The caught flies are doused with soapy water and poured into the sewer or onto the street. Insects hatch from eggs on day 8, so to completely destroy the colony you will have to update the trap for at least two weeks.
How to get rid of onion midge
If you do not remove the onion from the plastic bag, it will suffocate and begin to rot. The smell will certainly attract midges. How to remove onion midges from the kitchen?
Remedy 13: sawdust
Sort through all the onions, remove spoiled onions. Then put the onions in a box and cover with dry sawdust. This way, you will preserve root vegetables for a long time and get rid of insects that do not like the smell of sawdust.
How to get rid of insects in cereals
Insects in cereals are truly a disaster. It often happens like this: you open a box of porridge, expecting a healthy breakfast, and there are these small parasites with wings. Appetite disappears completely. Let's look at how to get rid of annoying midges in cereals in the kitchen.
Remedy 14: Freezer
Conduct a complete audit of all bulk products. It's a pity, but contaminated cereals will have to be thrown away. Some people advise calcining them in the oven or rinsing them with water, but you understand that such procedures do not improve the quality of the product. Don’t put off going to the trash container: while you are busy in the kitchen, small invaders may leave the selected boxes and move into clean ones.
You will do a good deed if you feed these cereals to the birds, you can put them in a sealed bag and go to the park after cleaning
Place all boxes that are not infested with parasites in the freezer. This procedure will kill the eggs. And be sure to have airtight boxes at home to store such products.
How to effectively get rid of midges in indoor flowers
Most often, the cause of insects in a flower pot is contaminated soil. If such a suspicion arises, it is better to replant the plants. How to get rid of midges in flowers at home?
Remedy 15: potassium permanganate
Water the soil in the pots with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Do not overdo the concentration, otherwise you may destroy the flower.
Remedy 16: matches
The midge does not like the smell and taste of sulfur. Take a matchbox and stick the match heads into the ground. The bigger, the better. Feel free to water the flower and change matches as the sulfur dissolves.
Remedy 17: Citrus
Place lemon, orange, grapefruit or tangerine peels in the pot. The smell will repel midges.
Remedy 18: Ash
Sprinkle a thin layer of wood ash onto the soil in the pot. This will not only repel insects, but will also fertilize your plantings.
How to get rid of sewer midges forever
Sewer flies are very small - only a couple of millimeters. They are especially active closer to night, when people do not stop them from swarming around drainage holes. The most unpleasant thing is that such insects, after traveling through drains, can also sit on food in the kitchen. So it is imperative to deal with such unwanted guests.
Remedy 19: boiling water
To kill eggs and larvae in drains, pour boiling water over them. You will need at least 4 liters of hot liquid. To be more confident in the results, after spilling, add some cleaning chemical to the drain, for example, “Mole”.
Tool 20: fly swatter
Everything ingenious is simple. In the end, the most common way to get rid of small midges in the kitchen is to physically destroy them. Arm yourself with a fly swatter or just a rolled up newspaper - and go into battle!
Use of sprays and poisons
These drugs help to cope with severe infection in a short time. They can act as the main means for combating sewer midges, and can also be used in combination with other methods. Let's look at the most popular and effective insecticides.
Aerosol Raid
This is a universal remedy that is used in the fight against various types of pests, including sewer midges.
The advantage of aerosols and sprays is the ability to treat hard-to-reach areas; the active substances penetrate into nooks and crannies and provide quick results.
As reviews show, this drug is easy to use, provides high efficiency, long-lasting action and a wide spectrum of action. It is also worth noting the low cost, which averages 170 rubles.
Aerosol Raptor
Another universal product where the manufacturer combines a cosmetic effect, pest control, and prevention. The composition contains natural microorganisms, thanks to which signs of decomposition, pest larvae, harmful bacteria and unpleasant odors are destroyed.
Used to treat walls, wall voids, floors, ceilings, bathrooms, carpets, garbage containers, technical drains. Regarding efficiency, it cannot be said that it is really high, but due to its versatility, it has really become popular. The approximate cost is 250 rubles.
Pipe cleaning
This stage is one of the most important in the fight against sewer midges. This does not mean cleaning the pipes; pest control will not bring results, since by getting rid of adult individuals, new individuals will appear from the deferred offspring.
In order to detect a midge, you should do the following. Pieces of adhesive tape should be placed near the sink and on it overnight. In the morning, if there is an infestation, there will be insects on the tape.
Afterwards, you should take a cable or brush and clean the pipes to get rid of rotting water, organic matter, and hair. Then take a pan of boiling water and very slowly pour it down the drain. Boiling water makes it possible to destroy most of the larvae. At the last stage, a chemical cleaning agent is poured in. Remember that each product has its own instructions, which must be followed.
What chemicals should I use to remove it?
Store shelves are replete with various anti-fly products. Their disadvantage is their synthetic composition, which often leads to allergic reactions in households. It is advisable to avoid negative consequences by leaving the room during the midge treatment period .
Popular remedies for fruit midges are: “Raptor”, “Aerokson”. It is good to pester the potted midge with Aktara or Grom-2.
An excellent alternative to store-bought chemicals are homemade traps, which almost anyone can make. You do not need any special skills to do this, and they will not harm your family members.
