Summer is such a wonderful time of year! It’s synonymous with warmth, vacations, and pleasant moments spent outdoors. But this season also brings its share of little annoyances, like the appearance of midges around our fruit basket.
These little beasts have a way of spoiling our moments of relaxation, especially when they invade our kitchen.
Here’s a natural ingredient you can use in your fruit basket to keep these pests at bay, so you can enjoy your favorite fruits to the full this summer.
Midges: who are these little invaders?
Before revealing our tip, it’s important to understand the enemy we’re trying to keep at bay. Midges are small flying insects belonging to the Diptera family. They are particularly attracted to fruit and vegetables, especially when they are ripe or decomposing. They are therefore often present around our fruit basket and can reproduce very quickly, making them difficult to eradicate.
- Midge species: There are several species of midge, but the most common are drosophila (also known as fruit flies) and phlebotomus (sand flies). Drosophila are the ones we’re interested in here, as they’re the main culprits behind the invasion of our fruit basket.
- The life cycle of midges: Midges have a very short life cycle, enabling them to reproduce rapidly. A female can lay up to 500 eggs at a time, and these hatch in just 24 hours. The larvae then feed on decaying fruit and vegetables before transforming into adult midges and starting the cycle all over again.
- Health risks: Although midges are not dangerous in themselves, their presence around our food can lead to hygiene problems. As they move from one foodstuff to another, they can spread bacteria and germs, causing food poisoning.
The secret natural ingredient to keep midges away from your fruit basket
Now that you’re more familiar with these little invaders, it’s time to reveal our trick for keeping them away from your fruit basket naturally and effectively. The secret ingredient, which you may already have at home, is cloves.
- The properties of cloves: Cloves are a spice with many virtues. In addition to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, it is an excellent natural insect repellent, especially for midges. Its powerful, distinctive scent effectively repels them from our food.
- How to use cloves to repel midges: To take advantage of this trick, simply prick a few cloves into a lemon cut in half and place it in the center of your fruit basket. The scent of the lemon combined with that of the clove will create an olfactory barrier that will deter midges. You can place a few whole cloves around your fruit basket, or place them in a small fabric bag to hang nearby.
Other tips and tricks to keep midges away from your fruit basket
As well as using cloves, there are other simple tips and tricks you can adopt to prevent midges from invading your kitchen this summer.
- Keep your fruit and vegetables refrigerated: Midges are attracted to heat, and ripe fruit and vegetables give off a stronger odour when exposed to heat. By keeping your fruit and vegetables cool, you’ll limit the risk of invasion.
- Regularly clean your fruit basket: Good maintenance of your fruit basket and work surface will help prevent the appearance of midges. Be sure to remove damaged fruit and regularly clean the basket with white vinegar to eliminate any residues and odours that might attract them.
- Use midge traps: You can make a homemade midge trap by mixing cider vinegar with a few drops of washing-up liquid in a container. Gnats will be attracted by the vinegar’s scent and will stick to the surface of the liquid because of the soap.
- Opt for natural plant-based solutions: Certain plants, such as lemongrass, mint or basil, are reputed to repel midges. You can grow them in your kitchen or arrange them in bunches near your fruit basket to take advantage of their repellent effect.
By combining cloves with these other tips and tricks, you should be able to keep midges away from your fruit basket and enjoy your favorite fruits this summer without fear of these little pests. Keep in mind that prevention and regular maintenance of your kitchen area are essential to avoid the appearance of midges.
Additional tips for a healthy, gnat-free kitchen
To round off this advice, here are a few additional tips for maintaining a healthy, gnat-free kitchen all year round.
- Air your kitchen regularly: Opening your kitchen windows at least once a day renews the air and prevents the stagnation of odors that could attract midges.
- Eliminate sources of humidity: Midges are attracted by humidity. So be sure to dry out your sink, dishcloths and sponges after use, and repair any water leaks.
- Manage your waste: Gnats are attracted to food waste. So remember to close your garbage cans tightly and empty them regularly. If you have a composter, make sure it’s properly closed and maintained to avoid midge invasions.
- Prefer seasonal and local foods: Fruits and vegetables that are in season and local are often less processed and have traveled less, reducing the risk of midge development when stored at home.
By adopting these good practices on a daily basis and using cloves as a natural repellent, you should be able to keep midges away from your fruit basket and enjoy healthy, enjoyable cooking all year round.
It’s important to remember that the appearance of midges in our fruit basket is often the result of a combination of factors, such as heat, humidity and the presence of ripe fruit and vegetables. By adopting a global approach and taking good care of our kitchen, we can avoid these little inconveniences and fully enjoy our favorite fruits in complete peace of mind. And don’t forget that the natural ingredient to include in your fruit basket to keep gnats away is cloves, a simple and effective solution for a pest-free summer. So don’t hesitate to try this trick now!
