A few days ago, I wrote about natural ways you can clean your home to avoid unnecessary exposure to harsh chemicals.
I recently realized there’s another related tip I’d like to share with you: there’s also a natural option you can use to kill insects too. I’ve tried it myself, and it works.
I’m talking about apple cider vinegar.
I once had a lot of fruit flies at in an old apartment I lived in — to this day, I have no idea why, because I kept things clean and didn’t have old fruit lying around. Anyhow, I dealt with the problem by mixing some apple cider vinegar with detergent, which I read about online, and it worked — the flies were drawn to the scent of the apple cider vinegar, and either fell into the solution and drowned, or drank some and were poisoned by the soap mixed in. I’m not sure which, since some seemed to fall in right away, while others seemed to linger on the edge and “enjoy” the concoction at first. But either way, I ended up with dozens of them floating in the solution I’d left in various cups throughout my apartment, and I was able to say goodbye to the annoyance!
This is a great alternative to toxic insecticides, and it’s also very affordable. You can find it in health food stores, most standard supermarkets and online.
Incidentally, apple cider vinegar also has many health benefits too — I’m just learning about this aspect of it myself and want to investigate it some more. If you’re interested in that side of it too, I recommend reading this book, which covers all the varied uses of apple cider vinegar, ranging from using it for digestive problems to treating arthritis and much more.
We owe it to ourselves to try gentler, natural remedies for life’s various challenges before reaching for the harsh, unnatural stuff, don’t you think? It’s at least worth a try!
Some Kernels of Truth 
I had a fruit fly infestation a few years back and I found a recipe for white vinegar and detergent that worked fairly well, although another recipe, one involving somewhat dated fruit in a bowl covered with Saran wrap, was the most effective. I wish I would have used apple cider vinegar, though, instead of white vinegar. After a while the “aroma” from the white vinegar got the best of me.
In case you’re interested, here’s a post I wrote about my fruit fly infestation and how I treated it:
http://mindfuldigressions.com/2010/08/20/a-horde-of-annoying-fruit-flies/
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Oh, I’ll check it out! Never tried the Saran wrap strategy but have heard of it; it’s to know it also works, maybe even better! Thanks!
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I think the fruit flies are nearly unavoidable this time of year, at least in the Midwest where I live. I don’t think living in a wooded area, or having fruit trees, fruit bushes and fruit in the house help at all, either 😛 But yes, the traps do work, and are almost as gross as picking up a tomato and lossing a swath of fruit flies!
I have a friend who swears by it for heartburn — I’ve always wanted that book, too.
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I’ve used diluted apple cider vinegar to help with acid reflux. I’d read that in some people acid reflux is often due to too much acid, possibly from a weak sphincter or something, but didn’t really believe it. Then a holistic MD told me it was true for some “older” people and suggested apple cider vinegar would provide balance.The first time, I drank it straight. DON’T DO THAT! Now, I put about a table spoon in a cup of water and sip it. It actually works for me.
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Oh, that’s a really good use use for it — thanks for the tip, including the warning not to drink it undiluted!
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When I was living in Slovakia, we had what they called “wine flies,” the same as our fruit flies. Considering the generic name, I put two glasses of wine on my table. It worked…..they drowned drunk. I do support a lot of the attributes of cider vinegar that you suggest. Thank you .
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Thanks! Oh, and good idea you had; makes sense to use the very substance they love! Have to remember that strategy too. 🙂
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This is a great solution that I had never heard of before! I hate when fruit flies attack! Thanks for sharing!
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Glad you found it helpful! Oh and I like how you wrote “when fruit flies attack” — sounds like a show on Animal Planet. 🙂 And strangely, I’d probably watch that.
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