Homemade Fruit Fly Trap

Got fruit flies?  Here's a quick remedy.  Take a small necked empty glass bottle.  Pour a small amount of cider vinegar in it.  Fashion a funnel out of paper and stick it in the neck of the bottle.  Place this bottle around your fruit.  You may have to move it around a bit to get the flies...or make a couple of these...but it will attract your them.

A Natural Mosquito Control that Works!

A friend of mine posted this "natural" mosquito control recipe on Facebook, so I tried it out.  Guess what?  IT WORKS, and it's VERY easy to make.  Try this:

1. Take a 2 liter plastic soda bottle and cut it in half.
2. Dilute 1/4 cup of brown sugar in 1 cup of hot water.  Pour this into the bottom half of the bottle.
3. Add a tad (less than 1/2 teaspoon) of yeast to the mix.
4. Invert the "neck" half of the bottle into the bottle base (so it acts as a funnel).
5. Tape the two pieces of the bottle together and wrap dark paper or fabric around the bottle. (Mosquitoes are attracted to darker colors). 
6. Place to the bottle a few feet away from the space you want rid of mosquitoes.

You can also use a 1 liter plastic bottle.  Just cut the recipe in half.

I've tried this concoction and have found it to be very effective in controlling mosquitoes.  I've heard that it will work for up to two weeks, but I've been dumping mine out just to see my "catch".  In addition to mosquitoes, I've caught many gnats and some sort of large beetle.  It's so effective that I've decided to only put the bottle out when I'm entertaining as I know insects in general are a vital part of our ecosystem.  But if you're overrun by mosquitoes, try this...and let me know how it works for you!

Rent Reusable Moving Boxes!

Elf Boxes is a local (DC) company that rents reusable plastic moving boxes. They’ll deliver the boxes to your home and pick them up in your new home – so long as it’s in the DC area. You – or someone you hire does the packing and the moving – while Elf Boxes provides the stackable, reusable boxes. An Elf Boxes rental includes 2 full weeks’ use of our industrial-strength plastic boxes, free delivery and pickup, labels, zip ties, and a moving dolly.  You can rent the boxes for an additional length of time as needed.  Each box can hold up to 100lbs.

Elf Boxes crates are reusable and they will save you time. In many ways, they’re even better than reusing old cardboard boxes – as small bugs may be lurking in them. Also, a cardboard box becomes weaker with every use. Elf Boxes cleaned and sanitized prior to every move with an eco-friendly cleaner.  The boxes are stackable and with a fold down lid, they don’t require packing tape.  Check them out at  www.elfboxes.com.