How to get rid of fruit flies in the house?

Linda
by Linda

I really need to know how to get rid of fruit flies in the house. And since we're having guest for Thanksgiving, I need to know how to get rid of fruit flies fast!

They are mainly in the kitchen, congregating around the drain and the trash can, but I also have other flying pests on the porch and in our dining area (so I guess I need to know how to get rid of fruit flies and gnats). I find it quite embarrassing, so I need something that will work quickly. Please help!

Yuck! They are so gross! (Don't worry, I threw out that banana).
  8 answers
  • Simone Simone on Nov 19, 2018

    Vinigar and a bit of dish liquid in a bowl of water. The fruit flies love the taste of vinigar. There you have your trap.

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    • Simone Simone on Nov 19, 2018

      Yes, we had sooo many fruit flies because the apple harvest was enormous here in switzerland! So I put a bowl of that mixture in the kitchen and next to my fruitbowl and after few hours the fruit flies were all in the bowl. It doesn't look very nice. But put the bowl wherever you have a "get-together" of these inconvenient Insects.

      If you buy new fruits, there can always be fruit flies on or in it, or eggs. But then you put a new bowl and there gone again. Happy thanksgiving! (We don't have it here, but we had something similar a week ago, called Kilbi)

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Nov 19, 2018

    Oh dear Linda, please don't be embarrassed. FRuit flies and gnats are just one of those things that Mother Nature seems to give us to make our lives difficult. Hopefully this article will help you get rid of them before Thanksgiving - https://www.organiclesson.com/6-ways-to-instantly-get-rid-of-gnats-at-home/

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    • Scarlet Paolicchi Scarlet Paolicchi on Nov 19, 2018

      Yes. That is what I love about that link, it helps you work with what you have on hand:) I hope it takes care of the problem.

  • Michelle Michelle on Nov 19, 2018

    I live in the south what the comments above said will work. I do this as well. TAKE AWAY THEIR FOOD SOURCE. All fruit goes in the fridge for a few weeks. Kill them then don't let their friends into the buffet no food source no fruit flies.

    • Linda Linda on Nov 19, 2018

      Thank you Michelle!

      Do you always keep your fruit in the fridge? I like being able to keep some out (especially things like bananas - will they ever ripen in the fridge?), but it's not worth having these pests around if that's what I have to do.

  • Suzanne (Sue) Hall. Suzanne (Sue) Hall. on Nov 19, 2018

    I too had the fruit flies all summer.

    But the vinegar ,drop of liquid soap.

    I put some cling film over the.jar making a hole for them to get through.

    Hope it works for you..


  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on Nov 19, 2018

    We recently had a fruit fly problem, but I found a way to nearly totally eliminate them.


    I took a pint canning jar and placed a piece of apple, banana, whatever fruit piece that is available, then put a sandwich bag over the jar and secured it with a rubber band. After I'd done this, I poked a small hole in the top of the plastic bag with a knife and poked a very small plastic funnel into it.


    I set the jar "trap" in a very inconspicuous part of the kitchen and, voila, no more fruit flies.


    Every week or so, I empty the jar, wash it out and put in a new fruit "lure" in.


    Haven't had any fruit flies in months.

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    • Betty Betty on Feb 06, 2019

      Linda, I have the same issue. Thank you!