How do I get rid of fruit flies?

Mary
by Mary

How do I get rid of fruit flies?


  10 answers
  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Oct 02, 2019

    Hi Mary,

    You will have to interrupt their life cycle to do this. It is not that hard!

    When you bring produce home from the market, the eggs are already on the outside of the produce and are getting ready to hatch when the conditions are right, so, you will need to wash off all produce and put it in the refrigerator. The exception is bananas, just wash and store at room temperature.

    Next, you now have fruit fly eggs in the drain, to kill them put 1/2 c baking soda in the drain, if you have a double sink, put it in both sides then add 1 cup white vinegar to each side. When the fizzing stops, rinse well with hot water, you may want to consider keeping your drains covered.

    For the airborne ones, place a sticky cardboard face up on an area they seem drawn to (you can get these at Walmard in a multi-pack for a reasonable price). These are the ones intended for catching mice. Place a small piece of sweet decaying fruit in the center of the sticky cardboard. The flies will be drawn to the fruit and land on the pad.

    Best to you.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 02, 2019

    Hello Mary,

    The flies are attracted to over ripe fruit, so to stop it ripening to soon, keep it in the fridge! Best wishes.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Oct 02, 2019

    The vinegar trap in the covered glass jar a cup has always worked for me.

    Per link below

    “Get Rid of Fruitflies with a Homemade Fruit Fly Trap. Pour just enough cider vinegar to cover the bottom of the jar. Add a drop of dish soap (it will break the surface tension of the vinegar so the fruit flies can't just sit atop the liquid). Now, cover the jar with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in the top.”


    Also I have read that these fruit flies can come in on your produce and recommendations state to store all the produce in the refrigerator to prevent them from becoming a nuisance. Hope this gelps.



    https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/homemade-fruit-fly-trap-123615

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Oct 02, 2019

    Fruit fly trap

    1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

    1 tbsp water

    a squirt of dish detergent

    Take a 20 oz soda bottle, cut it 1/3 way down and unscrew top. Pour mixture in the bottom. Invert the top and place in the bottle. They will fly in and get trapped.

  • Mary Mary on Oct 04, 2019

    Thanks, I will certainly try this.!

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Apr 17, 2023

    Fill a microwave-safe bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Microwave the bowl so the mixture becomes even more aromatic. Leave the bowl out uncovered as fruit fly bait. The soap will reduce the surface tension, causing any fruit fly that lands on the surface to drown.

  • Buy sticky traps - available on Amazon.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Dec 14, 2023

    I use apple cider vinegar with a squirt of dish detergent. Cut a soda bottle in half. Pour solution in the bottom. Remove cap and invert the top of the bottle into the bottom. You can cover with contact paper to make more attractive. The vinegar attracts them. The detergent makes them stuck. They can’t fly back out the tiny bottle neck.

  • Buy sticky traps. They are available on Amazon.