How do I get rid of fruit flies w/o using insecticide?

Carol Cullens
by Carol Cullens

I recently saw a hack regarding getting rid of fruit flies in the house. Involved using fresh lemons, not insecticide. Have not been able to find it again. Help!

  11 answers
  • Josieburns7 Josieburns7 on Nov 02, 2018

    Just put some O.J. in a glass. cover it with some sort of wrap (I believe either Saran or Aluminum will work). Poke a hole in the top, perhaps the size of a pencil. The fruit flies will go inside and die. They don't know how to get out.

  • Amanda Amanda on Nov 02, 2018

    Hi Carol. I put apple cider vinegar in little bowls. Then I add a little dish soap and just enough water so the soap starts to bubble. Leave them out on your counters and you should see them starting to go into the bowls. Good Luck!

  • Bernice H Bernice H on Nov 02, 2018

    For me...apple cider vinegar in a small glass with just a drop or two of dawn..which is a surfactant..they love wine, or ac vinegar..and will show up in the bottom of the glass...👏. Just leave out on counter..I just brought home some fruit flies from grocery store. Grrr...I guess they are hatching as we speak. 😳

    • See 1 previous
    • Bernice H Bernice H on Nov 02, 2018

      Hope you get some relief..I have never had to use plastic wrap on top. The soap is what makes the surface Break so they can’t get out,and down they go.

  • 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.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Dec 15, 2023

    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 Walmart 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.

  • Annie Annie on Dec 24, 2023

    This video may be able to help you out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRTu-h_WjH4