Even though fruit flies aren’t the type of pests that present the biggest health and safety hazard, they are an incredible nuisance in our home that never seems to go away. However, while fruit flies can easily be brought into the house with produce, or even attracted with tiny crumbs and droplets, the good news is that they can be just as easily eliminated from our homes, mostly with a few products we already have in our pantries. So, here are some of the most efficient ways of getting rid of fruit flies:
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Using a boiling pot of white vinegar
Fruit flies have a tendency to situate themselves in damp and dark, hidden away areas, such as toilets, garbage disposals, and shower and sink drain. If you notice that fruit flies have infested your pipes and drains, one of the simplest solutions might be to pour a boiling pot of white vinegar (or even water) down your drains. However, it’s worth noting that this method might only be entirely successful if the infestation isn’t too large. On that condition, the boiling vinegar might pass down your drains too quickly, not being able to kill all the larvae and eliminate your problem.
Making a homemade jar trap
For a more efficient way of getting rid of fruit flies, fill a jar or a glass with white vinegar (it doesn’t necessarily need to be full – even half or nearly empty can do the trick). Then, cover the top of the jar/glass with cling film or plastic wrap, before securing the edges in place using a rubber band. Finally, poke several small holes in the plastic wrap using a toothpick, to allow the flies to go into the jar. While they will be attracted to vinegar, forcing them inside, they will have no way of escaping the cling film barrier.
Whether you are dealing with several infestations, or you simply want to increase your chances of success, you could make a number of these effective traps, and put them all around the kitchen, or your home.
Creating a trap using old wine
In case you don’t have vinegar, you could also put some stale, leftover wine to use by turning it into a DIY fruit fly trap, similar to the vinegar option. Whether you use the existing wine bottle as a container or pour the wine into a bowl or a jar, the aim of this trap is to use the wine aroma to lure the flies into the wine container. Adding a bit of liquid soap might also help make this trap more potent, as chances are the fruit flies will die immediately after making contact with the surface of the liquid.
Apart from wine, other beverages made with fermentation, such as beer, might also do the trick. However, you might have much better success with drinks that have a sweeter, fruitier aroma.
Opting for store-bought products
If you don’t want to create homemade fruit fly traps, there many products on the market that might help you get rid of these pests, such as insect repellents and sprays that you could sprinkle around your kitchen, bathroom or any other area where you might have spotted fruit flies. But the most effective store-bought product might actually be sticky plastic or paper fly traps. Not only will the fruit flies have no way of escaping after they land on the tacky surface, but these traps could also help you get rid of other common pests, such as moths and gnats, in case you are dealing with several infestations.
Keeping the fruit flies away
Whether you want to speed up the elimination process or you simply want to put a stop to a new infestation, remember that prevention is the best form of pest control. Fruit flies don’t only feast on rotten fruit and vegetables, but also crumbs, leftover food, and spilled drinks, which is why it’s essential not to support their survival. This means that you should try to protect any leftover food with foils and containers, clean up crumbs and spills immediately, keep your trash cans covered and sealed, and generally maintain the hygiene of the most important areas, such as the kitchen and the bathroom, as best as you can.
While fruit flies might be inconvenient and irritating pests, getting rid of them could be as simple as preparing a couple of ingredients you probably already have in your home.
