On a beautiful summer’s day, there’s nothing more annoying than walking into your kitchen and seeing dozens of fruit flies invading your space. Despite the stigma around having insects in your home, having fruit flies doesn’t mean your house is dirty, but they can cause an infestation if unchecked.
Fruit flies appear more frequently in the summer as warmer temperatures make for ideal breeding conditions. The pests also stick around in kitchens as leftover fruits and vegetables on countertops or in trash bins provide a great food source. There are many methods to get rid of fruit flies, such as using sticky fly traps or wine bottles, but there is one simple solution that can save you both time and money.
According to Good Housekeeping, the simplest and natural solution to getting rid of fruit flies “once and for all” is by using apple cider vinegar. This is due to the scent of fermented fruit, which fruit flies adore.
The experts at Good Housekeeping shared: “The fruit flies are naturally attracted to the scent of apples from the cider vinegar. Because of this, they head straight for the liquid, but the bubbles formed on top of the pint glass mean they are unable to fly back out.”
How to use apple cider vinegar to trap fruit flies
Method:
- Fill a pint glass halfway with cider vinegar.
- Pour a little washing-up liquid on top.
- Top up the pint glass with water.
- Stir to create bubbles on the surface of the liquid.
- Leave the glass out on the countertop or windowsill in your kitchen
This solution is extremely cost-effective compared to other methods: a 500ml bottle from Sainsbury’s costs £2.10, whereas sticky traps retail between £3 and £6.
To increase the effectiveness of this method, an expert at The Kitchn said to pour the apple cider vinegar and dish soap into a Mason jar and carefully punch a few tiny holes into the sealed lid with a hammer and nail.
They added: “I guess fruit flies are really tiny, because when I went to check this trap at the end of the week, it was FULL of dead flies. Seriously, at least 50 — I couldn’t count them all! (So gross, and so satisfying at the same time!).”
It is also recommended that you frequently check your sink drains and kitchen bins, as fruit flies are always looking for a suitable place to lay eggs. You should also make sure you keep on top of your fruit stock, using it up before it begins to ferment.