Fruit flies can be a nuisance at this time of year. They love to feast on fruit that we might have sitting out in bowls on our kitchen counters, and the warm weather creates the perfect environment for them to breed and multiply.
To make matters worse, fruit flies actually lay eggs in our drains, meaning they can be tricky to get rid of because simply washing your fruit when you bring it home isn’t always enough.
It doesn’t take long for a couple of fruit flies to turn into an infestation, and once they’re in your house, the pests can be difficult to get rid of. They’re too small to react well to fly sprays, and can’t be coaxed out of the window like other flies.
But according to cleaning fans on social media, there is something you can do to get fruit flies out of your home.
All you need are two common household ingredients which you may already have in your kitchen cupboards. These two products can be mixed together to create a DIY fly trap, and when the insects go inside, they “die instantly”.
The hack was shared on Reddit after a person asked for help with their “infestation”. They said: “Basically, over the past week or so, the house has been infested with fruit flies, up and downstairs. I’ve removed all the things they could be coming from, but there are still so many.
“The other day, I was taking the trash out, and out of the bag came about 70 flies… Do I have to call someone to help me? I can’t leave anything our without it being covered I flies within a few hours.”
After begging for help from cleaning fans, several people came to the person’s aid to suggest one thing – making a trap out of apple cider vinegar and washing up liquid.
One person said: “I have had that happen to me a few times. What I did was get a jar, put in apple cider vinegar, a bit of dish soap, cover with [cling film], take a fork, and make holes in the [cling film] with it. The fruit flies will go into the tiny holes, but can’t get out.”
Another added: “I just put dish soap, apple juice, and water into a deep glass and let it sit on the counter until they’re all gone or until I need a new solution for the glass.”
Other commenters suggested alternative solutions, including using lemongrass essential oil to drive the flies away as they don’t like the smell. Another popular suggestion involved using fans or turning down the air conditioning if you have it, as this will discourage the flies from breeding in the area.
Someone said: “The easiest way – by far – is to crank up the air conditioning to sub 65°F (18°C). Within a couple days, they will die. Obviously not ideal in the summer, but the cold helps to kill them off and stop them from breeding.”
A bartender who has dealt with flies before also wrote: “I’ve tried everything over the years when various bars I’ve worked in have had an infestation. Hands down, the best solution is simply leaving a fan on for a few days. The moving air stops them breeding somehow, and they have a very short reproductive cycle.”
How to get rid of fruit flies
1. Eliminate Attractants:
- Remove ripe or rotting fruit and vegetables from countertops.
- Clean food spills and crumbs, especially sugary substances.
- Empty trash cans and recycling bins regularly, and clean them if needed.
- Rinse out bottles and cans before recycling.
2. Clean Breeding Sites:
- Check and clean sink drains with a brush and boiling water or a vinegar/baking soda mixture.
- Wipe down counters and tables with soapy water.
- Clean under appliances where food debris may accumulate.
3. Set Traps:
- Apple Cider Vinegar Trap: Pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar into a glass or jar. Add a drop of dish soap (breaks the surface tension). Cover with plastic wrap and poke small holes, or leave it uncovered.
- Wine or Beer Trap: Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of wine or beer. Leave a small amount in a bottle with a narrow neck, or cover with plastic wrap as above.
- Fruit Trap: Place a piece of overripe fruit in a jar, cover with plastic wrap, and poke small holes.
4. Prevent Reinfestation:
- Store produce in the fridge or in sealed containers.
- Take out the bins regularly.
- Fix window screens and keep doors closed.
