How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies: An Easy Guide
Who knew something so tiny could be so annoying? You never really think about them or expect them to show up. However, one day they seem to be swarming your home. Maybe you’ve left some fruit on the counter for way too long, or you forgot to take out the trash, or maybe you overwatered your mango plant. Either way, the facts are in, you have fruit flies. Fruit flies carry a ton of diseases, on top of just being really infuriating. Overall, nobody likes having bugs inside of their home. And fruit flies, especially, are unwanted guests. Actually, removing them is not so different from getting rid of gnats and other little house pests. So, if you are sick and tired of these tiny bugs dominating your home, let’s see how to get rid of fruit flies indoors easily and for good.
Fruit flies are especially unwanted houseguests
Where Do Fruit Flies Come From?
Infestations have to start somewhere. You may not want to believe it, but it’s usually us that bring in the fruit flies into our home. If some aren’t just sitting around on your groceries that you’ve happily came home with, then maybe you just happened to pick up a veggie or fruit on which a female fly already laid an egg on. Either way, your grocery bag is filled with eggs and flies hitching a ride. And once they have entered through the doorway, they start breeding everywhere. They move in into the bathroom, kitchen, and basement. Just the smallest sense of a food source and they are on it.
How to get rid of fruit flies
For fruit flies, they are attracted to nearly anything. From all types of fruit – ripe, overripe, rotting and even decaying. They also enjoy drinks such as liquor, wine, and beer. Not only that, but they don’t mind living in garabage disposals or trash cans. As long as there is any food, they will be in heaven. So, if you think throwing away that overripe banana will help with the infastation, you are not in luck. They will continue to live and breed, just now they will be in the trash. No matter the time of year, they can come pester you, however the warmer months are their favorite. It’s because it’s a prime time for growing fruits and veggies.
They also tend to inhabit trash cans and garbage disposals if any sufficient food is present
Fruit Fly Lifespan
Fruit flies that are female adults lay up to two thousands eggs on every surface that has moisture or is rotting. Within just one day, all the little tiny eggs have hatched and the larvae have started to eat all the rotting food they have around. They need exactly two days until they are adults and are ready to procreate. While you may think this is way to fast, it’s really not. Since they only live from around one to two week. Which basically makes them nearly impossible to have under control. So, get rid of them as fast as you can and take every step to prevent them.
All they need is around two days, and they’re all grown up and ready to mate
How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies
These buzzing, annoying,little flies are the last things you want to find in front of your face. Plus, since they multiply like crazy, it’s best to take care of them as soon as possible. So, let’s see how to get rid of these pesky little critters.
Fruit flies multiply like crazy
Throw Out Overripe or Rotting Produce
You know what you should do. If those peaches or apples start to look iffy, it’s time for them to go. Toss them out before they have turned into a breeding ground. And make sure after you have tossed them in the trash to tie it up and get rid of it at the moment.
If those apples and bananas are starting to look iffy, it’s definitely time to toss them out
Clean Everything
This is a logical step and it also pretty easy. You need to clean all the surfaces. If you see any rotting food, sticky messes, whether that be on the counter, in a cabinet, or even the refriferator, clean it up. Wipe it down. Keep the sinks free from any food.Over than vegetables and fruit, flies can also lay eggs on mops and rags, and even in empty cans. Always check your trash cans for any fly activities. If they lay them there it can get very bad.
Make sure to thoroughly wipe down and clean all the surfaces
Chemical Fruit-Fly Spray
Try out a chemical fruit-fly spray. There are plenty of bug sprays on the market you can get. They’re also quite affordable and usually get the job done pretty quickly.
Try out a chemical fruit-fly spray
Aunt Fannie’s FlyPunch
Another option is Aunt Fannie’s FlyPunch. It is made up of a special blend of vinegar and fermentation to reel the fruit flies. But the best part is, that it doesn’t involve any work. You just prep it up, open the cap and it’ll do it’s magic. It lasts around a month. After the job is done, you just close it up and toss it in the garbage.
Unlike homemade methods, there’s no mixing and prepping work involved
Fruit Fly Traps
A good option is the ready to use sticky traps. They aren’t toxicand they have sticky liquid. And they are food-based. Once a fly flies into it, it is quite literally stuck. Get rid of the traps when the sticky parts are filled. The traps can last upto a month and are cheap to replace.
These traps lure in the fruit flies with a non-toxic, food-based, sticky liquid
Hire An Exterminator
If you don’t want to deal with the infestation on your own, you can always call an exterminator. However, this should be your last resort. Although this is usually effective, it can be costly. You or your pets may also experience adverse reactions to the chemicals used to get rid of the fruit flies. You can ask friends for recommendations, or find services online.
Although exterminator are usually effective, it can be costly
Homemade Fruit Fly Trap
If you do not want to make a trip to the store or buy any expensive gadgets, try out these expensice homemade methods. And since these techniques are non-toxic and can be used safely all around the house. And if you want to double your chances, use a couple of them at the same time. Place them all around the house.
Since these methods are non-toxic, you can safely use them around the house
Apple Cider Vinegar and Plastic Wrap
This trap is a quite easy to put together. All you need for it is some vinegar, a rubber band, and some plastic wrap. Either pour some vinegar in a cup or just remove the cap of the bottle. You don’t need a full bottle of vingar, even a little will do the job. Cover the opening with some wrap. Then poke a couple of tiny holes so the flies can fly in. They just love the vinegar scent, and when they get inside, they will be trapped.
Even a nearly empty bottle will do the job, so don’t worry
Old Fruit, Paper Cone, and Vinegar
Vinegar is a golden tool when it comes to catching fruit flies. This fly is also simple. Take some vinegar, a piece of ripe fruit, a piece of paper and a jar. Roll the paper into a cone shape, make sure to put the narrow opening down. If you choose to, you can compost the paper afterwards. The smell and the vinegar will attract the fruit flies. They will once again get trapped and cannot fly away.
Roll a piece of paper into a cone and stick it into the jar, placing the narrow opening down
Dish Soap and Vinegar
If you feel like the other traps are not working, why not try out this one? As with the others, vinegar is the main ingredient. Fill a bowl with vinegar, add two to three drops of dish soap. However, the bowl will stay uncovered. The dish soap cuts the surface of the vinegar. This will sink and drown the flies.
In a bowl filled with vinegar, try adding only three drops of dish soap
Beer or Wine
Alongside vinegar, flies also adore the smell of beer and wine. Just leave out any open bottle with a bit of liquid left in it. Since the bottles have long necks that are slim the flies can only fly in ot out. This trap doesn’t take any effort. Use old wine or stale beer. They will eat it right up. If you want to be extra sure, you can add in some drops of dish soap.
Just like with vinegar, fruit flies love the smell of wine and beer
Dish Soap, Sugar, Black Pepper and Milk
Mix together in a pot two teaspoon of sugar, make sure its granulated and then add half a cup of milk. Put the pot with the milk on the stovetop or in the microwave. Stir it from time to time until all of the sugar has dissolved. After that’s done it’s time to add in some drops of soap. It will make the surface more sticky. Pour everything into a bowl or leave it in the pot. Add some black pepper. And that’s that.
Combine half a cup of milk with around two teaspoons of granulated sugar
Yeast Trap
Get a cup. Fill it with 1/3 water and one packet of dry yeast. Also add in a teaspoon of sugar. The flies will be attracted to the sweetness.
Yeast can also make a trap
Prevention
Now that we’ve got rid of them, it’s important to make sure they never come back. The main way you can do this by prevention. Cut off the flies from any food source. Here are some things you can try and do.
You need to cut off fruit flies from their food source
- Get rid of every overripe fruit or vegetables.
- Keep every type of produce in the fruit. Ot at least keep the covered with something. Either some plastic wrap or a cake dome.
- Wash everything well the second you get home.
- Take out your trash regularly.
- Invest into screens for your doors and windows. They should be tight-fitting, the ones that can keep out the adult flies.
- Use scents they hate. Nice scents such as eucalyptus, lemongrass, clove, or lavender.
- Keep fly traps all around the house at all times. Choose nice looking containers, so you can keep them on the countertop.
- Wash your reusable bags often. Preferably in the washer.
Fruit flies hate several nice smelling natural scents including lavender
Alongside other home invaders such as ants, fruit flies can be super annoying. That’s why we should know how to get rid of them. Overall, these are the classic methods you can try out on how to get rid of fruit flies indoors and away from your beautiful home.
Alongside other home invaders such as ants, fruit flies can be super annoying
