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Fresh fruit is not only healthy and delicious, it also is a huge attractant to pesky fruit flies. As soon as you leave fruit around in the open, they’ll quickly find their way to it, ruining it and creating a nasty problem in your home. They are easy to notice, as you will see swarms of the tiny black insects hovering above your fruit bowl. It is pretty annoying to deal with fruit flies, isn’t it?
You may think that putting fruit away in sealed containers or the refrigerator will be enough to prevent an infestation of fruit flies, but in reality, all it takes is for a piece of ripe fruit to be left on the counter for a brief period of time for them to find it. There is nothing more frustrating than your beautiful fresh fruit being ruined before you’ve even had a chance to eat it.
So, how do you get rid of these horrible little flying insects? Well, there are a number of ways, including several natural methods that can work effectively without the use of harmful chemicals. The following methods have been tested and proven to be useful in getting rid of fruit flies.
Natural Ways to Deal with Fruit Flies
Apple Cider Vinegar
The vinegar works even better if it is the unfiltered variety. Take an empty glass jar and pour a little of the vinegar into it. Then, cover the top of the jar with plastic wrap, and use a rubber band to secure it.
Poke a hole in the top to provide an entrance for the fruit flies, who are strongly attracted to the smell of vinegar. Once they are inside the jar, they are unable to escape.
Dish Soap and Vinegar
Pour some vinegar into a bowl, then add three drops of dish soap. Leave the bowl uncovered so the fruit flies are lured in.
Because of the way the soap interacts with the vinegar, the fruit flies will sink into the mixture and drown.
Fruit and a Paper Cone
For this method, put a piece of overripe fruit in the bottom of a jar, then make a cone by rolling a piece of paper and putting it into the jar.
Make sure the narrow end of the cone is pointing down to the bottom of the jar and the fruit. The smell of the ripened fruit will lure the flies in, and the shape of the cone will stop them from being able to escape.
Red Wine
You may be fond of red wine and not that keen on sharing it with fruit flies, but the good news is, you only need a small amount at the bottom of the bottle.
Simply leave the opened bottle out and the fruit flies, who love the smell of red wine, will fly in and won’t be able to fly back out because of the neck of the bottle.
Milk, Pepper, and Sugar Mixture
Create a mixture to tempt the fruit flies by combining a pint of milk, 2 ounces of ground pepper, and 4 ounces of raw sugar into a saucepan and let it simmer for around 10 minutes.
When it has finished simmering, pour the liquid into a shallow dish and watch the fruit flies be drawn to it. Once they are in the dish, they will drown.
Essential Oils
Like many other insects, fruit flies also have some issues with essential oils. Despite their love of vinegar and ripe fruit, they detest any strong smells. A sponge that has been soaked in lavender oil is a good deterrent, and they also do not like the smell of lemongrass and incense.
Some have had good results by placing cedar balls on the countertop where the fruit is kept. You can also make some DIY fly repellents with essential oils to deal with this problem effectively.
Basil
This simple herb reportedly repels fruit flies.
You could try keeping a basil plant near the fruit bowl or if it is easier, simply sprinkle some basil leaves onto the fruit.
It shouldn’t affect the taste of the fruit, so don’t worry about spoiling the flavor.
Bleach
Some fruit flies are more attracted to the smells coming from your kitchen sink than anything else. If this is the case, a good suggestion is to mix some bleach with some water to create a diluted solution, then pour it directly down the drain. It’s important to wear some protective gear when using bleach, especially rubber gloves and eyeglasses.
A vital warning is that you should not try and mix the bleach with ammonia because these two chemicals create a toxic fume when combined which could be deadly to humans and animals.
Carnivorous Plant
This natural option is not only effective but also a little entertaining for some people.
A good example of a carnivorous plant is the Sundew plant.
The leaves of this plant are sticky, and when the fruit flies land on them, they are eaten by the plant.
Aunt Fannie’s Fly Punch
This product is completely natural and highly effective against fruit flies. It is made from malic acid and sodium lauryl sulfate, both of which are deadly to flies.
It comes in a jar and all you have to do is take the top off and leave it on the counter. Before long you will see plenty of dead flies in the solution.
Fruit Fly Bar Pro Strips
If you have ever seen the strip’s people hang to trap house flies, then you will have a good understanding of what these Fruit Fly Bar Pro Strips are, because they are basically the same thing.
Hang the strips in any problem areas, from the ceiling, the knobs on your cabinets, or anywhere else suitable and they will take care of your fruit fly problem. You may even find the strips will capture other bothersome flying insects as well.
Check out this helpful and informational infographic on the topic of getting rid of fruit flies:
Fruit Fly Prevention
There are a few things you can do apart from storing fruit away that can help to prevent fruit flies from becoming a nuisance.
Prevention is always better than trying to solve a problem once it has developed, so with any kind of potential insect invasion, doing a few extra things to help is essential.
Dirty Dishes
A really attractive area for fruit flies is a kitchen sink with dirty dishes in it. The smells from leftover food particles on the dishes will be irresistible to the fruit flies, and they will be hovering above almost straight away.
Although you may not feel like doing the dishes at the end of a meal, especially after a really busy day, it really will help keep the fruit flies away.
Take Care of Damn Areas
Dampness can tempt both fruit flies and gnats, very similar insects that are attracted by the same things. Damp areas are typically found in the bathroom and in the kitchen, and there are a couple of things you should check.
First of all, check for a water leak, especially under sinks and tubs. If there is one there, get it fixed as soon as you can.
Secondly, don’t leave water lying around on surfaces such as the countertop. If water is spilled, clean it up straight away.
Managing Your Trash
It’s not always possible to get rid of your trash quickly, and the smells your trash can or bag can generate can be very tempting for fruit flies.
With a trash can, keep the lid on it, but if it doesn’t have a lid, you can try covering the top of the can with some newspaper or something similar.
Anything that will help to diminish the smells and stop the insects from getting into the can will be beneficial.
With trash bags, keep them tied up or put them into a covered bin.
Check Your Indoor Plants
You may be surprised if you see fruit flies hanging around your indoor plants. What they are attracted to is often dampness or the composition of the soil in the pots.
If you do notice the flies around your plants, change the soil and use a higher quality soil if possible, this is less likely to contain anything that will attract the fruit flies.
Freeze Your Compost
For those who like to compost, you may need to change the way in which you go about it to prevent fruit flies.
The problem with fruit flies in your compost is that they will often go from the compost to your vegetables and fruit growing in the garden and lay their eggs. If you freeze your produce before turning it into compost, it will kill both the fruit flies and their eggs.
When You Bring Produce Into Your Home
Whenever you bring fresh produce like fruit and vegetables into your home, make sure you wash it thoroughly before you put it away in the refrigerator or place it in the fruit bowl. You may think that if you purchase your produce from a store there shouldn’t be any need to wash it, but this isn’t true.
Fruit shops, in particular, have a lot of issues with fruit flies that you may not be aware of, and what you are bringing into the house, could already have eggs on it.
