Because Laying Poison Is Only Half The Battle!
Do you hear tiny, uninvited guests buzzing around your kitchen? Are you sick of these buzzing noises disturbing your peace and hygiene? You are at the right place. We will help you find out how to get rid of fruit flies contaminating your fruits.
What Are Fruit Flies?
If you spot tiny brown bugs with red eyes flying around your kitchen, they are just fruit flies. But be sure you are identifying them correctly because they can also be drain flies, house flies or fungus gnats.
Why Do I Have So Many Fruit Flies In My House?
Fruit flies can be drawn to ripe, rotten, or fermented fruits as well as fermented foods like wine, beer, and liquor. They will also probably be hanging around garbage disposals and trash cans if there is enough food. Don’t be shocked if you discover that a few small fruit flies can quickly grow into a major infestation. So, uncovered food and all this stuff is the reason you have fruit flies in your house.
How to Prevent Fruit Fly Infestations
Start by deep cleaning your kitchen and throwing out any rotten food. To cut fruit flies off from their food source and prevent them from entering your home in the first place, take these preventive measures:
- Regularly toss any overripe food item.
- When possible, store fruits and veggies in the fridge.
- Wash produce as soon as you get home to remove any existing eggs or larvae.
- Take out the garbage regularly.
- Clean up spills, especially those of fruit juice or alcohol.
But first, you will want to find a way to quickly trap the existing fruit flies in your kitchen. Our fly pest control experts have found that a DIY fruit fly trap is a quick and effective solution. But. If you want to skip the DIY approach, you can buy pre-made fruit fly traps or call the best pest control London services.
Why Do I Have So Many Fruit Flies in My House?
Fruit flies are commonly attracted to overripe or rotting fruit, vegetables, and other organic matter like spilled sugary drinks, empty bottles, or food scraps. They are drawn to the fermenting smell that emits from decaying produce.
If there are exposed food items, trash cans that haven’t been emptied regularly, or unclean surfaces where food residues accumulate, it creates an ideal breeding ground for these pests.
Additionally, fruit flies can also reproduce quickly in drains and garbage disposals, which may not be immediately obvious. Keeping your kitchen clean, storing fruit properly, and taking out the trash frequently can help reduce their presence.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in House
Here are the best ways to kill fruit flies, according to pest control London experts:
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Clean up any food spills and crumbs quickly, and rinse dishcloths, sponges, and mops well. Any residual food or liquid left on these cleaning tools will attract fruit flies. When cleaning the kitchen, don’t forget the sink drain and garbage disposal. Food residue inside drains and disposals is a fruit fly magnet. But pouring warm, soapy water or hot water down the drain or disposal can help.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Plastic Wrap Trap
Sweet apple cider vinegar works better than white vinegar for this DIY fruit fly trap. Once inside, fruit flies will be unable to leave due to the strong smell of vinegar. Make more of these traps and scatter them throughout your kitchen for an even greater possibility of success. Here’s how to do it yourself:
- Pour a little ACV into a glass.
- Cover the opening with plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band.
- Poke a few small holes for the fruit flies to enter.
Paper Cone, Vinegar, and Old Fruit Trap
The smell of rotting produce will help entice the fruit flies into the mixture, but the cone part of this fruit fly trap makes it difficult for them to get out. Here’s how to do it yourself:
- Place a little vinegar and a chunk of very ripe fruit in a jar.
- Roll some paper into a cone and stick it into the jar, placing the narrow opening down. You can recycle or compost the homemade funnel afterward.
Vinegar and Dish Soap Trap
If you find fruit flies immune to your plastic wrap or paper cone traps, try adding three drops of dish soap to a bowl of vinegar and leave it uncovered. The dish soap cuts the surface tension of the vinegar, so the flies will sink and drown.
Old Wine or Beer Trap
Fruit flies love the smell of wine. Try leaving out an open bottle with a little leftover liquid — the skinny neck will keep the flies trapped. The experts also recommend using stale beer to attract fruit flies to a DIY trap. Add a couple of drops of dish soap for better results.
Alcohol Spray
Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spritz any insects you see in your home. Just make sure to avoid spraying the alcohol on fruit, as it may cause it to spoil, which will lead to more fruit flies.
Can I Use Bleaching Agents to Kill Fruit Flies?
You may be seeking a quick remedy, such as pouring bleach down the drain, if you see fruit flies in it. However, experts claim that this isn’t the best course of action. While some larvae may be killed in this way, not enough eggs or larvae will be killed to solve the issue. The reason for this is that bleach doesn’t do a complete job since it runs down the drain too rapidly.
Here are some tips for keeping your waste disposal hygienic and fruit fly-free:
- Always run cold water for a few seconds after the food has stopped grinding and before turning on the disposal. After food exits the disposal, the water flow will assist it in passing through the pipes completely.
- Every week or so, with the disposal and faucet both turned off, toss in a bunch of ice cubes, a tablespoon of baking soda, a few thin lemon slices and a teaspoon of bleach. Turn the disposal on without running water until you hear the grinding stop. Then, with the motor still running, flush the machine with cold water for about a minute.
What Kills The Most Fruit Flies?
Have you noticed fruit flies buzzing around the homegrown fruits and vegetables in your garden and wondered how to get rid of flies outside? Our cleaning pros recommend using insecticide to kill them.
Fill a garden sprayer with the formula and apply it around the base of your home. You can also spray the liquid directly onto your fruits to kill any flies that may have already landed on them; just make sure to rinse your fruits and veggies thoroughly before eating them.
While insecticide is safe to use around people and animals, you will want to limit your exposure, as it may cause eye irritation and allergic reactions.
Fruit fly infestations can be frustrating, but with the right traps and prevention strategies, you can get rid of them quickly. From using apple cider vinegar traps to ensuring your kitchen stays clean and free of overripe fruits, taking a proactive approach can keep your home fruit fly-free. By maintaining cleanliness and using simple, effective methods, you can easily take control of the situation and enjoy a peaceful, fly-free kitchen.
FAQs
What is the fastest way to get rid of fruit flies?
The fastest way to get rid of fruit flies is by eliminating their food sources and breeding grounds. Start by throwing away any overripe or rotting fruit, emptying trash bins, and cleaning up any spilled liquids or food scraps. Next, clean drains, garbage disposals, and countertops to remove hidden breeding spots.
How do you get rid of fruit flies indoors?
To target the fruit flies directly, you can use a simple DIY trap: fill a small bowl with apple cider vinegar and cover it with plastic wrap, poking small holes in the top. The smell will attract the flies, and once they enter, they won’t be able to escape. Another option is to create a flytrap with a funnel placed over a jar of vinegar or wine, which also captures the flies as they try to get inside. For persistent issues, you can also consider using natural insect sprays or store-bought traps.
