How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

by Kelley Wilson Filed Under: Cleaning, Home Tips 16 Comments

The other day my friend Mary Katherine was asking if anyone knew how to get rid of fruit flies? I remembered a trick I heard a long time ago and decided to try it. Apparently we had attracted quite a few of them from some bananas and a long buried peach!

Fruit Flies are attracted to very ripe fruit and when a mother lays her eggs they will hatch within 24-48 hours. You will see one and then there are lots and they are so annoying. They will pop up very quickly and are very hard to catch and get rid of. This is the best way I have found to combat these little bugs. First throw all the fruit away because they have microscopic larvae on them..yuck! You also don't want a place for more fruit flies to lay eggs and multiply. Do not put any fresh fruit out for a few days. Take a shallow dish and pour in some vinegar (I only had apple cider on hand). Then pour in a few drops of dish soap, this will break the surface of the vinegar. The fruit flies are attracted to the vinegar and will end up drowning in the solution. Its and easy non-toxic way to get rid of fruit flies and the kids think it's pretty neat too!

Do you have any other ways to get rid of fruit flies, I'd love to hear them. Please leave them in the comments below.

Comments

Denis says

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My method is similar to yours but I use a plastic container, punch a small hole in the top. (about the size of the fruit fly, real small, use a sharp pencil), and I put a banana peel in the container. They find the fruit smell from the rotting fruit very attractive. Once they thave gone into the container, I take it out to the composter and open the container. The flies leave, and I dump the rotted fruit. I clean it and put in the next peel to get the other flies. I imagine you could also use your vinegar/soap method to drown them instead.

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- Kelley Wilson says
  
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  That is a great idea, I will have to try it!
  
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Debbie says

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Nice tip. I always have a few lemons cut in half with a couple of cloves stuck in them placed strategically around my kitchen . it seems to stop flies of all types from entering. A cook passed it on to me when I asked why there were half lemons with cloves in the restaurant kitchen where I once worked.

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- Kelley Wilson says
  
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  That is awesome will have to try it thanks for sharing Debbie!
  
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Trinity says

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Where I live (on the Gulf Coast) gnat invasions are a reoccurring issue, so I'm thrilled to find your non toxic method of ridding my home of them. In the past I've used the sprays, but detest the thought of those chemicals on and around my food storage and prep areas. Ewww. Your way sounds SO MUCH safer and cleaner. In fact, I won't even have to disinfect my kitchen afterward. Pinning now and then heading to the cupboard for supplies so I can get started. Thanks so much for sharing. :-)

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- Kelley Wilson says
  
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  You are welcome and happy gnat hunting LOL!
  
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Melissa Maher says

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Gotta say, I think fruit flies seek me out purposely each Summer to drive me crazy! My kids love fresh fruit - great right?! So I like to leave it available for healthy snacking. Shortly into Summer however, the fruit flies suddenly appear. ( I'm actually convinced they first follow me home from the grocery store!) Once present, they are crazy hard to completely get rid of! Your method will catch some, but here are some improvements I suggest due to much trial and error: Most importantly, put your serum in a semi- closed container. Some people suggest a paper cone funneled toward the liquid. I find a container with holes ( an old herb or spice container works great ) lures them in with little chance of escape! Second - a variety of acid liquids will work, ie: wine, cider vinegar, or red wine vinegar (my favorite) The dish soap is essential, just a few drops!. When they're really bad, I even place a slice of citrus in there to get the ripe, rotting thing going! Finally , I think it's important to place several traps around your kitchen. Fruit flies life cycle is a quick one - you need to catch them fairly fast to cut down the hatching of new ones. I have also had trouble with them "resting" in my house plants, so this is a good time to move them outside for some Summer sun !

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Oscar Desker says

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I think I like this technique rather than killing these fruit flies. It is so gross and can cause bacteria to spread all over the house. Thanks for posting this here.

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Jessi @ Practically says

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Awesome tip, glad to see it works for you too! I've never done it purposely to get rid of fruit flies, but I did leave a bit of ACV in a measuring cup after cooking a while ago, and a few days later there was one little fruit fly drowned in it.Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!

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- Jessi @ Practically says
  
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  Just wanted to let you know I featured this on my blog today! You can check it out and grab a Featured button here: http://practicallyfunctional.net/2012/11/the-fun-...
  
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Stephanie Michaels says

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Great info! I keep fruit out on the counter hoping the kids will eat it and we get fruit flies from time to time. ma-wa-ha-ha now I know how to get them!Stephswtboutique.blogspot.com

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Adelina Priddis says

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awesome tip! I accidentally stumbled on a similar way...I just left some peach juice on the counter, and they all got attracted to it, then drowned. So gross, but very effective.

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Diane Balch says

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So glad to get your tip. I just read that the flys actually hatch from the fruit. I aways wondered how they knew there was fruit around.

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Becca Acker says

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Going to pin this. Thanks for sharing!

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Christine says

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GREAT tip Kelley!!! I'm soooo going to try this next time they up around my house!!Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer... From Dream To Reality!

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Lisa/Fresh Eggs Dail says

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Great tip! I found you through the DIY Dreamer and would LOVE for you to come share at my weekly blog fest: <a href="http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/11/farm-girl-blog-fest-8.htmlhttp://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/11/farm... />LisaFresh Eggs Daily

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