How to get rid of fruit flies? Help!

[castmember19]

The past few days we've noticed some tiny little flies hanging around in our kitchen. At first we didn't think much of them, but they seem to be getting worse. I just went into the kitchen and I was disgusted. I immediately did research and found out that they were fruit flies.

Do you have any tricks on getting rid of them? I'd like to get rid of them ASAP seeing as my parents seem to be just waiting for the problem to go away by itself. Seems like it's getting worse to me and it grosses me out. I did a few Google searches but some methods seemed complicated.

Any ideas?

 

[NaLisa]

Apple cider vinegar in a mason jar worked for us. The fruit flies are really attracted to it. You have to roll a piece of paper up into a funnel shape and put it at the top of the mason jar. The fruit flies go after the vinegar in the jar but then they can't figure out how to escape.

 

[formill]

We put vinegar or wine in a small cup- cover with plastic wrap -poke a few holes with a toothpick and catch hundreds or maybe thousands it is gross-they just drown don't know why they go in. We have this problem every year and I notice more and more even at the grocery stores they will have them all over the fruit by mid summer. I have already for this year put all my fruits in the fridge- nothing at all is left out. In the winter here I can leave a fruit bowl out with apples/bananas etc and have no fruit flies but as soon as we get warmer there they are.

 

[bitohoney]

Oh no I hate those things and I tried what formill tried but it didn't get rid of them all! For the past 2 summers I've had them. Hopefully they won't come back this year.

 

[heart4pooh]

I was told to put the vinegar in a bowl with a couple of drops of dish soap. I didn't cover it. They swarmed to it and drowned. I put 3 bowls around my kitchen and put my fruit in the fridge after that.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Those bowls of liquids are not going to get rid of them. I remember having fruit flies when youngest DS (whose bedrom in on the 2nd floor) put a banana peel in his paper can!

It grossed me out as well. I found the only way to get rid of them was to spray. You will want to keep people and pets out for a while.

TC

 

[daisyduck123]

A tall cup of apple cider vinegar sitting right next to the kitchen sink. Add some drops of dish detergent and swirl it around. This will create suds. The fruit flies fly in, but get caught in the suds.

If you really have a LOT of fruit flies, leave several around your kitchen.

 

[HoneyPooh]

The apple cider vinegar worked for me when I had that problem. I put a few small cups about 1/4 full of the vinegar and covered with plastic wrap. Cut a few holes and good to go. Got all but a few strays within about 24 hours.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I was told to put the vinegar in a bowl with a couple of drops of dish soap. I didn't cover it. They swarmed to it and drowned. I put 3 bowls around my kitchen and put my fruit in the fridge after that.

This also worked for me. No need for special covers. I used red wine and dish soap.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I've done this and it works like a charm!


http://www.theidearoom.net/2009/09/fruit-fly-trap.html

 

[torinsmom]

Those bowls of liquids are not going to get rid of them. I remember having fruit flies when youngest DS (whose bedrom in on the 2nd floor) put a banana peel in his paper can!

It grossed me out as well. I found the only way to get rid of them was to spray. You will want to keep people and pets out for a while.

TC

I disagree; this has worked for me several times. I just use a paper cup, so I can throw it away afterwards. Put in juice or water and a piece of ripe fruit and cover with plastic wrap. I use a rubber band to hold the plastic tight to the cup. Poke small holes in the plastic with a pencil. The cover is so even the flies who don't get into the liquid are trapped. It takes 3-4 days every time I do it. I usually put out fly paper as well. DO NOT leave fruit out while you have fruit flies.

 

[SpecialK]

Are you sure they're fruit flies? At our previous house, we had what I thought were fruit flies. I tried all the tricks mentioned above and nothing worked, so I took a dead one to an exterminator. Turns out they were sewer flies that get into your house through the drain. He gave us a gel to put down the drain and we never saw them again.

 

[ilovejack02]

A tiny bit of red wine in a glass or vinegar in a mason jar with holes punched in top of lid, works like a charm.

 

[pixiewings71]

Yes if they are truly fruit flies the cider vinegar or wine trick will absolutely work. I've used it many times. I always have a "cheap" bottle of wine sitting around that I don't mind wasting for just this purpose.

I think the pp who said it didn't work may have had the sewer flies a pp referenced, the vinegar or wine trick does not work on those.

 

[castmember19]

So I tried the fruit trap. I got a bottle and put some cantelope and banana at the bottom and did the paper funnel last night. As of right now, quite a few of them are trapped! I'm pleased with myself.

Unfortunately it didn't catch them all and there are still a bunch around. I might try the red wine/dish soap trick next and place them around so I can catch more. My dad also bought spray but it smells gross so I'd rather not use it.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Do these things but also poor boiling hot water down your drains several times a day. They breed in the sink drains, and boiling water will kill the eggs. I never knew about this until I had a problem with them and I called a pest control company and he told me to do this. It worked fast.

 

[castmember19]

Do these things but also poor boiling hot water down your drains several times a day. They breed in the sink drains, and boiling water will kill the eggs. I never knew about this until I had a problem with them and I called a pest control company and he told me to do this. It worked fast.

I read about this method online and I suggested it to my mother, but she wouldn't do it because she's convinced the fruit flies aren't in the drain, but are the fault of me leaving macaroni out the other day. I think she's just mad at me for leaving the macaroni out. Either way, I swear to her that I can see the flies swarming around the drain.

Guess I'll do it myself.

I also tried the red wine trick but my dad said I couldn't open the bottle and insisted I use the spray of live with the flies.

 

[torinsmom]

So I tried the fruit trap. I got a bottle and put some cantelope and banana at the bottom and did the paper funnel last night. As of right now, quite a few of them are trapped! I'm pleased with myself.

Unfortunately it didn't catch them all and there are still a bunch around. I might try the red wine/dish soap trick next and place them around so I can catch more. My dad also bought spray but it smells gross so I'd rather not use it.

Thanks for the tips!

Go to the Dollar Tree and get some fly traps and hang them over the jar. That will catch some that don't go in the jar.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I read about this method online and I suggested it to my mother, but she wouldn't do it because she's convinced the fruit flies aren't in the drain, but are the fault of me leaving macaroni out the other day. I think she's just mad at me for leaving the macaroni out. Either way, I swear to her that I can see the flies swarming around the drain.

Guess I'll do it myself.

I also tried the red wine trick but my dad said I couldn't open the bottle and insisted I use the spray of live with the flies.

It does work, I can promise you that. If I ever see one or two, I do this and I have never had a problem since. In fact, that's all I did, I didn't use the wine or anything. I did this when I had them so bad once that they were all over our house when we came back from vacation. I poured the boiling water in the tub drains & all sinks and within a couple of days they were gone.

I don't think I have ever been so frustrated by anything as I was when I had this problem, mainly because I found it to be GROSS! I can't stand bugs of any kind.

 

[teacup princess]

Put an overripe banana in the oven. Leave the door open overnight. In the morning, slam the door shut and turn on the oven. It's sorta mean, but satisfying.