How To Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Don’t you just hate these horrible little bugs? Me too! Here’s my tips on how to get rid of fruit flies..

Fruit flies have to be one of the most annoying bugs I have come across and until I started researching them last summer I had all sorts of problems trying to get rid of them. Unfortunately I live near a very large orchard and so the problem is potentially much worse for me than you, but the principles are still the same no matter where you live.

Now I’m not one for killing any living creature, even those that only live for a few days. But fruit flies I’m afraid, are an exception. Killing them and disposing them as quickly as possible is truly the only solution and one that does not leave me with any sleepless nights!

After a few days of online investigation I declared war on these yucky insects and managed to rid my home of them once and for all! With my preventative measures in place, all I do now is have a couple of fruit fly traps in the kitchen, just in case 1 or 2 stray ones find there way in on the breeze. Here are my findings and recommendations:

Remove The Source

Before we talk about how to get rid of fruit flies and using a fruit fly trap, we first need to understand why they arrive in the first place and to stop them coming back again.

Fruit flies are attracted to moist, organic material, which could be anything from over ripe/rotting fruit and vegetables to damp dish cloths, floor cloths etc. This is their food source and their breeding ground, so the first action to take is to eliminate these areas. Anywhere you have food or liquid is a potential fruit fly hazard, but the main place is usually the kitchen area.

Here’s A Checklist Of Actions You Should Take:

• Keep fruit and vegetables completely covered and sealed. Once ripened they should be stored in the refrigerator.

• Make sure surfaces are clean and dry, especially around and under the sink – use a disinfectant. Check for any drips or leaks while you’re there.

• Wash dish cloths regularly or change them. Don’t let them stay moist.

• Don’t have exposed trash cans. Make sure it has a tight fitting lid which remains securely shut and empty your trash regularly.

• If you have a dishwasher, check it regularly for food debris collecting in the filters and inside the machine. Don’t store dishes in it for prolonged periods and keep the door closed.

• Clean under and around your refrigerator, stove and other appliances and furniture for hidden spills and dropped food.

• Flush your sinks, drains and garbage disposals with heavy duty drain cleaners. Do this once every few hours at first. Also partially plug the drain and fill the sink so the cleaners trickle down slowly and stay present in the pipes.

• Check any cupboards and pantries for exposed foods like potatoes, tomatoes or bags of grains. Any food source that might be over ripe or rotting.

• Remove any potted plants, especially herbs type plants outside or spray them with insecticide that is safe to use on houseplants and edibles.

Now that you’ve cleaned up your kitchen and other rooms in the home that are potential fruit fly breeding grounds, you need to eliminate other outdoor sources, to stop them returning.

• Keep trash cans as far away from the house as possible. Give them a clean once a month to prevent rotting food accumulating in the bottom.

• Same applies to any compost you may have. Keep it as far away as possible. Better still, stop throwing waste food onto it and keep it covered up.

• Use screens over your doors and windows and make sure there are no holes or tares in them. Look for and fill any cracks around doors and windows.

Conclusion

If you live near lots of plants, bushes, fruit trees etc. then fruit flies will inevitably be close by. The secret is to not let them be attracted to your home. You won’t be able to stop every single one, but you can stop them from breeding and infesting your home. The process for getting rid of them is pretty straightforward and easy, it’s just a matter of being thorough. Plus the one or two that do find their way in can be taken care of with your fruit fly trap.

Here’s a video of how to make your own, simple, fruit fly trap:

This type of home made method does work and you can try experimenting with different bait such as beer, wine, old fruit etc.

Let me know what you think and if you have any stories you would like to share with us. Drop your comments below.

Sarah