Keep fruit flies out of your kitchen with our guide to preventing and getting rid of this common pest.
Warm weather brings sunny skies, longer days, and more time spent outdoors.
But with it also comesunwanted pests, including fruit flies.
Credit:Julie Soefer
l While their lifespans are short (normally 40-50 days), fruit flies are persistent and pesky.
Keep reading to learn how to get rid of fruit flies in your home.
Julie Soefer
What Brings Fruit Flies Inside?
Fruit flies thrive in warm weather and where there’s food nearby.
To keep fruit flies at bay, verify to regularly take out the trash and empty your compost bin.
Make it a habit toclean your kitchen sink drainandrun your garbage disposalto get rid of any leftover food.
Fruit flies also prefer damp places to lay their eggs.
This means you might see fruit flies buzzing around in your bathroom.
And remember to run your bathroom exhaust fan to eliminate any moisture or mildew.
you’re able to also opt for fly-killing sprays for indoors or outdoors.
Before applying to your skin, verify to check allergy restrictions.
Try these easy, budget-friendly solutions to kill and trap fruit flies.
Each one can be made quickly from ingredients you likely already have in your home.
Here’s how to get rid of fruit flies using a simpleapple cider vinegarsolution in a jar.
Step 1: Pour Vinegar.Begin by adding 12 cup of apple cider vinegar to a glass jar.
Finally, use a pencil to poke a hole in the plastic wrap.
The dish soap will trap the fruit flies as soon as they touch the liquid.
Place your homemade fruit fly trap near your fruit bowl or trash can.
Dump out the mixture and refill every week or as needed until no more flies appear.
Fruit Fly Spray
Skip the spendy bug repellent sprays, andmake this natural fly-killing spray at home.
Step 1: Heat Water.Start by boiling 2 ounces of water.
Spritz the liquid on fruit flies as you see them and on surfaces where they land.
This spray also works on the go.
Pack the spray bottle in your bag for baseball games, walks, and camping trips.
Wine Trap
Have a bottle ofred winein the kitchen that’s been open too long?
Instead of throwing it out, use it to get rid of fruit flies quickly.
Step 1: Pour Wine.First, pour 1 cup of red wine into a shallow bowl.
Step 3: Poke Holes.Use a pencil to poke a small hole in the plastic wrap.
Place the trap near the problem area to attract and trap fruit flies.
Fruit Flies - Oklahoma State University.Fruit Flies | Oklahoma State University, 26 Apr.
Fruit Flies: Facts & Identification, Control & Prevention.Orkin Canada, 17 Nov. 2023, www.orkincanada.ca/pests/flies/fruit-flies/
