How To Get Rid of Fruit Flies
I know--not my usual post subject, but last night, I came up with a fool proof way to rid my house of fruit flies. I don’t know why I never thought of this before, seriously.
Not only does it work really well, but you don’t need to spend any money on traps. You don’t need to rig bottles with funnels, or cover bowls of red wine with plastic wrap and poke holes in it. That last one, by the way, was my usual go to. It worked, but it took time. I don’t need to do that anymore!
You know how fruit flies are fast? They see you coming, and they’re gone. Seconds later, they’ve all settled back down on your fruit bowl. You just can’t catch them.
But I found a way. Yes, I did! Here’s what happened…
I had some brown bananas on the counter. They were in a plastic grocery bag that was mostly closed. I knew I had to freeze them or they’d be disgusting in a day or so. The bag was behind a bowl that’s full of garden cukes and tomatoes.
I pulled the grocery bag toward me, and opened it to check out the bananas. As I did that, about 10 or 12 fruit flies flew out. Damn! I knew that even if I got rid of the bananas, the flies would soon be all over my fresh veggies. I tied the grocery bag in a tight knot, and then put that in another bag, then tied that one up. It’s outside in a barrel to be taken on trash day. Those nasties that are left in the bag aren’t getting back in my house. I still needed a way to get rid of the ones left in the house, though.
Here’s how I did it. After the minute or so it took me to get rid of the banana bag, I came back to the kitchen, and sure enough--the flies had settled into my vegetable bowl. You all know that as soon as you move the fruit (or veg), they all fly out and hover there. Watch them! They don’t take off to the next room like a regular fly. They hover and wait for you to get out of the way.
- I grabbed my bottle of kitchen cleaner. In this case, it’s Fantastik Lemon Spray Cleaner. (Use what you’ve got!)
- Take hold of the fruit bowl, but gently, so you don’t startle the flies.
- Now get ready, and quickly slide the bowl toward you, out of the way of the spray.
- Quickly spray the fruit flies with the cleaner--right where they’re hovering!
- Most of them will fall to the counter. Wipe them away with a paper towel.
- If there are a few stragglers, put the bowl back in position, let the flies settle back in, then repeat the above steps.
- Do this until they’re gone.
- If you don’t have spray cleaner, try hairspray!
That’s it! So simple, and yet so effective! Now usually, those 10 or 12 fruit flies would have been all over the vegetables, and probably would’ve made a lot more little flies in the meantime. The wine method I mentioned above--usually took about two weeks to get all the flies. What a pain!
What I did last night took SECONDS. Two sprays and they were all gone.
I checked the bowl this morning, still full of cukes and tomatoes, and not one fruit fly is left. ZERO.
Elle | Print Article | Share Article | Email Article | 12 Comments tagged cheap, easy, fool proof, fruit, fruit flies, how to get rid of, new england, vegeatables
Reader Comments (12)
Good to know! I make a concoction of ketchup and vinegar and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap, pierced with holes - they fly in and get stuck. Takes a couple days to get rid of them. This sounds so much better - 2 seconds? Next time I get infested I'm trying this.
We think so alike!!! I do this same thing, only I use Comet with Bleach Spray, the white and green bottle. Albeit it is harsh, but it works!!!!
Great job spreading the word!
This is great...I guess I'll have to put my fruit all in one bowl to do this. Love finding little tips like this! Thanks!
I'm I the only one on earth who hasn't tried the red wine thing? If you end up getting all those orchard peaches this weekend, sounds like you'll be well-prepared for the onslaught of fruit flies!
not quite at quick, but gets those that linger...
on the counter put cider vinegar in a shallow cup/bowl with a drop of dish soap (like dawn, or whatever you use). The flies like the vinegar and the soap changes the surface tension so that flies can't land on the surface. They get sucked in!
The things you learn working in a fruit fly genetics lab :)
Fruit flies are so darn annoying, I'll have to try this! My usual method involves swatting at them and never actually getting rid of them - very effective, let me tell you :)
Oh, Grasshopper! You are *so* ready to leave Temple! :) :lol:
I thought this was hilarious and had to share my story. About 10 years ago, my husband, a friend and I were renting a cabin in Maine for a summer, and as summer cottages go, it was ok (given a college student's bankroll it was a palace, LOL!). There were holes in the screen door which we did not notice at first, and of course, with the warm evenings, we had the door open and assumed the screen door was functional. Needless to say, we walked in to a kitchen with up to a GAZILLION little fruit-fly like bugs flitting about. We sprayed down every surface with what I think was Orange-Glo (or something similar) that we had purchased for cleaning the place, and lo and behold, the stuff killed each and every little bug on contact as soon as they landed on a surface.
So I totally dig your technique for getting rid of fruit flies! Gave me a chuckle and brought back an amusing memory!
This is great! Thanks! I usually use a small jar, pour in some apple cider vinegar, make a funnel out of paper so that it hovers just above the vinegar. Fruit flies go in, but they don't get out!
For the past 3 years, I had soooo many fruit flies. This year I didn't. I think it may be the basil plant I have in my kitchen window? That's the only explanation I can some up with. It's been such a relief...they are frustrating critters.
I am so thrilled I found your site. I have been fighting a few fruit flies myself and the stupid things found the dishrag, I bleach them and change them daily and still...they are there....going to try your idea and one of your readers with the vinegar and dish soap....wish me luck! Love your site!!!
Lol!!! This is what I do too...the hubs thinks I'm nuts, but it works!
*side note: This trick also works handily on ants...bees...mosquitos...should I be admitting this knowledge??*