How to get rid of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies get their name from their attraction to fruit – especially fermenting fruit.

If they get in your home, they can multiply quickly and create an infestation. They eat your food, buzz around your head and can carry a variety of diseases putting you at risk of infection. The most common place they inhabit is the kitchen as this room often contains a good source of food.

This article deals with methods and techniques you can use to get rid of fruit flies from your kitchen.

CLEAN UP!
Your first task in dealing with a fruit fly infestation is to remove any rotting or fermenting food sources from your kitchen.

Make sure all alcoholic beverages (and other sugary drinks) have lids on them so as not to attract the fruit flies.

Put all fruit and vegetables inside cupboards (temporarily) and give the kitchen a thorough clean.

All decaying matter should removed from your kitchen, so all shelving, worktops and the exterior of cupboards should be swept and wiped down. Under the refrigerator is also a prime location for discarded rotting food so make sure you clean under the fridge too.

Finally, flush your drains (and waste disposal unit if you have one) and empty the trash regularly before it begins to overflow.

BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES!
Ensure fruit flies can’t get into your kitchen by sealing off all possible ways in for them.

Keep your exterior door closed as much as possible, even if it is warm outside. Ventilate your home by opening windows in other rooms of your home instead. If you have kids, explain to them that is important they close the door behind them whenever they go in or out of the house.

Repair any cracks or crevices in the walls, floor and ceiling that may provide an entrance for fruit flies.

Also, ensure that your dustbin is located away from your exterior walls as fruit flies may initially be attracted to the garbage but then find a way in through the wall to your kitchen via piping or air vents.

EXTERMINATE!
The final task is to exterminate any fruit flies that have got into your kitchen. There are a multitude of ways to do this, but perhaps the easiest is to create a home-made fruit fly trap.

To do this, take an empty 2 litre coke (or other soft drink) bottle and cut off the top of it (about 15cm / 6″). Pour some fruit fly bait into the bottom half  such as fruit juice, apple cider vinegar or even beer. Next, invert the top part so that the spout is pointing downwards and insert it into the bottom half then secure it into place. Finally leave it somewhere close to your fruit fly infestation.

The fruit flies will be able to easily pass through the spout but be unable to find their way out.

There are also a number of other traps that you can purchase to catch fruit flies including:

Fly Zapper

This rechargeable fly zapper attracts fruit flies with its ultra-violet light and the electrocutes them.

Fruit Fly Trap

This fruit fly trap works in exactly the same way as the homemade fruit fly trap mentioned earlier. The manufacturers recommend filling with vinegar or wine.

Fruit Fly Killing Kit

This fruit fly killing kit contains both the trap and a chemical solution that will attract fruit flies.

Fly Paper

And, finally, good old-fashioned fly paper.

For more simple home-based solutions to getting rid of fruit flies, check out the Eliminate Fruit Flies website.