Fruit flies are disgusting and annoying. I’ve had them in my kitchen occasionally but never tried to do anything to get rid of them. I figured they would eventually go away, which they did.
But a reader asked me how to get rid of them NOW. So I did a little research and discovered you actually can get rid of them and it’s not that hard.
Here’s what you do:
1. Put a piece of rotten fruit in a large, clean jar.
2. Place the jar near the fruit flies.
3. Make a paper funnel and place the small opening in the jar with the wide opening at the top of the jar. The fruit flies will enter the cone through the large end and then they’re trapped (fruit flies are not the brightest creatures on the planet).
4. After you get a bunch, take the jar outside and release the flies.
Here’s another option:
1. Put a piece of old, skinless fruit and some balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar in a bowl.
2. Cover the bowl tightly (no wrinkles) with plastic wrap.
3. Poke many small holes in the plastic with a fork or some other sharp object. Keep the holes tiny because large holes allow the flies to escape.
4. After you get a bunch in the bowl, take the bowl outside and release the flies. With this method, a stray fly or two can escape before you get the bowl emptied.
Another option:
Get your vacuum out, and using a hand held attachment, vacuum as many fruit flies as you can. I’ve heard this actually works.
And one final option:
Leave a small bowl filled with alcohol (wine, bourbon, beer, any kind will work) on the counter. The fruit flies go for a swim and never recover. I don’t have any alcohol at my house so I couldn’t test this one. But I heard it works.
If you want to read more, here are a couple of resources:
http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Fruit-Flies
http://www.ehow.com/how_2002530_rid-fruit-flies.html#ixzz28ixlpraV
Nice tips, I will give them a try, not being so bothered by them now as it starts to cool down but in the summer they can be a problem.
Thank goodness. Really tired of the hot summer.
I didn’t know I even had any fruit flies until I set these two containers out. Guess they’re not quite done here in the Midwest.
Sure can! We’re still fighting them here, though. You’d think we would be done since the weather has cooled off. At least I know what to do now.
I used apple cider vinegar in a jar minus the fruit with a white paper towel instead of the saran wrap and it seemed to work fairly well. I noticed they seem to be attracted to lighter colors. You are very kind to release them–I am not that nice to the poor fruit flies. I may have to try that last tip as my husband cannot stand the smell of the apple cider vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is disgusting. It smells bad and looks gross.
My preference would be to kill them but I can’t figure out how to do it without losing some in the process. How do you do it?
Do you poke holes in the paper towel or just lay it on top?
Great ideas – thanks for sharing. I think we just moved past the fruit fly season into cold weather but you never know! I’ve seen a few of the buggers around even still. Saying hi from SITS!
Definitely keep it in mind for next season.
We’re still having quite a few fruit flies so I’ve been pleased at how well these strategies work.
Thanks for stopping by.