Fruit flies are most likely the little flies you’ve spotted around the house, mostly in the kitchen. They can be found throughout the year, but mainly in the summer and fall. Their fondness for fruits and vegetables is the source of that.
They attack all foods like onion, bananas, potatoes and others which have been left on the counter. They usually breed in overripe foods, but they can also do it in anything moist like the garbage, cleaning rags, drains etc. The female flies can lay up to 500 eggs quite quickly so you should act fast. Here is a list of 10 things you can do in order to get rid of them.
Make fruit fly traps
Use vinegar
Put some vinegar in a small cup. You should use balsamic or apple cider vinegar and not white vinegar. Wrap the top tightly in plastic. Poke holes in the wrap and wait for the flies to go inside. Once they crawl in, they won’t be able to find their way out. You can release them outside afterwards.
Use banana
This is the same idea, but instead of the vinegar you put ripened banana or some other fruit.
Use soap
Pour some water in a cup and add a few drops of soap and one or two tablespoons of vinegar. As you already know, the vinegar attracts the flies and the soap makes them fall in the water and drown.
Use a carnivorous plant
You can also get a carnivorous sundew plant. Many gardeners use them and the fruit flies just stick on their leaves and are then eaten by the plant. This is a long-term solution in case of infestations.
Get rid of breeding grounds
Remove damp cloths
If you have any damp rags in the kitchen, try putting them away. You should also wash them everyday since this is the perfect place for the flies to breed.
Put away ripe fruit
The natural process that happens with fruit is that they ripen and then start to ferment. At this moment they are filled with flies. Try putting the fruits in the fridge or in paper bags if you want to leave them on the counter. Flies breed harder in the cold.
Check for rotten produce
Check all of your produce and see whether you have to throw away something. In case there is rotting you will be attracting fruit flies and helping them breed. This is why you should do regular check-ups.
Freeze your compost
If you are using a compost then you should maybe switch some of your habits. Fruit flies could wreak havoc by going to your garden and laying their eggs in your produce. A good idea is to freeze the produce before putting it in the compost, since in this way you will be killing any fruit flies that might be inside.
Prevent infestation
Use essential oils
It has been proven that basil prevents fruit flies. This raw plant might come in handy if you don\t want to deal with infestations again. Put it near the fruits on the counter or put basil leaves on them. You can also use lavender oil and soak a sponge – as a rule, the flies hate strong smells.
Wash the produce you bring in the house
You can bring flies in your house from the grocery store if they are hidden in the produce, ready to be hatched. You should wash the vegetables and fruits you are bringing in as to eliminate the possibility. A good idea is to have a bucket outside for washing produce before going inside.