To keep fruit flies away effectively, follow these key steps:
Preventive Measures
- Remove attractants: Regularly discard overripe, rotting, or decayed fruit and produce, as well as fermented items like beer, wine, or liquor, which attract fruit flies. Also, clean trash cans and garbage disposals frequently
- Store produce properly: Keep fruits and vegetables refrigerated when possible to slow ripening and reduce attraction. If you keep fruit out, cover it with breathable cloth like cheesecloth or a towel to block flies while allowing airflow
- Clean thoroughly: Wipe down kitchen surfaces daily to remove food residues, clean up spills immediately (especially fruit juices or alcohol), and take out garbage regularly
- Wash produce: Rinse fruits and vegetables as soon as you bring them home to remove any eggs or larvae
Natural Traps to Catch Fruit Flies
- Apple cider vinegar trap: Pour apple cider vinegar into a glass or jar, add a few drops of dish soap (to break surface tension), cover with plastic wrap secured by a rubber band, and poke small holes for flies to enter but not escape. Place several traps around the kitchen
- Paper cone trap: Place a chunk of ripe fruit and some vinegar in a jar, then insert a paper cone with a small opening facing down. Flies enter but have difficulty escaping
- Old wine or beer trap: Leave a small amount of leftover wine or beer in a bottle with a narrow neck; flies are attracted and trapped inside. Adding dish soap improves effectiveness
- DIY vinegar and soap bowl: Mix vinegar and dish soap in an open bowl; flies attracted to the vinegar drown in the liquid
Additional Tips
- Use natural essential oil sprays (lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus) on surfaces to repel flies
- Manage compost bins carefully by keeping them sealed and cleaning regularly or freezing scraps to avoid attracting flies
By combining cleanliness, proper food storage, and natural trapping methods, you can keep fruit flies away and eliminate infestations effectively
