4 Household Remedies to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

If you have ever let some fruit sit out for too long, you may know how difficult it is to get rid of fruit flies. Once the pests move in, it can seem impossible to kill them all. However, there are a few simple traps that can wipe out your fruit fly problem, and all without using harsh chemicals.

Clean Up

The first step to managing a fruit fly infestation is to dispose of anything the fruit flies might be eating. Seal food away in an airtight container. Throw out any fruit they have infested. Empty the trashcan and continue to empty it regularly while the flies are around. Clean all counters that have held food to remove any possible crumbs. Also, clean the sink, preferably soaking it with a solution of bleach or ammonia to ensure any food particles are dealt with.

Only once the food is gone is there a chance to end the infestation.

Set an Apple Cider Vinegar Trap

• Apple cider vinegar
• Dish soap
• Water
• Small jar, bowl or bottle
• Plastic wrap

Chose a container that is clean, having no lingering scent, and which you won't want to use again. Fill it part way with a mix of water and apple cider vinegar. Add a few drops of dish soap. Then cover the top of the container with plastic wrap. If it refuses to stick to the sides, hold it in place with a rubber band. Poke several small holes in the plastic wrap.

Place the container where the fruit flies tend to congregate. The apple cider vinegar will draw them in with the scent of fruit. The soap will break the surface tension of the water so the flies drown when they touch it. The plastic wrap allows the flies in, but makes it very hard for them to get out if they don't land in the water.

Check the container regularly. Dispose of the contents outside to keep the fruit flies from getting loose in your home. The number of fruit flies collected should quickly decrease as the population drops. Keep the jar out for at least a week as that is the time necessary for the eggs of the previous round of fruit flies to hatch.

This trap can also be set with fruit juice or soda in place of the apple cider vinegar.

Set a Wine Trap

• Wine bottle
• Wine
• Plastic wrap

Place a wine bottle out with an inch or so of wine in the bottom. Cover the opening with plastic wrap and poke several small holes in the plastic.

The fruity smell of the wine will attract the fruit flies if the bottle is placed where they congregate. The plastic wrap will trap them inside the bottle. Be sure to clean out the bottle or dispose of it and put out a new one on a regular basis.

Set a Fruit Trap

• Small jar
• Piece of fruit
• Plastic wrap

Place a small piece of fruit into the jar. A piece of banana or a chunk of apple work well. Cover the top of the jar with plastic wrap and poke several small holes in the plastic.

The fruit will attract the fruit flies while the plastic wrap will keep them trapped in the jar. Dispose of the contents outside every day or two to track your success in disposing of the local fruit fly population.