How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies with Natural Products

An infestation can spring up seemingly overnight but there are a number of ways to get rid of fruit flies from your home without having to use any chemicals. Fruit flies are attracted to moist, organic materials and use them as both food and a breeding ground. This factor is helpful when eradicating them from your home but means that you must be thorough in your efforts to get rid of them. Otherwise it is easy for them to remain inside your home.

Remove Food Sources and Breeding Grounds

The most frequent home for fruit flies is the kitchen due to the abundance of potential food sources. Clear or use any overripe fruits (they can be used in the traps mentioned below)  and then cover your fruit bowl or place the fruit you wish to keep in the fridge. Check your cupboards for any vegetables or grains that may have become moist. Once you have done that clean the kitchen thoroughly. Pay special attention to any crevices around appliances such as the dishwasher and oven and the seals and handles of the fridge and freezer. Remove all trash from the room and do not simply empty and reuse the garbage bags. If you collect cans or bottles for recycling, make sure they have been rinsed before being placed in your collection bin. Ideally, these items should be kept outside rather than in the kitchen. Clean, rinse and dry all dishcloths and clear the sink drain as any small amount of stagnant water is a lure for fruit flies. Check underneath the sink for any leaks or rotting wood. Finally, clear any crumbs or spills from all surfaces and clean any opened containers of fruit juice, fermented or vinegar products (e.g. ketchup or cooking wine) then store them in the refrigerator. It is recommended that you also clear the sink and tub drains in your bathrooms and check for any leaks there as well. The fruit flies will happily move to a moist area close by rather than leaving your home altogether if they possibly can so it is best to eliminate any potential breeding grounds in advance. You should also check the other rooms of the house for any leftover food or spillages.

Eradicate Any Resident Fruit Flies

Now that you have cleared any potential supply lines for new fruit flies you need to set some traps to get rid of the insects that already exist. You can buy a fly trap or plug-in bug zapper from a store or make your own trap. Homemade traps are just as effective as store bought ones but generally less expensive. There are many different homemade traps that you can make depending on what you have at hand. However, two simple examples of effective fruit fly traps are:

Bottle Trap

Take an empty soda bottle and fill the bottom inch or so with a lure such as beer, fruit juice or cider vinegar then add a few drops of detergent. Alternatively you can use some of the overripe fruit that you cleaned up earlier with a little water and detergent. The flies will be able to enter the bottle but drown in the liquid as the detergent breaks the surface tension of the liquid.

Bowl Trap

If you do not have an empty bottle available then you can use a bowl (any size). Again, fill the bottom inch or so with a lure and some detergent. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and then pierce several small holes in it with a fork. The flies will be able to enter through the film but not escape.

Disposal

If you use fruit as your bait, it is important to clear the trap and kill any trapped flies frequently as they will lay eggs in the fruit which will hatch in around a week. To kill the flies, place the trap in the freezer for around 10 minutes then discard them and the bait. Keep replacing the traps every couple of days until you have eradicated the infestation. If the number of flies does not diminish, you have either missed the main breeding ground or the flies are coming in from outside. Make sure that any trash cans are placed as far from doors and windows as possible.