You’re here for one thing: you want to get rid of fruit flies. ASAP and as safe as possible.
It’s probably summer where you are, and the pesky fruit flies are at it again. This time, you want to banish them once and for all. But you’re hesitant to use insecticides with heavy chemicals. Well, you came to the right place because we have some tips for you.
Homemade Traps to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
So, how can you get rid of fruit flies? You can always opt for insecticides. They’re readily available in hardware stores and can kill fruit flies effectively…including other stuff, but let’s not dive into this for now.
What we have are DIY remedies that are friendlier for you and the environment. Try them before you opt for store-bought insecticides, which are potentially hazardous.
So, here are a few remedies you can easily make at home.
1. Good Old Apple Cider Vinegar and Plastic Wrap
- Get a jar and pour a bit of apple cider vinegar inside.
- Cover the lid with plastic wrap.
- Secure the plastic with a rubber band.
- Poke tiny holes in the plastic wrap.
The scent of sweet apple cider vinegar attracts flies. With the tiny holes in the plastic wrap, they can find their way inside the jar. But it can be difficult for them to get out.
Instead of plastic wrap, you can trap the fruit flies with a paper funnel.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar and Dish Soap
- Fill a small bowl with apple cider vinegar halfway.
- Add a few drops of dish soap and mix well.
- Leave the bowl uncovered.
If the first solution doesn’t work, try the apple cider vinegar and liquid dish soap mix to eliminate fruit flies. The vinegar draws in the flies, while the dish soap reduces the surface tension in the liquid, causing fruit flies to drown faster.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar and Overripe Fruit
- Pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar into a jar.
- Add a chunk of overripe or rotting fruit.
- Use plastic wrap to cover the jar. Poke tiny holes at the top.
Again, as an alternative, you can use a paper funnel to cover the jar. For fun, test out both covers and see which works better as a trap for fruit flies.
Sometimes, apple cider vinegar isn’t enough to lure fruit flies into the jar. Adding small chunks of rotting fruit into the mix helps make the solution more enticing.
4. Citronella, Peppermint, and Lavender Essential Oils
- Get a small spray bottle and fill it with water, reaching two ounces or 60ml.
- Add essential oil to the water, ten drops or more.
We prefer trapping fruit flies with vinegar rather than using essential oils. But the method works, too, especially in warding off the fruit flies in real-time. The tricky part is getting the water-to-essential-oil ratio right. We suggest starting with 60ml of water and ten drops of essential oil, but you can add more as needed.
The scent of peppermint, citronella, lemongrass and lavender repel fruit flies. While you ward off the insects, you also make your space more fragrant, which is a plus. All of them work, but citronella and peppermint are our favorites. Test things out and see which essential oil is more effective or create your unique mix.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies, the Real Deal
Fruit flies are more common in the summer. Once the temperature drops, their number tends to dwindle or disappear altogether. Yes, the fruit flies will slowly go away, but waiting them out is not the most hygienic option. These tiny things carry bacteria (from a plethora of sources) that are potentially harmful to you.
So, what is the best approach to dealing with fruit flies? Don’t invite them in. Prevention is the key. But how exactly can you avoid a fruit fly infestation?
- Make your space squeaky clean. Especially the kitchen because fruit flies love to go there because of the food. So, clean the countertop and the sink thoroughly with a surface cleaner after preparing food. Also, keep an eye out for small food scraps in the drain.
- Check your fruit bowl frequently. We usually leave fruits and some veggies out on the counter. But if it’s summertime, check them regularly. Make sure they don’t overripe and rot right there in the kitchen. Otherwise, you’re inviting fruit flies with open arms. They love, we mean really love, high-fructose food, especially when it’s starting to rot because it’s where a female fruit fly lays eggs. Throw the rotten produce out properly.
- Take the garbage out regularly. It’s tempting to keep garbage in the kitchen until the trash cans are full. But you don’t have to wait that long. Take them out as often as possible to prevent fruit flies and other household pests from thriving.
- Use scented candles and essential oils. Lighting a scented candle now and then discourages fruit flies from lingering in your home. Just make sure to blow the candle out or use a candle warmer. You can wipe surfaces with essential oil, too, for good measure.
When dealing with a severe fruit fly infestation, it’s better to leave matters to a trustworthy pest control company.