Those pesky fruit flies seem to be everywhere once they invade a house. Even though they only live approximately 10 days, it seems like they are around forever. It takes work and time to get rid of them, but the effort is worth eliminating the annoying pests.
Fruit flies like moist, fermenting environments where they can lay their eggs. The first step in getting rid of fruit flies is to eliminate where they breed. First, carefully inspect any fruit or vegetables that are bought into the home. Fruit flies can live on produce, especially from outdoor farmers markets in warmer months.
Eliminate Breeding Grounds
If one or two are seen flying around the house, take quick action as fruit flies lay eggs in moist, damp places. Clean drains and the garbage disposal in the kitchen carefully. Use a brush to clean down inside the drain. Use hot, soapy water to clean, and then pour bleach in the drains to disinfect. If the fruit flies are in other areas of the house, clean bathroom drains the same way. Remember to clean the drains at least once a week. Put ice down the drains overnight, and run the garbage disposal with ice in it. This will loosen the grime sticking to the disposal.
Wash dishes and dish rag thoroughly. Do not let dirty dishes sit in the kitchen sink. Make sure trash is disposed in a covered container. Wipe up spills, especially sticky fruit juice. The goal is to eliminate any areas that may attract and breed the fruit flies. Remember to check for spills under the refrigerator, counters, stove, and sink.
It is nice to have fresh fruit on the table, but when fruit flies invade, store fruit in the refrigerator or in closed containers. Discard any over-ripe fruit, as well as any produce past its prime, such as potatoes, onions or other perishables.
Getting Rid of Fruit Flies
Commercial sprays and chemicals may be used, but they are not as effective as home remedies. Fruit flies are attracted to strong smells. Apple Cider Vinegar is good for attracting fruit flies. Pour about 3 inches of apple cider vinegar into a small clean container. Add a few drops dish detergent. Fruit flies will be attracted to the smell of the vinegar, but get trapped in the dish detergent. Make sure that apple cider vinegar, not white vinegar, is used.
Another method of trapping the fruit flies is to put beer or wine in a container, cover the container tightly with plastic wrap, and punch small holes in the wrap. Fruit flies will crawl into the containers, attracted by the smell, and become trapped. A piece of fruit in a plastic-wrap covered container also works.
Set the containers around the house, wherever fruit flies are spotted. They are more likely to be trapped during the day. Empty the containers are they become full of the fruit flies, and put more solution into the containers around the house until the problem is eliminated.
If fruit flies are a problem, keeping the house clean at all times is important. Also keep fertilizer away from the house, and make sure garbage cans are far away from the house.
Peppermint extract is a good way to keep the problem under control. After cleaning, make a wick out of a paper towel, dip the wick into the peppermint extract, and set it on the counter. The smell will repel the fruit flies.
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