Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 6: Catch fruit flies with a paper funnel
• Method 3 of 6: Contain and freeze fruit flies
• Method 4 of 6: Kill the fruit flies with sprays and other products
• Method 5 of 6: Kill the eggs
• Method 6 of 6: Prevent the fruit flies from coming back
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Are fruit flies often faster than you at the fruit bowl? Once they move into your home, these uninvited guests know how to stick around for as long as possible. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to get rid of the fruit flies in your home and keep them from returning.

To step

Method 1 of 6: Catch fruit flies with a paper funnel

1. Choose a tall pot, a wine bottle, an old soda bottle, or a vase that can serve as a trap. If you don't have anything else, just use whatever jar.
   • This is probably the most effective and efficient way to catch a larger amount of fruit flies.
2. Trap a bait. Fruit flies love foods that are high in sugar, so you have a ton of options to choose from. All fruits, fruit juice, soda and other sweet foods will strongly attract the fruit flies, so that they fly into your trap. Try one of these bait ideas, listed from effective to less effective:
   • Cut into pieces overripe or rotting fruit. A few slices of brown banana, a soft strawberry, or a soft peach all work well.
   • Honey, maple syrup or high fructose corn syrup.
   • All flavors of fruit juice or soft drink. Do use regular soda, because the sugar-free variant will not work.
   • Apple cider vinegar or soy sauce.
   • Lees from a wine or beer bottle can work even if you don't have anything else. Fruit flies are attracted to the sugar in alcoholic drinks.
3. Roll up a sheet of paper to make a funnel and insert it into the jar. Using a funnel with a small hole will allow the flies to get into the pot, but they will not be smart enough to fly out again. Tape the funnel together so that it retains its shape. Hang the funnel in the opening of the pot so that the narrow side is facing down. The tip of the funnel should not touch the bait.
   • You can easily make a paper funnel from a piece of scrap paper or a page you ripped from a magazine.
   • You can also make a funnel by poking a hole in the bottom of a coffee filter with a toothpick.
4. Place the trap where the fruit flies are. Place the trap near the kitchen sink, garbage can, or fruit bowl. If you have fruit flies in several places in your kitchen, it might be a good idea to create more traps to set up.
   • Let the traps sit overnight. The next day you should see fruit flies eating the bait nicely.
   • If you haven't caught any flies, try new bait and make sure the hole is big enough for the flies to get into the trap.
5. Kill the fruit flies in the trap. Pour a mixture of warm water and dish soap into the pot. The soap reduces the surface tension of the water and causes the flies to drown. Wait a minute or two and then discard the contents of the jar.
   • If you still see fruit flies flying into the trap, take the trap outside before removing the funnel.
   • Rinse the pot thoroughly with hot water when you are done. You can reuse the jar to make a trap.
6. Repeat until the trap remains empty. Fruit flies often reproduce quickly. The life cycle of a fruit fly can be as short as eight days. Chances are you will have to set a new trap several times to kill all the adult fruit flies in your kitchen.
   • Fruit fly eggs hatch eight to ten days after they are laid. So you may have to set a new trap every day for about two weeks. You can stop when the trap remains empty after leaving it for several hours.
   • To get rid of all the fruit flies in your kitchen as quickly as possible, you need to take steps to kill the eggs as well.
   EXPERT TIP

   Start by grabbing a large or medium bowl. This method is not as effective as the paper funnel method, but it tackles the problem in the same way. The flies are lured into a trap with a small opening and it is difficult for them to get out of the trap.

7. Place a sweet bait in the bottom of a large or medium bowl. It doesn't matter what bait you use; it is more important how much you use. It's best to cover the bottom of the bowl with at least 2 to 3 inches of sweet liquid. Here are some suggestions for sweet mixes that work well as bait:
   • Put an old piece of peeled fruit such as an orange or a banana in a bowl along with a little balsamic vinegar.
   • Experiment with a mixture of white wine and coriander seeds. This mixture seems to work well. Add a little white wine vinegar to make the mixture smell even stronger.
   • A mixture of honey, sugar, and balsamic vinegar will work even if you don't have anything else.
8. Cover the bowl tightly with a piece of plastic wrap. Use a large sheet of plastic wrap to completely cover the bowl. Pull the piece of foil over the bowl as tightly as possible.
9. Using a fork or other utensil, poke a large number of small holes in the plastic. Try to keep the holes as small as possible. If the holes are large, the flies can escape from the trap again. The intention is to lure the fruit flies into the bowl and make it very difficult for them to get out of the trap.
   • If a fork makes the holes in the plastic too big, try using a sharp toothpick to poke small holes in the plastic wrap.
10. Place the trap in a place where there are many fruit flies and leave it overnight. The next day you should see that there are fruit flies under the foil and enjoy the tasty bait. If you haven't been able to catch flies, make sure the holes in the plastic wrap aren't too big.
11. Discard the fruit flies you have caught. It's probably best to take the trap outside before killing the fruit flies so that any flies that escape don't get back into your kitchen. Remove the plastic wrap from the bowl and kill the fruit flies by pouring a mixture of warm water and dish soap into the bowl. The soap reduces the surface tension of the water and causes the flies to drown. Wait a minute or two and then discard the contents of the jar.
    • When you're done flushing out the fruit flies, rinse the jar with hot water and use it again to create a trap.

Method 3 of 6: Contain and freeze fruit flies

1. Buy two glass jars. Smaller pots are easier to work with than larger pots.
2. Put some fruit scraps, such as crust or peel, as bait in each jar.
3. Discard the lids of the jar. Secure the pot openings with clear stretch plastic wrap.
4. Press the center of the plastic wrap with your fingertip. Make a dent or funnel shape in the plastic.
5. Punch a hole of about 1 mm in the center of the dents. It seems like that little hole isn't enough to catch flies. But it is big enough.
6. Wait for flies to get stuck. If you see flies in a jar, put them in the freezer to kill them with their eggs. If you notice flies in the other jar, put it in the freezer and put the jar that has been in the freezer for a while out of the freezer. Keep rotating the two pots. You never have to clean traps with vinegar again!

Method 4 of 6: Kill the fruit flies with sprays and other products

1. Make a fruit fly spray. Fill a spray bottle with a 70% rubbing alcohol solution. Spray the alcohol on the floating fruit flies. They will fall to the ground so you can sweep them up and throw them away. You can also spray a 91% rubbing alcohol solution into the air and soak the eggs. This stronger alcohol kills them instantly and is also a very effective disinfectant. A stronger alcohol solution costs a few euros more per bottle, but is a lot more powerful than the usual 70% solution. You do have to take precautions by ventilating the room and wearing gloves. A 91% rubbing alcohol solution is much less toxic, corrosive, or dangerous than an insecticide or pesticide.
   • Glass cleaner is another agent that kills most small insects instantly. If you see a cluster of fruit flies in an area you don't mind getting wet, quickly spray the flies with glass cleaner a few times and watch them die.
   • You can also use bleach to spray the flies. Afterwards, wipe the surfaces and sweep up the dead flies. However, you should ventilate the area in which you are spraying as the smell can be quite overpowering. This product is not recommended if you are concerned that indoor air will become toxic for you to inhale or spray near surfaces where food is being prepared.
   • You can even use an atomizer to spray groups of flies with plain tap water. The flies will fall on the surface below. Because their wings are damp, they will be temporarily unable to fly. You can then easily crush and wipe them away.
2. Use a pyrethrin spray. Pyrethrin is an insecticide that effectively kills adult fruit flies. However, the drug does not kill the eggs. Make sure to use the spray according to the directions on the package. Do not spray over fruit or in places where food is being prepared.
   • This product is available in an aerosol that you can spray on the fruit flies when you see them. The fruit flies will die when they come into contact with the product.
   • You can buy an automatic pyrethrin dispenser to kill large quantities of fruit flies in one place.
3. Treat your drain with gel. There are several types of drain gels that are specially formulated to kill fruit flies and eggs in the kitchen drain. If a mixture of boiling water and soap doesn't work, consider trying a gel. Follow the directions on the package to treat your drain. You may have to treat your drain several times to get rid of the flies completely.
4. Try professional resources. If you have a fruit fly infestation that you can't control, you can treat your home with a slow-acting insecticide that you spray on areas where the fruit flies often land and gather. This measure is usually unnecessary if you store fruit properly and keep your kitchen clean. Call a pest controller for more information if you want to have your home treated this way to get rid of fruit flies.

Method 5 of 6: Kill the eggs

1. Find out where the fruit flies reproduce. Fruit flies lay their eggs in places where it is damp and where food can be found, such as rotting fruit and damp sinks or waste bins. To kill the eggs you have to find out where the flies find their food in the kitchen.
   • Bowls or bags of ripening fruit are obvious spots that attract flies. Even if the fruit is completely fresh, the bowl or container in which you keep the fruit may still contain traces of old fruit. The remains can still attract fruit flies.
   • Keeping compost in your kitchen can also be a food source for fruit flies.
   • An open bag of recyclable packaging can also be attractive to fruit flies, especially if there are beer cans or soda cans in the bag that have not been rinsed.
   • When did you last clean your bin? Even if you regularly empty your waste bin, the waste bin itself can still be the problem.
   • Fruit flies are also often found in the kitchen sink drain, as food scraps can get stuck there and then start to rot.
   • Damp sponges and mops can also be places for fruit flies to reproduce.
2. Store your fruit properly. If you have a fruit fly problem, don't leave fruit open and exposed in your kitchen at room temperature. Keep your fruit in a sealed brown paper bag or refrigerate until you kill all fruit flies. One piece of overripe fruit may not solve the problem as it is an excellent place for fruit flies to reproduce.
   • Do not throw fruit waste in the waste bin. Unless you empty your bin daily, don't throw peach kernels, apple cores, and other fruit waste in your kitchen bin. This fruit waste is a good place for fruit flies to reproduce. Dispose of fruit waste directly on the compost heap or in the bio bin.
3. Wash your bins. There may be fruit fly eggs in your waste bin, your trash can, your bio bin and your compost bin. When you notice the fruit fly infestation, you must immediately clean all waste bins that you have inside with hot soapy water. Empty your bins, waste bins and compost bins regularly to prevent new problems.
   • Continue to clean the waste bins every week, especially during the late summer months when there are many fruit flies.
   • Rinse bottles and other containers with hot water before throwing them in the bin. Residues from these packaging can end up in your bins and make the fruit fly problem worse.
   • You need to make sure that all your waste bins have tight-fitting lids.
4. Clean your drain. You can check for fruit flies reproducing in your drain by covering the drain with a piece of plastic wrap that has been coated with a thin layer of honey. Place the piece of foil on the drain with the honey side down and come back after about an hour. If fruit flies are stuck in the honey, your drainage is part of the problem.
   • Make sure your drain is working properly. If your drain is clogged or your food grinder is not working properly (if you have one), you may have leftovers of rotting fruit in your drain that attract flies.
   • To kill the eggs, throw a pan of boiling soapy water down your drain. Use a brush to scrub the walls of the drain.
   • Don't throw bleach down your drain. This will not work and is also bad for the environment.
5. Discard other items that fruit flies can reproduce in. Old sponges, damp mops, old rags, and other items you use to clean your countertops and floors can contain fruit fly eggs. Throw them out or wash them with a boil wash in your washing machine.
6. Wipe down the surfaces in your kitchen. Use hot, soapy water to clean your counter tops. Make sure to also clean any cracks and crevices where the fruit flies could collect. Clean your kitchen cupboards, pantry, and any other places where you keep fruit, juices, and other sugary foods.
   • Also check the floor. For example, if you've spilled drinks under the fridge, that could be part of the problem too. Clean any areas that feel sticky.
   • Clean the surfaces in the kitchen every day. Make sure to wipe everything down after every meal as part of the cleaning process.
   • Wash all plates after using them. Do not leave dirty dishes in the kitchen. If you have a dishwasher, put them in there and close the door so you can wash them later.

Method 6 of 6: Prevent the fruit flies from coming back

1. Examine the fruit you bring to the kitchen. Check berries, cherries, and other fruits you bring in. You should throw away damaged fruit outside, otherwise you can take fruit fly eggs from the supermarket or the market inside. Wash fresh fruit gently with water and dry it completely before putting it away.
2. Leave a trap near your fruit bowl to keep catching flies. A small jar or bowl with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of water, and 1 or 2 drops of dish soap will attract fruit flies so they drown in it. This will help keep the fly population small.During fruit fly season, rinse the bowl every day and then fill it with a fresh mixture.
3. Put mosquito nets on your doors and windows. Fruit flies also like outdoor food sources. By putting screen doors and screens on your exterior doors and windows you ensure that no fruit flies can get into your kitchen. This is especially important if you have fruit trees in your garden.
4. Tackle things that attract flies outdoors. If you have fruit trees, pick the fruit when it is ripe instead of letting it rot on the branches or under the tree. Pick up or rake away pieces of fruit that have fallen to the ground under the tree to prevent a fruit fly infestation.
   • You can also put a fruit cover over the branches of the tree on which fruit grows. Light should still be able to get through the cover to the fruit and there should still be air circulation without allowing fruit flies to get to the fruit. You can usually buy such covers at stores that sell items for organic fruit growers.
   • Purchase organic fruit fly sprays from a garden center or organic fruit grower. You will need to reapply such sprays regularly because they are organic, but this is the best non-toxic method to grow healthy fruit.
5. Repel fruit flies with essential oils. Fruit flies are repelled by the scent of certain essential oils that people like to smell. The oils themselves won't kill the flies, but they keep more flies from coming. Fill a spray bottle with 250 ml of water and five to ten drops of lemon grass oil, eucalyptus oil or peppermint oil. Spray the oil on areas of the kitchen that often attract fruit flies, such as near the sink and waste container.

Tips

• You can control fruit flies in houseplants by allowing the soil in the pots to dry completely after you water the plants. This kills most of the larvae. The adult flies do not live long and will soon die. Check extra carefully that the soil is dry and water your plants again immediately when the leaves are stiff, because the plants will often dry out and die.
• Cover beverage bottles with a spout with a small sheet of cellophane. Clean the area under the pouring spout every other day with an ammonia-based cleaner.
• Hang some old rolls of fly paper where the fruit flies reside. It's ugly, but it's effective. However, flypaper can be toxic, depending on which type you use. Be careful and keep the flypaper out of the reach of children.
• If you are using vinegar, make sure you are using the right kind of vinegar. White vinegar does not work. Malt vinegar and red wine work, but not as well as apple cider vinegar. Beer sometimes works too, as does balsamic vinegar. Wine works very well, and you can use a wine bottle with 2 to 3 inches of wine left in it without the need for a funnel.
• Fruit flies also lay eggs in your pets' feces. So clean up your pets' excrement as soon as possible.

Warnings

• If you spray with a toxic agent such as bleach, do so only in a well-ventilated area. Also consider wearing a mask. This method is not recommended if you want to breathe in the air safely indoors.
• If you have a food grinder, never put your hands in it. Only push food in with a wooden spoon or similar tool. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Necessities

• Jar or bottle
• Bait
• Funnel
• Soapy water
• Apple cider vinegar