Get Rid of Fruit Flies : If you have been a lover of good and fresh produce, chances are that you have already wanted to get rid of fruit flies for a long time now. These tiny little flies find their way into every home, hovering around all the produce, especially the ones that are rotting or just beginning to rot. And these unwanted guests definitely know how to over stay their welcome.
With a short life span of merely 8 – 10 weeks, fruit flies become difficult to get rid of, as they reproduce at a very rapid rate. It is rather easy to spot them at the moist and damp places in your house, especially the sink and areas nearby the dustbin. Knowing that a lot of you are a victim to this situation, HNBT presents to you today some of the best home remedies to get rid of fruit flies.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
1. Paper Funnel Method with some Fruit
This method requires you to take a tall bottle with a narrow mouth, like a wine or soda bottle. Into the bottle goes about a cup of sugary fruit, like strawberries, bananas, etc, preferably mixed with rotting pieces to make bait for the fruit flies. Take a simple paper and make a funnel out of it, with a narrow opening towards the end. Place this funnel on the top of the bottle and place this in and around a fruit fly infested area overnight.
Now before you remove the funnel, add some warm soapy water that shall drown the flies, making it easy to discard them. In case an infestation builds up, you can repeat this procedure as and when required.
Also read : How to Get Rid of House Flies?
2. Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
The same bottle and funnel method is used for this remedy. Into the bottle, add a cup of apple cider vinegar, two drops of dish washing liquid and a few pieces of rotting fruit. The soap in the apple cider vinegar will reduce the surface tension, which will eventually drown the flies. If the dish washing soap is not added, it is likely that the flies may escape once they are done. Leave this trap covered with a funnel overnight in a fruit fly infested area.
When getting rid of the flies from the bottle, pour some warm and soapy water into the bottle to completely drown the flies and then discard them out of your house.
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3. Fruit Jar Trap
If you do not have a wine bottle or any other narrow mouthed bottle, the second best way to get rid of fruit flies is by using a glass jar or a big bowl. Place some very ripe fruits, preferably some that has already begun to rot in order to attract the flies. Then cover the jar or big bowl with plastic wrap and wrap it as taut as possible. You may also use a rubber band to fix and prevent it from loosening, as a loose trap will only make your efforts go to waste.
Now take a fork or a sharp tooth pick and poke holes into the plastic wrap, in order to make way for the fruit flies to get inside the trap. Make sure the holes are small enough to prevent them from escaping later on.
Again, leave the trap overnight in damp and humid areas around the house that are populated with fruit flies. Once the flies are trapped in, use warm soapy water to drown them, before you finally get rid of the fruit flies.
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4. Grandma’s recipe for a Fly Trap
This recipe has been handed down through generations for getting rid of fruit flies and other flying insects that bother families on an everyday basis. This recipe dates back to 1850 and seems to have originated in England. For this remedy, you would be required to mix about a pint of milk with 2 ounces of black pepper and 1/4th pound of sugar. Mix these in a sauce pan and cook it on low heat for about 8 – 10 minutes. Stir it regularly to make sure the sugar has dissolved.
Place this concoction in big bowls. For reasons unknown, fruit flies are known to be attracted to this mix and tend to stick to it and drown. In case you notice them escaping from the bowl, add a few drops of dish washing liquid to break the surface tension which will in turn drown the flies.
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5. Apples and Cloves for getting rid of fruit flies
This is by far the easiest method of getting rid of flies. Take an apple – any one for that matter, be it green, golden, red, etc. Then take about 15 – 20 cloves and poke them in the ripe apple. Place this apple in areas infested with flies. This method works more as a natural repellent for fruit flies rather than an insecticide.
This is the most suitable method to get rid of flies during outings, picnics or lawn parties. A clove poked apple on the table is all you need for a fly-free dinner.
Also read : How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches?
6. Kerosene Oil or Phenol
Smearing some kerosene oil or undiluted phenol in areas infested with fruit flies goes a long way in repelling these tiny beings. Just ensure that these ingredients don’t get into your food as they tend to be poisonous. Also, keep them out of children’s reach to prevent any accidents.
Just a heads up; the smell of kerosene oil or phenol may be unbearable to some members of the house.
Must read : Home Remedies for Lice
7. Keep the Drains clean
If pouring in warm soapy water in the drains does not seem to harness the infestation of fruit flies, using bleach, drain cleaning gels, or other insecticide sprays will do the trick for you- at least rids their eggs and nests off the drains. Regular cleaning of the sink, the dustbins and areas around the dustbin, the drains and any other damp areas can also control the infestation and ultimately get rid of fruit flies with time.
Also read : Remedies for Mosquito Bites
8. Lemon Grass Spray
Adding 10 – 12 drops of lemongrass oil to about 10 ounces of water can make an effective repellent spray that keeps fruit flies at bay. This is an easy-to-use method and can be sprayed generously across the house. Best part of all, it keeps your homes smelling fresh and pleasant!
Must read : Uses and Benefits of Lemon Peels
Points to remember:
- Get rid of the eggs as well – identify where they have been breeding and clean that area regularly with any of the methods listed above.
- Store your produce carefully. Use the refrigerator to store produce that are not be consumed immediately, or may rot soon enough.
- Old sponges, mops and other cleaners tend to harbor eggs and attract fruit flies. Getting rid of these ensures riddance from fruit flies as well.
- Ensure that you bring only clean produce into the kitchen and any produce that is rotting needs to be discarded outside the house to keep fruit flies at bay.
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These simple methods will help us get rid of fruit flies and eventually keep diseases at bay! Do try them out and let us know which ones worked out for you in the comments section below.
