6 Simple Ways To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies

After mosquitoes probably the most common household pests you might ever witness in your house would be the fruit flies or the gnats. They have some unique traits with much likeness to a housefly. These small flies are however more quick and agile and swatting them does not work to disburse them. They are easily drawn to fruits and vegetables and they have a special liking for a moist region around your house. Chemical sprays have to for as they technically breed near your food products and you might accidentally contaminate them. They are extremely annoying and they shorten the lifespan of your food items and vegetables. The scenario is worst in supermarkets and restaurants if they have this infestation. They are especially found in abundance during the summer months. You can use chemical sprays to eliminate them, but they are not advisable to your well-being in many ways. We have listed out some natural and non-toxic ways to keep them away below. Check them out.

6 Simple Ways To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies:

1. Use Apple Cider Vinegar

One of the popular remedies by which you can curb the fruit flies menace is by the use of apple cider vinegar. It has a unique smell that attracts the fruits flies and subsequently they get wedged into it. Heat up some apple cider vinegar. Now pour it in a small container and add in a teaspoon of dish wash liquid and mix it well. Close the open end of the container with a plastic wrap and poke small holes in it. Place it in the region where you notice more fruit flies. The flies will get trapped in the jar and die. Once it fills up to the max, discard the solution and refill as per your needs. You can also try this out with white vinegar.

2. Use Red Wine

Fruit flies are heavily attracted towards the scent of a red wine. Though red wine themselves do not kill the flies, they can easily trap them. Mix half a glass of red wine to 1 ½ glass of water. Mix them and pour it in a container. Close the opening with a plastic cover and poke small holes into it, using toothpicks. Put this container near your fruit or vegetable basket or the area dominated by the fruit flies. They will get attracted to the scent and intoxicate in the container. Later discard the wine and use a fresh solution. Alternatively, you can use wine from the bottle directly. You can also leave a little wine at the end of the bottle and repeat the procedure.

3. Use Lemongrass Oil

Try out Lemongrass essential oil around your house which has a strong smell for keeping these flies at large. Though the oil is not known to kill the flies, they can effectively control them to an extent. Boil 2 cups of water and pour it in a spray container. Now put in a teaspoon or two of lemon grass oil to it. Shake it well and spray it the areas where you see the flies. Spray it liberally on kitchen counters and corners. The flies will disappear soon and works as an effective deterrent.

4. Milk, Sugar And Pepper

Though this method looks a bit absurd at first, it is one of the safest and time proven methods to take care of such fruit flies. Boil a cup of milk. Add in a 3 tablespoons of crushed pepper and about 4 tablespoons of sugar. Stir it for about 15 minutes on low flame. Place the mix into a wide container and leave it in the places where the fruit flies tend to linger. The flies will get attracted to the solution and eventually drown in it. Wash it off later.

5. Use Honey

Try this method out in case you have the fruit flies infestation around your plants and garden. Using pesticides may kill them, but they may not be so good on your plants. Instead, try this method using honey. Take a small bright- colored index card or a visiting card. Stick a toothpick on one side of the card. On the other side apply a thin coat of honey. Now stick these cards in the mud next to your plants. The fruit flies will get attracted to the honey and get trapped in it. Discard these cards later. You can also mix a little bit of corn starch to the mix and use it too.

6. Use Bleach

If you are dealing with the menace around your kitchen skin, then using a bleach would be the best option. However use this procedure carefully and with protection as bleach may turn as an irritant to you and your health. Take everything from the kitchen sink and put in a cup of bleach into it. Now wear gloves and protect your eyes and nose and pour hot water into it. Do not inhale the vapors. Allow it to drain and later wash off the sink with regular water. Later you can use the kitchen sink normally and they would be free of fruit flies.