How do you get rid of fruit flies?

1. 78

   TripleAMomposted 9 years ago

   How do you get rid of fruit flies?
   
   I brought some unshelled peas into my house and there were fruit flies in them. I'm now trying to get them out of my kitchen. Any suggestions?

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2. 84

   bethperryposted 9 years ago

   There are a few things you can try, and old-fashioned fly paper or spraying them with a mixture of vinegar, water and liquid soap comes to mind first. If you have a dehumidifier in your home, turn this on, as flies prefer damp air to dry. Be sure to remove the household garbage often and keep your sinks clean of food debris and anything smelly which might attract them.  Also, any fresh fruit or veggies (especially potatoes and bananas) you might have set out for munching on, put into the fridge until the flies have cleared out. Good luck!

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   1. 78

      TripleAMomposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks so much. I've been trying some of these things. Definitely garbage out, sinks clean, etc. Bananas are now in fridge. But fly paper and the spray are good ideas. Good idea on food safe spray.

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3. 78

   junksellerposted 9 years ago

   A trap can be an effective way to capture them. Can use a jar or pan with plastic over the top. Push the plastic into a funnel and put a hole at the tip or keep it taught and poke little holes with a toothpick. Another easy way to do it is cut the top of a 2-liter off and invert the top into the bottom.
   
   Fill the bottom of your container with a little bit of apple cider vinegar, or you could use beer, wine, or some very ripe fruit. They will fly in and then have a hard time finding their way out.

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   1. 78

      TripleAMomposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you!

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4. 61

   The Examiner-1posted 9 years ago

   I pour apple cider vinegar into the bottom half of glass jars and then take a rubber band and enough plastic wrap to cover the jar. After covering the jar with the plastic and holding it on with the rubber band, I take a table fork and punch several small holes in the top of the plastic. They seem to get in, get drunk (or something) on the cider, and cannot find their way out. So they just drop into the bottom.
   If you have fruit in the fridge (in the cooling bin or something), they will fly in the fridge after it and die in the cold.

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   1. 78

      TripleAMomposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Sounds like a great idea!

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   2. 61

      The Examiner-1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      TripleAMom, Thank you for selecting me. I just wanted to say to just make sure that it is not too many holes in the top and a few jars are helpful.
      In the fridge they also collect in the freezer - dead. Why I do not know.

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   3. 78

      TripleAMomposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      The Examiner-1: I used your suggestion and they were gone in no time. I didn't have apple cider vinegar but put molasses in the glasses along with a piece of banana. They got in and couldn't get out. Perfect.

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   4. 61

      The Examiner-1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I am glad. Maybe I will try that.

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5. 59

   GusTheRedneckposted 9 years ago

   Hi TripleAMom - Piece of Cake to get rid of the little squirts. Feed 'em lots of prunes. They will get busy elsewhere with stuff far more important to them of the moment than your unshelled peas (or whatever else you have hanging around in the place.)
   
   Good luck,
   Gus

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