This article is about ways to kill fruit flies. They generally appear near your kitchen since it is a place where they can get their food. Juicy tomatoes, ripe stone fruits, grapes, and cherries etc attracts the fruit flies since they feed on the fruits thus they are known as fruit flies. Dealing with fruit flies infestation in warm weather is not an easy task. When the cold comes they die off. But if you want to get rid of the fruit flies then you need to follow some remedies and use traps.
Fruit flies are tiny flies that multiplies very fast that can enter your home through the vegetables and fruits you have bought or they can come in from window cracks and screens. They become a big problem when they start breeding. They grow from egg to adult in a week. Fruit flies usually eat ripened fruits, vegetables, and fermenting products. They develop in moist areas where standing water and organic material are present. Read more, to know different ways to kill fruit flies.
Best Ways to Kill Fruit Flies:
1.) Apple Cider Vinegar to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Apple cider vinegar is one of the best home remedies for fruit flies. ACV is made up from fermented apples and fruit flies can not bear the smell of fermentation. While heating the irresistible odor of the ACV will release and they will dye.
Directions To Use Apple Cider Vinegar:
- Take a cup of apple cider vinegar and heat it.
- Pour it into jar and jar should be deep enough so that flies can drown easily.
- Now add a few drops of dish soap.
- The dish soap will help to break the surface tension of the liquid so that the flies can’t sit on top and fly away when they are done.
- Take a piece of paper, roll it and insert it into the mouth of the jar and make a funnel.
- The flies will enter into the jar to get the vinegar but will not be able to find out how to get out and will drown.
2.) Fruits Trap to Kill Fruit Flies at Home
Fruit flies like fruits so it is better to use fruit trap to lure them into a trap. Fruit trap is one of the easiest and effective ways of controlling fruit flies.
Directions to Use Fruit Trap:
- Take some pieces of ripe or almost rotten fruit and place them in a glass jar.
- Use plastic wrap and cover the jar.
- Make holes in the wrap with the help of a toothpick.
- Place these jars where you see fruit flies.
- Also, place the one jar outside the doorway.
- The flies will enter into the trap but will not know how to come out.
- Put the jar in a bucket of warm soapy water and let it sit for ten minutes to ensure the fruit flies will not be coming back.
3.) Wine Trap to Remove Fruit Flies Naturally
Not only humans are attracted to wine but fruit flies are also attracted to alcohol. This perfect fly-catcher is available readymade so you can buy it anytime.
Directions to Use Wine:
- Empty the red wine bottle but leave a little bit of red wine at the bottom.
- All the fruit flies will flock to it and will die off.
- You can also put the wine in another container and cover it with plastic wrap.
- Poke the holes in this plastic wrap and put it near the fruit flies.
- They will fly in but the funnel will keep them trapped.
4.) Dish Soap Trap to Kill Fruit Flies Fast
Dish soap is one of the best ways in controlling fruit flies. When it is added to a sweet solution, it cannot be detected by fruit flies. The soap contains chemicals which act as a poison and will kill the unwary flies.
Directions to Use Dish Soap:
- Take a jar and fill it with the mixture of sugar and vinegar.
- Add a little amount of dish soap to it and mix it well.
- The flies will be attracted to the sour and sweet scent but will die when they consume the dish soap.
5.) Beer Trap to Kill Fruit Flies Fast
Using beer is one of the best traps for killing fruit flies. The beer has a pungent smell like ripening fruit. Fruit flies cannot bear the pungent smell of beer.
Directions to Use Beer:
- Take a mason jar and fill it half with a beer.
- Use a nail or hammer to make the holes in the metal lid several times and create 3 to 5 holes.
- Place the jar where you notice the fruit flies.
- When the flies get attracted to beer jar, dumped it out and replace it with a new one to catch more flies.
6.) Lemongrass Spray to Treat Fruit Flies Infestation Naturally
Lemongrass is one of the best and effective natural remedies for fruit flies infestation. The essential oil will keep the flies at bay.
Directions to Use Lemongrass:
- Take a spray bottle and add ten drops of lemongrass essential oil to two ounces of hot water.
- Shake it well and spray it along doorways and windowsills.
- You can also spray it directly on flies.
- It will leave a nice refreshing scent.
7.) Soda to Control Fruit Flies Fast
Getting rid of fruit flies is easy and simple by using soda. Making a soda trap is beneficial for treating flies infestation.
Directions to Use Soda:
- Take a bottle of a soda and poke a hole through the plastic lid.
- Empty the soda bottle but leave a little bit of soda in the bottom.
- After sometime you will notice the flies around soda bottle.
- They enter into the bottle and die off.
8.) Yeast to Kill Fruit Flies Fast
Using yeast is one of the effective ways in getting rid of fruit flies. Yeast will do the trick in capturing and killing fruit flies.
Directions to Use Yeast:
- Take a glass and fill it halfway with warm water.
- Add 1 tsp of sugar and pour some active dry yeast in it.
- Mix it well and cover the glass with a plastic wrap.
- Poke some holes in the top to let the fruit flies enetr inside.
- The holes should be small enough so that the flies cannot get back out.
Other Useful Tips to Prevent Fruit Flies Infestation:
- Clean your produce and store them in new or a loose bag. Don’t use the plastic bag.
- Fruit flies like sweet fruits. So keep them in the refrigerator or cover your fruit bowl.
- Keep your windows and doors clean. So that the flies can not enter into your house.
- Remove all the dead leaves from the pot.
- Clean food residue under and around your dishwasher and stove.
- You should clean your refrigerator regularly.
- Use baking soda and vinegar to clean your dishes and drains to kill fruit flies.
- You can also use a blow dryer to kill fruit flies. Turn on your dryer and the other side will suck up the flies where the flies will be burned in the inner heater.
- Spray your home regularly with some essential oils. The smell of lavender or lemongrass oil will keep the flies away.
- Place some cedar wood in your home. The smell of cedar wood can not be resisted by fruit flies.
- Place some basil in your home. They don’t like the smell of basil leaves.
