How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in the Kitchen
Few things are peskier than asudden onslaught of fruit flies in your kitchen. It doesn’t matter how quickly you eat your produce, they always seem to find it first!
Fruit flies breed extremely quickly, so it’s pretty easy to end up with a colony in no time. But if you’re dealing with an infestation in the kitchen, odds are you don’t want to spray toxic chemicals in the area.
Sick of them taking over? Compostyour overripe fruit, then testone of these tried-and-true, chemical-free remedies to banish them from your kitchen forever.
Vinegar Trap
Non-toxic and works like a dream! This classic recipe will get those little bugs in no time.
Grab a small jar and put a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in the bottom.
Gently mix in several drops of liquid dish soap.
Place the jar on your kitchen counter, wherever you see the most gnats.
They will be drawn to the smell of the apple cider vinegar, but the soap will catch them.
When you’re satisfied, empty the jar and rinse.
Catch & Release
Humane and low-tech, this catch and release methodis a winner.
Set a nice piece of soggy, rotting fruit in a container with a lid.
Wait for the bugs to start feasting.
Quickly cover the containerthen release the flies outside, away from your home and your food.
Sticky Honey Trap
Easy to make and works like a charm.
Spread an index card with honey.
Tape the trap to a window frame or otherwise open location.
Dispose of the trap when you’ve captured all the pests you can.
General Tips & Tricks
Have an indoor kitchen compost? Empty it daily to eliminate it as a food source for fruit flies.
Keep your indoor compost’s moisture content balanced and dryishby adding “browns” i.e. any compostable element that is carbon-based, like newspaper or wood shavings.
Toss old flowers and the stale water they are standing in.
Deodorize your garbage disposal. Drop a quarter of a lemon and a splash of vinegar down the drain, then run the disposal.
Clean the kitchen and sweep up crumbs. Fruit flies zero in on food wherever it may be. Deep clean to remove any sweet residue or forgotten piece of food that may attract them.
Do you have any other creative ways to rid your kitchen of fruit flies? Let us know in the comments!
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
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