How To Get Rid of Fruit Flies Naturally With Vinegar

Wondering how to get rid of fruit flies or compost flies naturally? Here is an effective natural method, using vinegar, that clears your kitchen of this almighty pest.

As someone who composts their food waste, fruit flies are a very real problem I face every summer without fail. And chances are, by the fact that you’re reading this post, one that you face too, and you need a way to rid your house of these pesky fruit flies.

Every summer I feel like I blink and my kitchen goes from being a fruit fly-free zone to hosting a swarm of fruit flies that are multiplying in front of my very eyes.

After years of trying every method under the sun to get rid of this scourge, I’ve hit the jackpot with my vinegar technique. And because sharing is caring, I’m going to share with you the exact method I use to keep my kitchen clear of these almighty pests.

What Are Fruit Flies And Why Are They A Problem?

Firstly, it’s important to know what fruit flies are exactly, and why they can quickly become such a huge problem.

Fruit flies are scientifically known as Drosophila melanogaster, but we’ll keep to the simple fruit fly term here!

According to the Berg Lab, female fruit flies can lay up to around 400 eggs. These eggs hatch within 12 to 15 hours and these can go from egg to adult in just seven days. What is more, females become receptive to courting males about 8 to 12 hours after emerging from the egg.

Basically, blink and you’ve got a fruit fly problem before you even know it!

How To Make A Fruit Fly Trap Using Vinegar

Thankfully, it’s pretty cheap and easy to make a simple non-toxic trap, that’s made using vinegar, that will help you to naturally get rid of fruit flies. I’ve found this can tackle the problem in just a couple of days.

What You Need

• An empty beer bottle or a similar narrow-necked bottle.
• A small amount of vinegar – any type will do – whether it’s white spirit vinegar, apple cider vinegar or similar. You just need enough to cover an inch (roughly 2.5 cm) of the bottom of the beer bottle. If you’re out of vinegar, then a small amount of leftover wine, or leftover beer will also do the trick.
• One squirt of washing-up liquid.

Method

• Pour the vinegar, beer or leftover wine into the bottle – aim to add an inch.
• Add a small squirt of washing-up liquid, and swirl the bottle gently to mix the beer with the soap.
• Place the bottle on your kitchen worktop – near your fruit bowl or problem area – and catch some flies!
• Refresh the mixture once a week, emptying out the bottle and adding in a fresh batch of vinegar and washing-up liquid, for maximum effectiveness.

Why This Method Works

It’s such a simple technique, with such simple ingredients, that you might be wondering why it works to get rid of fruit flies.

Well, the vinegar (or alcohol) tempts the fruit flies into the bottle with its sweet, stale smell. Fruit flies cannot get enough of this smell. However, because of the added washing-up liquid, this decreases the surface tension of the liquid.

What this means is that when the fruit flies fly in to investigate the irresistible stale smell, the flies are immediately immersed and can’t escape.

Other Top Tips To Get Rid of Fruit Flies From Your Kitchen

Whilst the vinegar trap is incredibly effective at getting rid of fruit flies, there are some other handy tips to keep up your sleeve to help limit the chances of infestations developing:

Be Mindful Of Where You Store Your Fruit

If you have a fruit fly infestation then an open fruit bowl isn’t always the best place to store fruit. Consider using the fridge for fruit that will store well in the fridge (beware, not all fruit likes the fridge). Fruit flies like higher temperatures, and can’t reproduce in the cold.

Don’t Leave Food Out In Open Containers

In a similar vein, it’s best not to leave cut or spoiling fruit or vegetables, fruit salads, fruit juices, jams, jellies, pickles, etc., exposed in open containers. Pop them in tubs or glass jars, and put them straight into the fridge.

Remove Rotting Fruit & Vegetables As Quickly As Possible

Rotting fruit and vegetables are ideal breeding groups for fruit flies. Be mindful of what is in your fruit bowl, and check that there isn’t any spoiled fruit lingering at the bottom of the bowl.

It’s also best to check vegetables such as potatoes and onions, which should be stored in cupboards, and not in the fridge. There could be one rotten potato or onion at the bottom of the bag, which would be enough to support a huge colony of fruit flies.

Keep The Sides Clean

Wiping up food spills from countertops quickly, especially sugary foods like jams, ketchup and fruit juices, is vital in the fight against fruit flies.

Keep Your Compost Caddy Covered & Empty Frequently

Keeping the lid on your compost caddy is vital when you have a fruit fly infestation. Try placing something heavy on top of it, to limit any access to the fruit flies.

I recommend emptying your compost caddy regularly when you are bothered by fruit flies. I try to empty my caddy at least once a day. Washing it out regularly is also key in the fight against the fruit fly.

More Sustainable Home Ideas

I really hope this helps rid you of your fruit fly problem! And if you liked this post, try this one on how to make natural weed killer. It’s also made using vinegar and washing-up liquid, so if you’ve specifically bought vinegar to tackle your fly infestation, then it’s another good use for it.

And if you’re looking for even more uses for vinegar, try my post on cleaning with vinegar. It’s jam-packed full of top tips.