How To Get Rid of Fruit Flies Naturally With Vinegar
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Let’s chat about how to get rid of fruit flies naturally. You might call them compost flies. Whatever you call them, I wanted to share the effective natural method, using vinegar, that I’ve found for clearing 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 hundreds. Hundreds 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.
Table Of Contents
- What Are Fruit Flies And Why Are They A Problem?
- How To Make A Fruit Fly Trap Using Vinegar
- Other Top Tips To Get Rid of Fruit Flies From Your Kitchen
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!
I’ve found out from the Berg Lab that 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 8–12 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. You need enough to cover an inch or so 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.
- Add a squirt of washing-up liquid, and swirl the bottle gently.
- Place the bottle on your kitchen worktop 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. However, because of the added washing-up liquid, this decreases the surface tension of the liquid. This means 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:
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.
Do not 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 there isn’t any spoiled fruit in the bottom of your fruit bowl.
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.
I really hope this helps rid you of your fruit fly problem!
PS: Like this post? Try this one on how to make natural weedkiller.
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