Fruit flies. I hate them. Really really dislike them. When I think I have rid them from my home- POOF they reappear just like that. It is endless cycle- a battle I may never win. Our kitchen is filled with bananas and since it is apple season, apples of course. I guess these little creatures love bananas and apples as much as little E.
How to get rid of those nasty pests
- Apple cider vinegar
- Liquid dish soap
- Water
- Pour about 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar and 1 Tbsp of liquid dish soap in a container or jar. Mix it up with a spoon.
- Fill the jar with tap water until the bubbles reach the top.
- Place the jar where the fruit flies are causing trouble. They will be attracted to the sweet apple cider vinegar and get trapped in the bubbles. Sneaky.
I know this is not very vegan of me, and I should probably release them outside, or something. I do feel bad, but these bugs drive me bananas!
I quickly found out that I am not the only one with fruit fly issues.
- Tiffany from Nature Moms uses a jar with a piece of paper folded into the shape of a cone. The narrow part goes down into the jar. In the bottom, she pours apple cider vinegar and places a piece of fruit, such as a banana. The fruit flies can get in but are unable to get out. They will either drown or she suggests taking the jar outside to release them. Tiffany swears by this method.
- Rachel from Mommy Greenest squirts dish soap into a shot glass and fills it to the top with wine, and places the glass where the fruit flies are hovering. She believes that fruit flies are winos, and never turn down a glass of wine.
- Karen from EcoKaren uses apple cider vinegar and dish soap. You can read all about her fruit fly adventures and how she gets rid of them natural here.
- Michelle from Everything’s ABuzz puts a banana in a glass jar and covers the jar with a piece of wax paper using a rubber band over it. Poke some holes in the paper with a fork. They can get in, but aren’t able to get out.
- Nancy from Holistic Moms Network uses the vinegar and dish soap method with a jar.
What method do you prefer? Or do you simply live in harmony with the fruit flies?
Photo credit: uberculture via photopin cc
fruit flies, natural remedy, naturally, vinegar
I am the Good Girl Gone Green. Seeing garbage cans overflowing with recyclables breaks my heart.
I have vinegar & sugar in saucers…The saucers are full ~But still have FF…I’ll try ALL of these remedies…Hard to have a drink with your hand over your glass
(
lol! I try them as well, and usually have stragglers!
yikes! I hate fruit flies! Thanks for the tips!
So THAT’S why they’ve been around so much lately! Haven’t had them all summer, then all of a sudden…..
I’ll definitely be using this!
And Carol…I found this pin that might help you with the drink situation :p http://thecupcakeblog.com/cupcake-liner-summer-drink-covers/
We do this too and it works great, unless there is a REALLY bad piece of fruit in the bunch. Then I know to dig it out and chuck it into the compost.
I think I am just fruit fly prone.
Thanks for these great suggestions.
Interesting post, will give it a try for sure!
Great idea
thank you for sharing on the frugal tuesday tip http://juliecache.com/2012/10/01/frugal-tuesday-tip-october-is-here/.html
i forgot until i read this (and the flies are bad right now, too). I have successfully used vinegar in a ramekin, stretched plastic wrap over the top with a few holes poked — voila! flies be gone. Ok, now I have to go do this.
Wow these are all great tips…I dispise fruit flies also . Thanks for sharing!
I despise them as well!
Fruit flies are driving me crazy lately! I’ll have to try your method as I have all the ingredients on hand. I don’t like to kill any bugs or critters, either, but I can’t have them on my food!
I always used the wine trick too.
They are so annoying!!!
Thanks so much for sharing this!
Fruit flies have invaded my house..thanks for the great tips, exactly what I was looking for!!
I think I will forever have a fruit fly problem with the amount of banana little E eats!
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