How should I get rid of fruit flies?

Question

I want to know how to get rid of the fruit flies in my house. I think they are coming in through the screens on the windows. We have to keep the windows open because the heat has switched on in our apartment and it is still warm outside. I really don't understand: there is no fruit or bread out to tempt them and the house is clean. Help!

Answer 1

I just used this remedy for the first time this year and it works, put 2oz of cider vinegar in a small juice glass with two drops of liquid dish washing soap and leave it set for a few days then look thru the bottom of the glass, you won't believe how many dead ones you will see in the bottom of the glass, I sat out several glasses of the mixture and I have no more fruit flies.

Answer 2

They breed and adapt to pesticides pretty quickly so you could wind up just chasing your tail so to speak. I know you said the house is clean,but double check some things. They like ANYthing sweet not just fruit. So make sure everything is wiped down, no choc. syrup or any other sugary substance out or spilled anywhere. Floor mopped trash emptied. garbage disposal clean. After all that try this. Cover the kitchen drain with plastic wrap so it isn't an option for them and trap them somewhere else. Take a Large glass and put some apple cider vinegar in the bottom then make a funnel out of paper to place inside the glass make sure there is a small hole at the bottom of the cone(funnel) and then tape around the top so it makes a seal
The flies will be extremely attracted to the vinegar and unable to get out because of the cone. They just aren't that smart I guess but this works. Good luck they are such pains.

Answer 3

Sorry for the simplicity of my answer, but prevention is easier than dealing with a growing concern. Fruit flies are best prevented through vigilant sanitation practices. Remove kitchen trash daily, and keep counter surfaces clean. If you do need to exterminate, this trick worked for me:

Get a tall glass and put about an inch of beer, wine, or fruit juice in it. Now take a sandwich bag and cut one corner off -- about a 1/4" cut. Now push that cut corner down into the glass so that the opening is about an inch above the liquid. Take the rest of the baggie and pull it over the edge of the glass.

The fruit flies will fly in and won't be able to get out -- it's the inverted funnel effect that does it.

If this is your best answer, please rate it. Thank you, and good luck!

Answer 4

I've had fruit flies before and it ain't pretty. This is what worked for me: Take one of those jugs of pop and rinse it out a couple of times. Cut off the top (an inch below where the curve starts) and then put fruit juice in the bottom of the jug. Then tape the top back on it so the nozzle is facing in so it like funnels inwards. This got mostly all of the fruit flies out of my house.

Answer 5

believe it or not, they are not coming in your screens (at least rarely)
they come out of the drains.
do you have a garbage disposal?
even if you don't pour some bleach down your drains, not too much just enough to kill any germies down there that are attracting the flies.
they breed really quickly too, and they bite. I don't believe one lives for longer than 24 hours, but it can produce zillions of offspring.

One solution is when you leave your house, close your kitchen and bathroom drains after giving them a shot of raid, and close the doors after quickly giving the rooms a shot or 2 of Raid. shut the doors and let the rooms be for a few hours.
another solution I have (if you don't want to use a chemical but spray like raid) is to leave some fruit and grease in a plastic bag in the edge of the sink over night. Leave it so the bag is fully standing up, with plenty of "neck" on the bag.
in the morning, approach the bag, you will see alot of flies in it. sneak up on the bag and quickly grab the top of it so as to close the bag. Twist it shut, tie in a knot and throw it out.

Answer 6

the fruit flies are atrracted to rotting fruit or other organic substances. thus; the name fruit flies. if you have old food laying around, or anything that can go bad, like watermellon rinds, etc, get rid of them, and eventually, the fruit flies will dissappear. they dont live that long, and they lay eggs in the food or whatever thats laying around. thats how they spread. so, if you get rid it, they will get rid of themselves.

Answer 7

If you have a lot of fresh fruit or veggies remove those that my be going bad or to ripe (refrig.) also some flies come from your sink drains. so clean good , flush with bleach or baking soda then with hot water. You can also use vinegar.

Answer 8

i have the same problem. i just got back from lowes and saw nothing there to control fruit flies or anything simular. i bought a pack of fly strips. i hope they work. i dont see why they wouldnt do you?Its a tape your hang from the cieling. good luck

Answer 9

get some sticky fly strips (helped for me and i have over 2 dozen plants in my room) or i could suggest go to a health food store and by some "citrinella" its a reallly strong essential oil that reppels buggs its really strong and smells reallly citricy but if you were to put it around the windows (sparingly i might add) it should keep them out (the best thing about it is that it is non-toxic)

Answer 10

Good site that should answer all of your questions:

http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/fruit_fly.htm