Fruit flies has short life span and thrive in moist places like garbage disposal drains. It going from egg to adulthood within 8-10 days. It can be pain in the kitchen.
To getting rid of fruit flies, try these 5 Do it yourself homemade fruit fly traps.
1. Jar Trap with Fruit (Easy fruit fly)
I learned this home remedy from my exterminator. This is a simple fruit fly trap. If you want to make very effective one try the 2nd one (Apple cider vinegar trap).
What you will need..
- Glass jar or Plastic container
- Plastic cover for wrap
- Rubber band and One toothpick
- Soapy water
- Some very ripe
The steps are:
- Put the bait – rotting fruit or several pieces of very ripe (little bit something yummy) in the bottom of the jar or container.
- Cover the jar top with plastic wrap.
- Secure it with rubber band.
- Put 1 to 4 entrance hole in the top using tooth pick. So fruit flies can get in.
Place this jar trap where you notice flies seem to come. Fruit flies will be drawn into jar trap but won’t know how to get out. Submerge the jar in a bucket of warm soapy water after it full enough. Let it be for around 10 minutes to make sure fruit flies won’t come back.
2. Cider Vinegar Trap (Non-toxic & Best Fruit fly trap)
First create simple trap using Apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a dream drink to fruit flies. So they can’t resist the smell of fermentation.
What you will need..
- Jar or something one.
- A funnel (Make one yourself)
- Around ½ cup Apple cider vinegar
- Drop of dish soap
- Piece of overripe fruit or ripe (optional)
Image courtesy: everydayroots.com
The steps are:
- First heat up half cut Apple cider vinegar. Then put enough cider vinegar or vinegar to cover the bottom of the container or jar.
- Put a piece of fruit.
- Add a drop of dish soap (It break the vinegar surface tension. So fruit files can’t sit a top of the liquid).
- Roll up a piece of paper and make a cone with a 3/4-1″ hole on the bottom. Paper cone should sit on the jar glass rim without the tip touching Apple cider vinegar.
3. Red Wine Fly Trap
Make the fruit flies drawn to red wine. If they can get intoxicated they can’t fly. Then use freezer or soapy water method to kill them.
What you will need..
- Wine Bootle or soda bottle with little bit red wine left (Also use balsamic or red wine vinegar)
The steps are:
Leave a little bit red wine at the bottom of the bottle.
4. Tried and True Trap
This fruit fly trap recipe came from Old Farmer’s Almanac and used since 1850 in New England to avoid fruit flies.
What you will need..
- 1 pint of milk
- 1/4 pound or 113 gram of raw sugar
- 2 ounces of ground pepper
Image courtesy: everydayroots.com
The steps are:
- Mix all ingredients in a saucepan or similar one for 10 minutes.
- Pour the mixture into shallow dishes.
- Put it around the house or kitchen. Fruit flies will drawn in it.
5. Repel Fruit Flies with Rue planet
It is a woody planet. Rue can repel fruit flies & mosquitoes naturally. Put Rue planet in the kitchen. It’s a environment friendly solution.
6. Lemongrass Spray
It won’t kill fruit flies but it keep them away from you kitchen.
What you will need..
- 10 drops of Lemongrass Essential oil
- Clean spray bottle
- Hot water (2 ounces)
The steps are:
Add 10 drops of lemongrass essential oil and 2 ounces of hot water in a spray bottle and sake well. Spray anywhere along doorways, windowsills or directly on flies.
Note : Keep the drains, garbage covered. Because Fruit flies breed in garbage or drains. Use the Lemongrass Spray daily to avoid fruit flies.
If you have any other ideas to getting rid of fruit flies, inform us via comment.