Most everyone has had the unfortunate problem of fruit flies in the kitchen. It takes precious little to have them accumulate in an area like the kitchen, as they are attracted to any damp areas or food sources. The fruit flys are after sugar primarily, and they can multiply at a rate that would make a rodent jealous. Thank goodness they are a whole lot easier to get rid of than rodents. Here are a number of things you can do to eliminate fruit flies from your kitchen quickly and easily:
The first rule in fruit fly elimination is to eliminate their food sources. Fruit flies are after sugar, and they can extract any minute amount of sugar from most organic foods. This means that any fruits, vegetables, or even liquids are open game. The slightest little puddle of orange juice can draw every fruit fly in the neighborhood. They can find the smallest amount of sugar with ease so even fresh flowers can be a problem due to nectar.
Begin by putting away all food sources. Refrigerate all fruits and foods that are out in the open. Clean all food preparation appliances thoroughly. This includes refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, and even sinks and drains. Some common problem areas and items that get overlooked are washcloths, drip pans, and the edges and rims of the fridge. Mops that are still damp and mop buckets that have liquid are big time fruit fly attractions. Also, you need to make sure to eliminate trash baskets regularly by emptying them. Do not put organic waste in the kitchen trash. Take them outside and dump them away from the house.
These tips will help to eliminate future fruit fly problems, but what about the fruit flies that are already there? Fortunately, you can eliminate these by using the same principles in reverse. The best way to catch and kill these fruit flies is to use some cider vinegar or orange juice in a trap.
Place the orange juice or cider in a plastic bowl. Then take some plastic wrap and put it tightly over the top of the bowl covering it completely. Once you have the plastic in place, then take the tines of a fork and poke little bitty holes in the plastic. Do not poke too many, as only a few will do just fine. The fruit flies will fly into the holes to get to the OJ underneath. Then they will be trapped and unable to escape the bowl. Eventually they will drown in the OJ. Then you simply take the bowl outside and dump it.
This is the most common method to get rid of fruit flies, but there are a number of other effective traps as well. Some of these include using a soda bottle for the same effect. Simply place the OJ or cider in a soda bottle and then leave a little slit in the cap for the flies to get in. The bowl method is the most effective way to catch them in my opinion, however, as they have more avenues to get into the trap.
