The fruit fly is a bothersome insect that makes its way inside the house in search of fermenting foods like overripe fruit. A fruit fly infestation is even worse, making it impossible to eat a piece of fresh fruit in peace. Learn how to repel fruit flies with surprising methods and ways to prevent fruit flies from returning.
Unlike houseflies, fruit flies are tiny and nearly impossible to see until they land on a fruit bowl. Even then, they are challenging to kill since they seem to disappear as soon as you notice them. A trash can with rotten fruit is a fruit fly breeding ground, and you may see them hanging out over the garbage disposal and sink drain.
While a fruit fly problem is annoying, there are ways to eliminate pesky fruit flies and keep them out of the home. Ripened fruit sitting on the kitchen counter is their favorite, and removing this food source is a significant first step.
Ways to Deter Fruit Flies
All flies are a nuisance, whether houseflies, drain flies, or fruit flies. However, you often don’t know you have a fruit fly problem until they become an infestation. Learn how to keep fruit flies away using homemade traps, sprays, and other simple remedies.
Natural Ways to Repel Fruit Flies
Almost everything contains chemicals these days, and we’re always searching for alternatives regarding pest control. Luckily, there are natural ways to repel fruit flies.
Fermenting food draws fruit flies, so a cider vinegar trap is a natural remedy for fruit flies and a great way to eliminate these pests. The vinegar lures them in, where they are unable to escape.
Another safe and effective way to repel fruit flies is with essential oils. While we enjoy smelling fresh citrus or floral scents, many insects, including fruit flies, cannot stand their smell, and some oils even eliminate them on contact.
Using Commercial Products to Control Fruit Flies
Find various fruit fly products on the market if you don’t have the time to fuss with a homemade solution. Discover some commercial fly repellent treatments and tips for using them to eliminate fruit flies.
The most common commercial fruit fly killers and repellents are sprays, traps, lures, and nets. Some contain chemicals, while others use natural ingredients; they range in price and application. Netting helps protect fruit trees and berry crops, traps lure flies into a sticky device, and sprays kill them on contact.
The Best Way to Repel Fruit Flies
Preparing a vinegar trap is the best way to repel fruit flies and keep them from getting out of control. Fruit flies love the fragrance of apple cider vinegar, making it an ideal lure for trapping the pests.
Take the lid off a bottle of apple cider vinegar, and add a couple of drops of dish soap. Cover the opening with Saran wrap, secure it with a rubber band, and poke a small hole in the plastic. Set the bottle in an area where you see most fruit flies and wait for the liquid to lure and trap the pests.
How to Repel Fruit Flies with Essential Oils
While setting up a fly trap helps capture many flies, it doesn’t usually trap them all. Explore how to use essential oils to repel fruit flies by making a homemade bug spray.
Fill a glass bottle with hot water and add about ten drops of lemongrass essential oil. If you don’t have lemongrass oil, cinnamon or lavender works just as well. Close the container, shake it vigorously, and spray the fruit fly repellent wherever you see fruit flies. This is one of the easiest and best home remedies for repelling fruit flies both inside and outside the house and it smells great.
Trapping Fruit Flies with a Paper Funnel
One of our top natural ways to repel fruit flies is with a funnel trapping system. Make a fruit fly trap with pieces of leftover fruit and a sheet of paper. This trap lures the adult fly with rotten fruit, where it becomes trapped and unable to escape.
Chop up pieces of old or rotting fruit or any other sweet organic matter, place them into a tall bottle, such as a wine bottle or vase, and add a small amount of fruit juice or soda. Roll a plain sheet of paper to form a funnel shape and insert it into the bottle.
Place the trap in the fruit fly-infested area, leave it to sit overnight, and pour warm, soapy water into the bottle to kill the trapped flies. Dispose of the dead fruit flies and rinse the jar thoroughly before making another trap.
Getting Rid of Fruit Flies by Trapping and Freezing
Craft a fly control trap to kill fruit flies and eggs. You don’t need apple cider vinegar to make home remedies to repel fruit flies. This double fly trapping system is reusable, and all you need are glass jars and a few fruit scraps.
Place fruit scraps in two glass jars, remove the lids, and cover them with plastic wrap. Secure the plastic tightly in place by taping it around the rim of the jar. Press your thumb into the plastic to form an indentation, and poke a small hole in the center.
Set the fruit jars in strategic areas to capture fruit flies. When you discover fruit flies in one container, place it in the freezer to kill the flies and eggs, and rotate the jars in and out of the freezer as needed until the infestation is gone.
Ways to Keep Fruits Flies Out of the Home
Fruit flies are a common problem, infesting your trashcan, recycling bin, and garbage disposal. The longer they have a chance to breed, the worse the infestation gets. Prevention is key to keeping your home fly-free.
The best way to repel fruit flies is to make the space less desirable. Always clean up the counter and sink after peeling and cutting fruit, and dispose of the leftovers in the outside garbage can. Take out the trash nightly before bed and keep a lid on recycling bins to prevent them from attracting flies to soda and beer cans or wine bottles.
Wash fruits as soon as you bring them home from the grocery store and cover the fruit bowl to keep flies from breeding. To kill fruit fly eggs in the sink, pour equal amounts of white vinegar or cider vinegar and boiling water into the sink drain.
If you’ve ever enjoyed a piece of fruit and discovered a fruit fly resting on your next juicy bite, you’re not alone. These pests are notorious for their fruit-eating habits, and it’s essential to take steps to keep them in check. Fortunately, there are simple ways to eliminate these insects with sprays and traps.
Now that you understand how to repel fruit flies and prevent an infestation, why not share our fruit fly repelling techniques with your friends and family on Facebook and Pinterest?