Fruit Flys?

Question

Its that time of year when we eat alot of fruit in our house. I now have fruit fly's in my kitchen. They seem to be hovering around the garbage disposal. I have tried the plastic soda bottle cut in half with apple cider vinegar in the bottom, no luck. I have a fly trap up, but its a pain in the neck since its over the sink. Any tips on how to get rid of these pests. Also have a fly swatter to wack them if I see them on the counter.

Answer 1

Use a cheap bottle brush and a hot water rinse to clean out the drain every week or so. The bottle brush must be small enough to fit past the strainer grid. Also, never stick your hand into a garbage disposal!!!

After cleaning a drain or getting rid of old fruit, peppermint extract will drive them away. If you take part of a paper towel and twist it into a wick, place one end into the peppermint extract, leaving part of it on the outside. Tip the bottle to wet the wick. Set the bottle of peppermint extract on the counter or by the area that was infested. They will be gone! This works great at home, but also works in bars near the drains.

Answer 2

anything that you do to get rid of the adult flies individually will not be a cure, you have to address the source, when thats gone the flies will be gone.  First make sure they are fruit flies, they will be red in color.  If they are dark in color they may be coming from the "muck" that builds up inside the disposal. Use rubber gloves and try to clean the inner lip if the disposal of the slime that builds up.  Make sure you don't have any rotting onions or potatoes. And then check to make sure they aren't coming from the soil of a house plant.

Answer 3

Forget the cider vinegar. Add a small piece of fruit to the bottle set-up. Another thing, don't put your fruit scraps down the disposal. Start a compost pile outside or try worm composting (vermiculture) inside in one of those covered totes you can pick up really cheaply. On the up side...fruit flies live for only a couple of days.