What can I do to get rid of fruit flies?

Question

For about two weeks already, our house has been "invaded" by fruit flies. We don't even keep fruit outside the fridge and we live in a very clean home!

We have no idea what can be attracting them. We have been trying to catch them (and we have caught them) in traps that we have made with a glass with some wine and salad dressing and then covered with plastic wrap and with some holes in the wrap. The traps work, but the bugs keep coming back!

What could be the reason for this? How can we get rid of fruit flies for good?

Answer 1

My Mom and Mother-in-law both put some vinegar in a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in it. For some reason the fruit flies are attracted to the vinegar and get stuck under the plastic wrap.

Answer 2

I had this problem, there is a great home remedy for this, i think all you have to do is mix vinegar, water, and dish soap. what will happen is the fruit flies will be attracted to the remedy instead of the fruit thus they go in the liquid and get stuck and die, this worked until we stopped doing it.

Answer 3

Are they true fruit flies or one of the other types of fly/gnat that are generically called fruit flies, but will have a different food source. Knowing what they are will help determine where they may be coming from. And as you are finding out, the traps are only catching the adults, not stopping the problem at the source. Once you discover the source the problem will be gone soon enough If they are true fruit flies, reddish in color make sure there isn't something quirky going on.  I have had customers with bad problems with them and to find out that the toddler had dropped a banana peel behind a couch...located another source when the customer had stored ice chests after an outing and one still had a grapefruit in it.  If the insects are grayish in color make sure the bags of potatoes or onions don't have one with a rotting spot on it.   Make sure they aren't fungus gnats that are coming from the soil of a potted plant or the muck down in the food disposal.

Answer 4

In your kitchen drain, there is a yucky substance called "drain snot" in which flies and gnats can lay their larvae in.  Bleach will not kill the eggs, but if you use Liquid Plumber or Drano, you will clean out the snot and problem solved.  Check behind and under your stove to make sure there isn't any food particles left to be fully sure.  Hope it works!!