Many people are having trouble in summer with fruit flies on fresh fruit baskets in the kitchen.
One of the best solutions I’ve run across is to leave an open wine bottle with a little bit of red wine in the bottom right next to the fruit basket. Apparently, they LOVE red wine (and even get drunk on it)! Beer also works, according to some. Others say vinegar works, but it must be apple cider vinegar. An alternative to the wine bottle is a small bud vase with a narrow neck.
Another style of fruit fly trap involves covering cups with plastic wrap and poking a small hole (or several holes) in the center, and putting apple cider vinegar or red wine (or a small piece of fruit such as a banana) in the cups.
There are several other styles of fruit fly traps. Make a small paper cone with a small hole in the end. Place it inverted into a cup with red wine or vinegar, but taking care the point of the cone is well above the red wine. Tape it in place. Alternatively, the top of a plastic bottle can be cut off, inverted, and taped into the top half, as above. The fruit flies get in to these traps, but they can’t get out.
If you have access to strips of sticky fly paper, a very effective trap can be made by curling the strips up in a pie plate (disposable, if possible) and putting a teaspoon of maple syrup, or small piece of fruit in the center of the dish.
If you have access to peppermint oil, dab a little bit around the edges fruit basket and that seems to drive them away.
peppermint oil
The peppermint oil tip comes from restaurant salad bars and health food stores. The peppermint smell drives them right away from the produce, as well as leaves a fresh, minty smell.
It goes without saying that you should regularly empty your kitchen garbage and tie it all up well in plastic sacks before throwing it away in cans outside. That helps.
There is a plant called rue (native to the Mediterranean, but which is available in many farmer’s markets or local garden centers) which acts as an insect repellent.
baby rue plant
Some people recommend crushing a few leaves (even though they don’t smell good) and leaving them in a small bowl near the fruit bowl and/or trash. (However some people are allergic to rue and it can cause skin blistering in sensitive people, see Wikipedia article on rue).
Definitely do NOT use RAID in the kitchen as it is filled with arsenic and extremely poisonous to humans, pets, and children. The spray falling on your fruit or kitchen dishes or glasses, is NOT something would want to consume!
A last natural way to get rid of fruit files is to purchase two Venus Fly Trap plants and keep them on either side of your fruit baskets!
Venus Fly Traps - the NATURAL way to get rid of fruit flies!
Tags: solving fruit fly problems in the kitchen, Venus Fly Traps, red wine fruit fly traps, wine bottle fruit fly traps, apple cider vinegar fruit fly traps, peppermint oil repels fruit flies, rue repells fruit flies, fly paper and pie plate trap for fruit flies, do not use RAID against fruit flies
July 21, 2010 at 1:32 pm
This was very helpful! Thank you!!
July 21, 2010 at 1:37 pm
I like Venus Fly Traps, can I buy that from Walmart
Btw, great post
July 21, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Fun tips! I’ve just moved to New Mexico, and the fruit flies here are terrible.
Keep it up!
July 21, 2010 at 2:06 pm
We put apple cider vinegar in a small glass cup and add a bit of oil. They fly in and get trapped under the layer of oil. It’s sort of interesting to watch the flies collect in the vinegar.
We keep a compost bowl next to the sink. The flies seem to be more attracted to fruit that is cut open and will settle in there. I take a wet paper towel and quickly flop it over the top of the compost, trapping them underneath. I take the whole thing out to the compost pile and leave it out there. I don’t leave the compost intentionally, it’s just sometimes I forget or am too lazy to take it out.
July 21, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Great, great, great post! I consume massive amounts of fruits and veggies now to keep my health in order and those fruit flies are so annoying. This is sooo helpful. Thanks for sharing. Sending gratitude in your direction.
July 21, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Good information.Thank you.
July 21, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Thank you so much for these tips. Your blog was extremely helpful, my family thanks you.
July 21, 2010 at 3:00 pm
I SO hate fruit flies!!!
July 21, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Thank you for such interesting information about solving the fruit fly problem. Every summer I have to give up bringing home peaches, bananas and grapes which fruit flies adore. I can’t wait to try your remedies. I happen to have a small amount of red wine left over from a birthday party we had last Sunday night. How perfect to use it to test your theories!!!
July 21, 2010 at 3:07 pm
I love all the conTRAPtions you’ve devised. They will be the perfect things to place around my kitchen. There’s nothing worse than sitting down to breakfast only to be surrounded by a swarm of fruit flies.
The Codger
http://thecodger.wordpress.com/
July 21, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Now that is a comprehensive list! Just went through a fruit fly cull in our kitchen. Used the cellophane wrap + apple cider vinegar trick. Worked wonderfully.
July 21, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Thank you SOOO much!! I have been battling with fruit flies for a while. I also even sent it to my friend who was having the same issue. Liked your blog!
All the best!
July 21, 2010 at 3:16 pm
I’ve used the paper cone taped into a glass with apple cider vinegar, but it really helps to put a drop of dishwashing liquid in as well. That way it breaks the skin of the vinegar so they can’t sit on top, and they drown in it. It works really well! You can also vacuum them up (attach the hose and just point it at them) if you have a lot of them.
July 21, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Great tips!
-Noor
http://noor724.wordpress.com/
July 21, 2010 at 3:32 pm
thanks …. i was also searching for some solutions
July 21, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Great ideas. I hate the fruit flies in the summer.
July 21, 2010 at 3:50 pm
I have to say that I have personally used method #1 with a dixie cup and small bits of rotting fruit at the bottom, small holes in the plastic and viola! Almost immediate removal of the flies!!!
http://www.twofourone.wordpress.com
July 21, 2010 at 4:02 pm
what an interesting subject for a blog. Thanks for the tips on eliminating them
July 21, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Another easy way to trap fruit flies is to simply fill a small cup with a few ounces of soapy water. The flies are attracted to the soapy water and drown in it.
July 21, 2010 at 4:09 pm
I’ve had the problem before too. They can live in sinks, so plug your sinks up and do a little bit of soap water in it at night if you’ve got a bad infestation. Capturing most of them still leaves enough to breed. However, proactive solutions will definitely help too.
July 21, 2010 at 4:19 pm
So glad to have found you on Freshly Pressed. I have been wondering how to get rid of these pesky insects, especially since I have company coming over. I think I’ll try the red wine method. That sounds intriguing!
July 21, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Thanks so much for posting this. My partner and I love to keep fruit out on the counter, but almost as if on cue, the fruit flies arrived. Since we drink wine, I think I’ll try the little bit of wine in the bottom trick to see if that keeps them from our fruit.
Ironic, isn’t it? Keeping FRUIT flies from the fruit?
With Love and Gratitude,
The Intentional Sage
July 21, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Awesome!!! I am definitely going to have to try this!! Thanks!!!
superhive.wordpress.com
July 21, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Great advice, and right on time. We always seem to have one of these little pests flying around us while we’re eating dinner. If we get rid of it, another one shows up to take its place. Amazing how something so small can drive you so crazy!
July 21, 2010 at 6:02 pm
A central vac system also does the trick!
July 21, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Thank you SO much for these ideas. I will definitely be putting them to use. I wonder if it will also work for other tiny little bugs that like to fly around. Living in an RV, I don’t have all my fruit in one place. I never would have thought of these. Peppermint oil? Who would have thought? I almost always have apple cider vinegar on hand. I am bookmarking this post so that I will have ideas if those pests come back.
July 21, 2010 at 6:28 pm
great tips and always wanted a Venus fly trap, looks like i’ll have to buy on of those soon…or two…or three
July 21, 2010 at 6:31 pm
I keep our fruit flies under control with the small piece of apple in a bit of wine in a disposable cup. Plastic wrap across the top and toothpick a few holes across the surface as noted in your post. The flies fly in for a nibble and can’t get out. After a few days I throw the cup away. Every couple of weeks I put another cup out. Easy and it works and is not toxic.
http://gmomj.wordpress.com/
July 21, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Love the red wine solution. I’ll try that tonight – gives me an excuse to drink some wine, I’m ok with that. Hope the wine gets rid of the little pests too.
July 21, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Hey, what’s with the “Expat”? Are you never coming back? Don’t blame you if you don’t, but just wondering. I’ve thought about leaving this sinking ship many times over the years, but decided to stay. Don’t think anyplace else will be any better, what with climate change and all.
Hamster,
We didn’t move to Morocco because we had any problem with the United States. We moved because my husband didn’t speak any English (although he does now) and couldn’t find a decent job the first two years he came. We moved back to Morocco where he was able to get a professional-level job again and support the family. Also, I liked the idea of living abroad for a few years since I love to travel. I didn’t know then if it would be permanent, but at a certain point, you have to choose a place to put down roots, and then it becomes much harder to start all over again. We’re in our 50′s now, and it would quite hard to “start all over again.”
Best regards,
Mary
July 21, 2010 at 7:07 pm
My cat catches almost all flying things that come into my house.
July 21, 2010 at 7:30 pm
thank you been having loads of these and greenfly on my indoor plants
July 21, 2010 at 8:27 pm
A soda bottle with holes punched in the top, and a little sweet liquid in the bottom is also wonderful. Make the holes a bit bigger, or leave the cap off, and it can be hung near apple trees, or even on dumpsters to keep bees and wasps at bay. THank you for the wonderful tips!
July 21, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Thank you for these informations !!! There’s good ideas…
July 21, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Thanks for the tips — I used Rue and it solved a terrible fruit fly problem I had. I bought it fresh and it did not start working until it started drying and mow seems to be helping enormously without the smell (tho that did not bother me…).
The other thing that you did not mention is to clear out any garbage from your sink ASAP. I run my insinerator 10 X’s more than I ever used to becuase the flies congregate there.
Very timely info — thanks!!!!
July 21, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Great stuff…
http://trequartisti.wordpress.com
July 21, 2010 at 9:48 pm
I can’t wait to try this! Congrats on Freshly Pressed!
July 21, 2010 at 11:42 pm
I can recommend your fruit fly trap that uses the jar or bowl with something in it (I use a small piece of fragrant fruit), plastic wrap stretched tight across the top and then poke a few hole in the wrap with a tooth pick. They go in and can’t get out.
What I want to know is … where do they come from?
July 21, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed! and great ideas! I was so happy to see your post as I was just talking about them to my son because they are flying around my house driving me crazy as I try to read and they try to fly up my nose! Yuck! Thanks!
evelyngarone.com
July 22, 2010 at 12:14 am
GREAT idea! I have SO MANY fruit flies around. I’m trying this tomorrow.
-Alessandra
July 22, 2010 at 1:14 am
I like it when I can do more than one thing at a time….and the red wine should do just that! I’ll need to get some red wine and drink some…lol…that will make me happy. The fruit flies won’t feel any pain I’m sure as they will die drunk and happy….and I’ll be guilt free! Thanks
July 22, 2010 at 2:15 am
Those ideas are really awesome, especially the one about the wine. Iwill try that tomorrow.
July 22, 2010 at 2:49 am
Wine for a fruit fly? I like the peppermint oil the best.
July 22, 2010 at 4:23 am
Man, I wish I had come across the venus fly trap solution last. We ended up using bowls of apple cider vinegar mixed with a bit of fruit juice (they seemed to like it better).
We had a major issue with them and the plastic wrap can be a pain when this carries on for a bit, but if you gently touch the surface with a little dish soap on your finger after setting the bowl/cup/etc out it breaks the surface tension so they sink instead of being able to stand on the surface and partake. A venus fly trap would have been so much cooler though.
July 22, 2010 at 4:30 am
Thanks for the tips.
July 22, 2010 at 4:37 am
Hi Mary,
How wonderful to find you on Freshly Pressed! Your blog is highly informative and well researched, and now many more people can have access to it. Congrats!
It’s funny that you CAN attract flies with vinegar. Goes against the old adage “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.
I was surprised about that, too! I’m also surprised someone I know caught me in Freshly Pressed! Thanks, Nora!
July 22, 2010 at 5:01 am
Interesting.
Cheers, Niconica
http://niconica.wordpress.com
July 22, 2010 at 6:16 am
Thank goodness for this post! My work is swarmed by fruit flies. I’m not allowed to put a venus fly trap in the break room, (though i tried) but now I at least have other solutions. thank you.
July 22, 2010 at 6:32 am
Good information.Thank you.
July 22, 2010 at 6:37 am
Great tip. I am going to try this in my garden as well.
Thanks
geekgardener.
July 22, 2010 at 7:43 am
Great tips and very helpful thanks!
http://myterms.wordpress.com/
July 22, 2010 at 8:04 am
I have an even EASIER solution. Put 3 drops of dish washing liquid in a bowl of red wine vinegar, ad a bit of water. Set on your counter or where ever. The flies land in the water but cant get out due to the soap and they drown.
July 22, 2010 at 9:25 am
Guess what? The easiest solution of all.
I live in France. At a local outdoor market, I bought a basket with a net attached. The net rolls back to open, & when you have taken your fruit, just roll the net back & voila!
Also, they sell little umbrellas here, about the diameter of a plate, to cover cheese left outside the refrigerator. The umbrellas keep the bugs off.
July 22, 2010 at 10:39 am
thank you its really helpful and i like the fly traps
July 22, 2010 at 11:53 am
Lemongrass oil is a great insecticide/insect repellant. Put ten drops or so into 2 oz of water and spray a fine mist in the air in the rooms where you have a problem. Also works great for ants. Lemongrass oil smells just wonderful and is food safe so you can use it in the kitchen.
July 22, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Thank you for the very useful information. I love to have fresh fruit at home but could do without the flies! I think I will try a combination of peppermint in the basket and an apple cider vinegar trap.
Cheers!
July 22, 2010 at 6:53 pm
That bottle of red wine tip is really handy! And best of all- can drink up the bottle first….lol!