How to 'instantly' kill fruit flies using items you already have in your kitchen

Fruit flies can be a nuisance at this time of year, as they love to feast on fruit left out in bowls on our kitchen counters, and the warm weather creates the perfect environment for them to breed

Fruit flies can prove to be a real pest during this period of the year. They adore gorging on fruit that might be displayed in bowls across our kitchen surfaces, while the balmy conditions create ideal circumstances for them to reproduce and flourish.

Making things even more troublesome, fruit flies actually deposit their eggs within our drains, which means they can prove challenging to eliminate because merely rinsing your fruit upon bringing it home doesn't always do the trick. It doesn't require much time for a handful of fruit flies to develop into a full-blown invasion, and once they've established themselves in your property, these nuisances can prove stubborn to shift. They're far too tiny to respond effectively to fly sprays, and cannot be enticed out through windows like other flying insects.

However, according to cleaning enthusiasts across social media platforms, there's definitely something you can do to banish fruit flies from your property.

All that's required are two everyday household items which you might already possess within your kitchen storage. These two products can be combined to form a homemade fly trap, and when the creatures venture inside, they "die instantly".

The tip was posted on Reddit following someone requesting assistance with their "infestation". They explained: "Basically, over the past week or so, the house has been infested with fruit flies, up and downstairs. I've removed all the things they could be coming from, but there are still so many.

"The other day, I was taking the trash out, and out of the bag came about 70 flies... Do I have to call someone to help me? I can't leave anything our without it being covered I flies within a few hours."

After pleading for assistance from cleaning enthusiasts, numerous people rushed to the person's rescue with one key recommendation - creating a homemade trap using apple cider vinegar and washing-up liquid.

One individual explained: "I have had that happen to me a few times. What I did was get a jar, put in apple cider vinegar, a bit of dish soap, cover with [cling film], take a fork, and make holes in the [cling film] with it. The fruit flies will go into the tiny holes, but can't get out."

Another contributed: "I just put dish soap, apple juice, and water into a deep glass and let it sit on the counter until they're all gone or until I need a new solution for the glass."

Fellow users proposed different remedies, including utilising lemongrass essential oil to repel the insects as they detest the scent.

Another widely favoured tip involved employing fans or reducing the air conditioning temperature if available, as this would deter the flies from multiplying in the vicinity.

Someone remarked: "The easiest way - by far - is to crank up the air conditioning to sub 65°F (18°C). Within a couple days, they will die. Obviously not ideal in the summer, but the cold helps to kill them off and stop them from breeding."

A seasoned bartender, who has had his fair share of encounters with flies, shared: "I've tried everything over the years when various bars I've worked in have had an infestation. Hands down, the best solution is simply leaving a fan on for a few days. The moving air stops them breeding somehow, and they have a very short reproductive cycle."

How to get rid of fruit flies

1. Eliminate Attractants:

• Remove ripe or rotting fruit and vegetables from countertops.
• Clean food spills and crumbs, especially sugary substances.
• Empty trash cans and recycling bins regularly, and clean them if needed.
• Rinse out bottles and cans before recycling.

2. Clean Breeding Sites:

• Check and clean sink drains with a brush and boiling water or a vinegar/baking soda mixture.
• Wipe down counters and tables with soapy water.
• Clean under appliances where food debris may accumulate.

3. Set Traps:

• Apple Cider Vinegar Trap: Pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar into a glass or jar. Add a drop of dish soap (breaks the surface tension). Cover with plastic wrap and poke small holes, or leave it uncovered.
• Wine or Beer Trap: Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of wine or beer. Leave a small amount in a bottle with a narrow neck, or cover with plastic wrap as above.
• Fruit Trap: Place a piece of overripe fruit in a jar, cover with plastic wrap, and poke small holes.

4. Prevent Reinfestation:

• Store produce in the fridge or in sealed containers.
• Take out the bins regularly.
• Fix window screens and keep doors closed.