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How do i combat fruit flies? (Original Post) LaydeeBug Sep 2014 OP
you just have to keep at them Viva_La_Revolution Sep 2014 #1
set out a glass of soapy water or beer fizzgig Sep 2014 #2
A dish of apple cider vinegar works for me. nt JaneQPublic Sep 2014 #3
Keep at what you are doing, and Curmudgeoness Sep 2014 #4
My Dad always said that they would nest in the drains, but I didn't believe him. NOW I do japple Sep 2014 #9
I suppose that boiling water works just as well Curmudgeoness Sep 2014 #10
I sometimes clean my drains with baking soda + vinegar, then follow with hot water japple Sep 2014 #11
Yep, I use that Curmudgeoness Sep 2014 #12
Get 2 or 3 empty bottles LiberalEsto Sep 2014 #5
Kinda like this? LaydeeBug Sep 2014 #6
Pretty close LiberalEsto Sep 2014 #7
Flamethrowers. ret5hd Sep 2014 #8

Viva_La_Revolution

(28,791 posts)
1. you just have to keep at them
Fri Sep 5, 2014, 12:20 AM
Sep 2014

We get them this time of year from all the fruit in the house.

recipe - 1/2 t. sugar dissolved in 2 tbl hot water, add 2 tbl apple cider vinegar (raw works best), 1 drop dishsoap. I use little applesauce cups and hide them around the kitchen where they can't really be seen. the buggers find them though. 3 weeks constant use and removing anything drawing them will do it.

sticky fly traps help too, a little.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
4. Keep at what you are doing, and
Fri Sep 5, 2014, 07:22 PM
Sep 2014

I find that I will have a few different kinds of flies at this time (this year is a bad one). I also will notice that some are hanging out around the drains in the sink, so I put hydrogen peroxide down the drains because I think some of the kinds of flies are breeding there.

Once you get them, it is a constant battle to get rid of them.

japple

(10,330 posts)
9. My Dad always said that they would nest in the drains, but I didn't believe him. NOW I do
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 05:41 PM
Sep 2014

and when I boil water for tea in the morning, I always make sure to pour some down the drain. After watching the video below saying that they can lay up to 500 eggs in those little overflow drains in bathroom sinks, I think I'll use your peroxide method, too.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
10. I suppose that boiling water works just as well
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 06:08 PM
Sep 2014

but when I saw one fly come out of the drain hole, all I had at hand was hydrogen peroxide. It was kinda fun too, watching it bubble up out of the drain hole until it was clear. I am not so sure that these are all "fruit flies", since someone told me there are some flies that live in drains. I never tried to determine if they were different.

japple

(10,330 posts)
11. I sometimes clean my drains with baking soda + vinegar, then follow with hot water
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:36 PM
Sep 2014

It's a great chemical reaction and leaves everything sparkling, squeaky clean, too!

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
12. Yep, I use that
Thu Sep 11, 2014, 08:44 PM
Sep 2014

especially when the drain starts to run a little slow....because I never think of drains unless they are not working right. I should do that occasionally just to keep everything working, but life gets in the way.

 

LiberalEsto

(22,845 posts)
5. Get 2 or 3 empty bottles
Fri Sep 5, 2014, 07:31 PM
Sep 2014

and pour about a half inch of cider vinegar in them. Option: add a chunk of fruit.

Now make little paper cones using clear tape. Leave a small hole at the tip of each cone, just big enough for a fruit fly.

Put the cones into the tops of the bottles, upside down so the point is aimed at the bottom of the bottle. Make sure the cones fit in the bottle openings so there are no escape routes.

The flies will get into the bottles, attracted by the smell of vinegar and maybe rotting fruit. But they won't be able to figure out how to get out again.

Mwa ha ha ha haaaaaaa!

This worked for me when we had a huge fruit fly invasion a couple of years ago.

 

LiberalEsto

(22,845 posts)
7. Pretty close
Sat Sep 6, 2014, 10:19 AM
Sep 2014

I don't cut the plastic. It might be harder for the flies to escape from a tiny hole in a paper cone, than from a bottle opening. Try one of each and see what happens.

Good luck!

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