Where do fruit flies come from? A moment of inattention is all it takes—a leftover apple core, a cut tomato, or even a piece of peel left on the kitchen counter, and before you know it, swarms of tiny flies are hovering over the table. Wild yeast that appears on the surface of fruit or vegetables due to fermentation attracts fruit flies, which feed on these wild yeast. Despite being small and harmless, they pose a significant problem as they can carry harmful pathogens dangerous to our health. Moreover, the sight of swarms of flies above food is not pleasant.
Why Should You Get Rid of Fruit Flies?
Fruit flies, like other flying insects, can be a significant problem, especially since once they appear, they multiply at an alarming rate. If we do nothing about it, in a few hours, there will be an overwhelming number of them. New flies will settle not only on fruits or vegetables but also on furniture and kitchen appliances. They can quickly be found on most food items left outside the refrigerator or cabinets.
Fruit flies are particularly attracted to garbage cans, where there are plenty of various bacteria. If they later transfer to a piece of fruit or kitchen equipment, there is a high probability that these harmful microorganisms will be transferred to them. This can pose a real health threat, especially for small children. Fortunately, there are quite a few effective ways to get rid of fruit flies from your home. Here are the most popular and proven ways to eliminate these pesky pests from your kitchen.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies - What to Do First
The first method is to prevent fruit flies from appearing in the house. It is essential to take care of this, especially in summer, as warm air speeds up fermentation processes that attract flies. Thus, it is important to ensure that the garbage bin is tightly closed and to empty it more frequently than in cooler seasons. One must also be vigilant not to leave apple cores or scraps in the rooms.
All fruits and vegetables that have been cut, bitten, or peeled must be stored in the refrigerator or placed in airtight containers. It is worth remembering that fruit flies are attracted not only to the smell of fermenting fruits but also to jams, preserves, and even wine. If you leave open jars or bottles somewhere, you can be sure that fruit flies will appear in no time. First and foremost, you need to keep your kitchen tidy; however, it may turn out that flies can also appear in other rooms. If they are in the kitchen, they might fly into the bathroom, where they will be attracted to not thoroughly rinsed toothbrushes.
How to Combat Fruit Flies – The Most Popular Methods
Every housewife has her proven methods for getting rid of insects in the kitchen, but if you don’t know how to start the fight against fruit flies, check out the most popular tricks.
-
Fruit fly traps,
-
hair dryer,
-
special sticky traps,
-
dishwashing liquid,
-
scented candles.
Fruit flies are attracted by the scent of yeast found on rotting fruits. Therefore, hygiene is crucial; if tips like regularly washing dishes and kitchen counters and storing fruits do not work, it is time to resort to effective ways to combat fruit flies. In stores, you can find various traps or sticky papers for fruit flies, and even electric repellents, but you can also manage with homemade methods that don’t require additional financial outlay. The products needed are most likely already at home.
Homemade Methods for Fruit Flies
Fruit flies love food scraps and rotting fruits, so the easiest way to lure them is to a trap emitting this specific scent. The simplest method is to place some pieces of fruit or a bit of apple cider vinegar in a small jar and cover the top with a thin layer of plastic wrap. The wrap should have several small holes made with a toothpick through which the flies can enter the jar.
Fruit flies attracted by the smell of the fruit will enter the jar but will not be able to escape. Similarly, you can use a bottle with a narrow neck; flies that find themselves in the bottom part of the bottle will not be able to fly out. In addition to fruit, you can put mixed apple cider vinegar with dishwashing liquid in the container.
Another effective but somewhat drastic way to get rid of fruit flies is to treat them with a hot stream of air from a hair dryer. The fruit trap works more slowly but is equally effective. Fruit flies in the kitchen can be easily dealt with, but if we do not remember to maintain proper hygiene and food storage methods, we will not be able to prevent their appearance. Just a moment of inattention, and these small insects can take over the entire kitchen.