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Original poster

Fruit flies tips

34 replies

83DanishMum · 02/09/2022 18:31

Why've I got so many fruit flies in my kitchen? They're everywhere. There are some bananas but I can't put those in the fridge can I? I'm constantly spraying and wiping but the fruit flies are always back.

What else can I do except not buy bananas?

OP posts:
icebearforpresident · 02/09/2022 18:33

Pour some red wine into a plastic tub, cover the top with cling film and poke some small holes in it. Flies get in but can’t get back out.

Nik2015 · 02/09/2022 18:35

OMG, I thought this was just us!
No idea on how to fix it, other than throwing fruit out. But glad it’s not just us!

sarahc336 · 02/09/2022 18:37

They often live in the soil of house plants, do you have any in the kitchen?? X

Plump82 · 02/09/2022 18:38

I have stopped buying banana's as it was definitely the main cause for fruit flies here.

Irisbouquet · 02/09/2022 18:39

I had loads last week and have had success with little bowls of water with fairy liquid and a few squashed grapes in it to attract them, there's quite a few drowned ones in the bowls.

I hate them!

Mmmmdanone · 02/09/2022 18:41

I had a massive amount all summer and they have suddenly vanished! I'm I'm scotland though, and although it's still fairly warm during the day I was thinking the overnight temp must have killed them off. Sorry no help but I'm happy!

mouse70 · 02/09/2022 18:42

Had this problem last year. Brought a a glut of ripe pears into kitchen. Fruit flies got everywhere spent days chasing them and trying to swat.Put some vinegar in an open container, food container or wide topped jar. I used Malt but suspect white will also work. Cover open top with cling film and poke holes in it. with a screw driver or similar. Fruit flies attracted by vinegar and go through film. Sound odd but for once I found a tip that really really works I promise. (It was so satisfying to see the little beasts floating in the vinegar)

Original poster
83DanishMum · 02/09/2022 18:51

I meant to say, I have gone the cling film truck. Caught loads but still they're coming!

OP posts:
SeaThingChild · 02/09/2022 18:55

I've had tonnes of fruit flies this week too, I though it was just us being unhygienic or something. I've moved all fruit to the fridge and then dettol sprayed everywhere and they've gone. Don't see why you can't put bananas in the fridge but they also freeze well, I peel and chop them.

Plump82 · 02/09/2022 18:56

SeaThingChild · 02/09/2022 18:55

I've had tonnes of fruit flies this week too, I though it was just us being unhygienic or something. I've moved all fruit to the fridge and then dettol sprayed everywhere and they've gone. Don't see why you can't put bananas in the fridge but they also freeze well, I peel and chop them.

I used to put bananas in the fridge but then felt the whole fridge just smelled of banana!

MistyRock · 02/09/2022 18:58

Cider vinager in a bowl, a drop of washing up liquid and you're done. I had tiny flies in my kitchen once, they weren't fruit flies but I think it works on them all. The cider vinager will attract them and the washing up liquid will stop them flying away.

TheGriffle · 02/09/2022 19:01

Also inundated by them! I have a tortoise and they are in his soil and they have also congregated in my tub of tomatoes that is on the side. I will have to try the bowl of vinegar and clingfilm.

JS87 · 02/09/2022 19:03

I bought an electric fly zapper this year and it works a treat on them. However every day you think you’ve got them all only four at least four more to appear the next day!

greenacrylicpaint · 02/09/2022 19:04

bananas are fine in the fridge.
their skin gies brown but the inside stays tasty.

Caspianberg · 02/09/2022 19:06

All fruit in fridge for a week whilst you eliminate problem

vinegar and fairy in bowl with cling film trick

add fresh mint, basil a lavender plant to your kitchen. You can use the fresh herbs anyway, and flies hate the smells so will head off and keep out. - this will stop them returning

WitchDancer · 02/09/2022 19:10

I've got this too. I put all my fruit other than the bananas in the fridge. The bananas went in a big Tupperware tub. We then got vinegar with a bit of washing up liquid in into a small dish. Thankfully we seem to be getting on top of them after a week

chilling19 · 02/09/2022 19:12

Oh I thought it was just me! I ended up buying a zapper and they seem to be thinning a bit. Revolting things.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 02/09/2022 19:17

My parents kitchen was swarming with them, between the fruit bowl and the compost caddy. I bought sticky fly papers (the twirly ones) and hung one above the caddy and one above the fruit bowl. In 2 days they caught about 100 flies and the problem is solved. Gross but effective, and the papers will only be needed until the colder weather.

ShinyPikachu · 02/09/2022 22:39

I just use a small glass with leftover wine (a rarity) or vinegar (either white wine, cider or rice depending on which one I have more of at the time). No washing up liquid or cling film top needed and they just drown themselves.

Just don't leave it too close to the edge of the counter or you'll have a delightful mix of broken glass, vinegar and dead flies to clean up, as we found out this week.

stopitleaveitgetdown · 02/09/2022 22:43

@83DanishMum wow you beat me to it! This is my exact problem and I was going to post exact same question. My kitchen and living room are rife with them and I've removed the banana that my DD put in the bin, bleached my kitchen and worktops, mopped the floor yet they are still about.
I'm going crazy!

I've done the traps too (vinegar and washing liquid) but only a few go to it

cathythegreat · 02/09/2022 22:47

They can live in waste pipes too, squirt some bleach down the sink and follow with boiling water

stopitleaveitgetdown · 02/09/2022 23:08

@cathythegreat going to do that right now because some came out of there this morning!
Thank you

sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea · 02/09/2022 23:14

We had an absolute infestation of them last year and god, it was MINGING. It tooks ages to get rid of them, but I invented my 'vino fly trap' (patent pending). Half an inch of white wine in the bottom of a bottle. They get in, can't get out. I moved it around the kitchen according to where they seemed most concentrated on any given day, moved all fruit into the fridge and cleaned everything they might have been attracted to - but it seemed to go on forever. Little fuckers have gone now though.

ginghamstarfish · 02/09/2022 23:22

Had them last year, came in via a potted plant, and can thrive in manky plughole etc. Chucked the plant, daily bleach and boiling water down sinks.

allboysherebutme · 02/09/2022 23:24

My neighbour has been complaining of this too, something must be happening x