I've still got fruit flies

[GreenLunchBox]

I've been tormented by them all summer. Had loads in my wheelie bin but they have gone. I've not seen any for days but today there's one buzzing around. What is going on?! My house is clean. The traps I bought from Amazon have not attracted any. Has anybody got any insight? 😭😭

It's cold now. My friends who were similarly infested say they no longer have them...why are the fuckers still in my house?!

Those little bastards.. sorry I can't help, mine seem to have gone too, but they'll be back next summer, flying round my face while I'm eating.. what are they FOR, ffs?

I got an amazing tip from t'internet. Put red wine vinegar in a little bowl with a drop of washing up liquid and they are all irresistibly drawn to it and dive in. The washing up liquid means that they can't get back out. It works perfectly.

Me too - little bastards.

Right! I still see the odd hanger on and they’re usually long gone by now.

Do you have any plants in your house? They may be fungus gnats instead of fruit flies.

The tip I saw on here worked really well for me.
Get a ramekin or a cup. Put a bit of cider in it and cover with cling film. Poke a few holes in with a skewer. They basically get in but can't get our. A bit brutal but it works a treat

I've heard they come up from the sink, put some bleach down the plughole, I haven't had any since I did this

I hoovered 16 of the dirty buggers the other day. All hanging round the ceiling and windows. Since then, not ones come back. The culprit in my kitchen was a banana just slightly on the turn. Rest of my house is spotless.

I've tried the vinegar and washing liquid trick (of COURSE I have...I've been plagued with these bastards all summer and have Googled like hell!)

I do have plants in the kitchen and do wonder if it's something to do with them. One is a coffee plant and on (only) one occasion when I shook it loads of flies flew off.

I tried that too. Loads of times. No dice

Urgh they are vile. We had an infestation one year and eventually we realised they were all hanging out in a wicker tray type thing that was a bit sticky. I was close to burning it but managed to kill then all in the end and cleaned the tray about 10 times.

They do come from the sink but also the sink overflow…so easily missed. I presume you have put all fruit in the fridge including bananas so as to not have the smell?

It sounds like the plant is the culprit, get rid! We still have the odd one but they have been prolific this year. At one point we were searching the kitchen for a source and realised the pod bin at the back of the coffee machine was attracting them. We have so many vinegar traps the kitchen has a permanent wiff of it.

Us too! Hate the bastards!

They’ll be in the plant soil. I get them from time to time and they drive me mad! I used to put a thick layer of sand over the soil so they can’t get in or out but now I just put a layer of ant/insect powder which does the trick nicely!

I'm here for all the tips and tricks. I brought some of my plants back inside for the winter and they brought the bugs with them.

I had the same issue. Found it was a peace lily plant, hundreds of the f**ers.

I’m still having the same issue. Tried bleach, vinegar, boiling hot water. Still getting tons and have no plants in the house and keep the toilet lid closed and plugs in bath and sink!

You can buy nematodes to water your plants with they kill the larvae in the soil. Think it’s around £12. Happens if the soil has been too wet and they’ll fly from plant to plant. Nematodes work really well.

I'll have a Google. Thanks

Yep, I have given up, my plants are gonna go to my daughter's, I have ordered a fake one.. :-0
Bananas are in the fridge (not good) along with oranges.. seems my fave snacks are the fruitflies too. :-(
Sink & overflow & everything sodding else all bleached..

Do you not like your daughter?! 😂

Giggle, @GreenLunchBox , it did come across that way, didn't it? :-)
Actually we're both quite alike in that we rescue people's unwanted plants, but every so often want to get rid of them all! Good job it's plants, I expect, & not kittens.. ;-)

I was going to say this as I had them. Allow the plants to dry out a bit and top the compost on the pots with gravel so they can't lay eggs.

Remove any diseased/dying leaves from your house plants too - this can make a difference.