Help me not feel such a fool about fruit flies! - light-hearted

[a1234567]

Hi,

I've been an idiot. I have created a huge problem of fruit flies by putting left over fruit in my compost bin in compostable bags from waitrose, but I have realised that they aren't compostable, they have magnified the problem in my kitchen and it has magnified the problem in my kitchen. Of course waitrose, compostable bin bags aren't compostable, they just say that they are! Grrrrrrrr

Those flies are all over the place, I have no fruit or food out, change my bin every day, washed the bin yesterday, pour bleach down the plug hole and they're still around.

I know there are, but I have let mine get out of hand. I missed the bin removal this morning as well.

Thanks for responding. Tomorrow I'm going to try to tackle the issue. I do hope they calm down soon.....

Are you sure it’s fruit flies and not fungus gnats coming out of plants?

Pour apple cider vinegar in a container/glass and secure tight plastic film over it with rubber band... pierce holes with forks and wait... I got rid of all from very infested kitchen few years ago.

I do the same with honey and a tiny amount of washing up liquid.

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea I will try that next time as not always having apple cider vinegar in the cupboard. Thanks.

Crickey - I hadn't heard of fungus gnats!!!!!! But, no, I think they are fruit flies.

I’ve had a problem this year with blue bottles, every day I have 3 or 4 in the kitchen, I empty the bin every day, keep the sides clear and clean, I really just can’t see why, it’s driving me insane. I keep everything covered when cooking, kitchen towels over everything lids on pans, I feel I can’t turn my back for a second in case they land on something I’m making. DH says I’m being silly, but I just hate the thought they might land on my dinner or walk across a plate I’m going to eat off.

maybe I’m over the top, but I’m getting really stressed over it

We have a wasps nest in the cavity wall outside the kitchen. Every day there are wasps on the kitchen window. We keep spraying into the air brick, still they come

These work Super Ninja Fruit Fly Killer - 2 Pack - Environmentally Responsible Highly Effective Ecological Traps Indoor - User Friendly - Up to 3 Weeks per Bottle amzn.eu/d/cT6OVNq but only on fruit flies not on gnats

I've got a plague of fungus gnats at the moment. I've tried sticky tape and nematodes in the pots and it is just getting worse! I have now taken all my house plants and put them in the porch because I'm so fed up with all the flies. I feel your pain!

I had a real problem last year and tried everything. I got one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/mafiti-Electric-Rechargeable-Mosquito-Suitable/dp/B095YLJ46N/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=2430X9US8VKE2&keywords=fly+killers+bat+blue&qid=1692828349&sprefix=fly+killers+bat+blue%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-5

And now zap them all. It takes 5 days to clear all the flies from the eggs but then they are gone (and clear away all fruit)

Also- bigger flies- probably pet food. Since my dog died I’ve had hardly any flies.

I know it’s not as friendly as nematodes, but good old fashioned fly killer aerosol,
sprayed lightly on the soil top for 3 days running will absolutely kill them off. They only live in the top of the soil and this works a treat. Also let the soil dry out a bit in conjunction.

That was at @BreehyHinnyBrinnyHoohyHah

I had to bin my basil plants on the kitchen window sill for this reason. Keeping the new one in the conservatory where it's doing well. A layer of sand on top of the soil deters them as well.

Fruit flies are bastards and they can't even fly properly. They hover as near to your face as possible and do a really shit job of flying away when you swat them.

They're flies, they have one job and yet they can't even manage that properly.

Not a fan of them tbh.

You want a caddy you can empty directly into the compost bin - save your money on ‘compostable’ liners, which as you’ve discovered are nothing of the sort.

I’ve got this one - removable lid and liner, stick in dishwasher when needed. If you want to line it use kitchen towel.

You don't need the plastic.

A tiny drip of washing up liquid will break the surface and they will drown.

Apple cider vinegar also work

'Compostable' bags break down in industrial compost systems, not home compost. But I don't see how that's relevant inside your kitchen - you wouldn’t want them to compost in there. Emptying the caddy more often should help. Or clip the top of the bag so flies can't get in.

@disluznews great thanks for this tip. Will try it.

It's so effective!

Every summer I put out my little containers and they get keep the flies at bay!

Little fly coffins

My honey contraption works but I might get some apple cider vinegar as well. See which one catches the most 😁

You need a roll of sticky fly paper, hung above your kitchen caddy. It is gross but it works.

Yes, that's what I realised. Those effing "compostable" caddy liners. I blame Waitrose! lol.