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Original poster

Fruit flies!! Omg help

34 replies

TawnyLarue · 26/09/2023 19:03

The house is full of them 😬 last night I poured myself a red wine and popped into the kitchen and two had drowned in it. Had to pour it away. A line was crossed.

I can’t find any rotting fruit etc anywhere. There is no smell. I have set wine traps, vinegar traps etc and they never seem to land in them (but my glass of wine was fair game - how do they know?!)

any tips because they are driving me mental!

OP posts:
apric0t · 26/09/2023 19:35

Glass jar with a centimetre of apple cider vinegar, cling film over the top with small holes poked into the cling film, always works for me

Poplolly · 26/09/2023 19:36

They’re party animals, they love the vino 😂

this has happened to me before. I found, changing the bin more regularly, getting rid of any food scraps/residue on plates etc if they’re not going to be washed up straight away, and rinsing any glasses and cans Helped. Check for wine spillages (there shouldn’t be any as it’s a major sin)

My advice would be to drink the remaining wine and then they won’t have anything to party in.

abbs1 · 26/09/2023 19:37

I read something that they live in the kitchen sink drain and to pour boiling water down it twice a day to get rid of them.

DwightShrute · 26/09/2023 19:37

I saw something that said they can live down the sink and to pour boiling water down the plug each night.
It could be a load of nonsense because it was on Tik Tok 😄.
I've had loads this year too

fufulina · 26/09/2023 19:38

Small shallow bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of washing up liquid. It works. It’s fruit fly carnage in the morning. Sad times.

VenusClapTrap · 26/09/2023 19:40

Have you got any over-watered house plants? They like soggy soil.

Olika · 26/09/2023 19:40

apric0t · 26/09/2023 19:35

Glass jar with a centimetre of apple cider vinegar, cling film over the top with small holes poked into the cling film, always works for me

This! Or mix apple cider vinegar and Fairy so you don't need cling film.

Howmanysleepsnow · 26/09/2023 19:44

The coffee grounds tray in our bean to cup machine was harbouring ours. Boiling water to rinse daily sorted it.

YukoandHiro · 26/09/2023 20:08

They will be gathering on something. If you've checked the fruit bowl and all fine then check the cupboards etc. If you have small children then under all sofas and behind chairs and drawers etc - once I found a long hidden banana skin that was the epicentre.

catsnhats11 · 26/09/2023 20:08

Have you got any flowers (like fresh in a vase) that sometimes causes/attracts them

Original poster
TawnyLarue · 26/09/2023 20:10

Omg we have a bag of coffee pods in the cupboard that I’ve been meaning to recycle for months…

…I wonder….

i quite like that they appreciate red wine and coffee. My spirit animal

OP posts:
Original poster
TawnyLarue · 26/09/2023 20:25

Ok so I opened the cupboard of doom and whilst there were some flies hanging around in there I’m not sure there were enough to call it an epicentre 🤔

nevertheless I have bagged up the offending pods and put them in the garden. Will see if the situation improves.

OP posts:
GrandTheftWalrus · 26/09/2023 20:30

I'm plagued as well. They go then come back. Even my 2yo shouts at them now.

Original poster
TawnyLarue · 26/09/2023 20:31

Urgh I’m all itchy now

OP posts:
Showmethebagels · 26/09/2023 20:41

Sorry link didn’t work https://amzn.eu/d/0qKv27D

Original poster
TawnyLarue · 26/09/2023 21:59

Thank you 😊

OP posts:
Dowtcha · 26/09/2023 22:11

TawnyLarue · 26/09/2023 19:03

The house is full of them 😬 last night I poured myself a red wine and popped into the kitchen and two had drowned in it. Had to pour it away. A line was crossed.

I can’t find any rotting fruit etc anywhere. There is no smell. I have set wine traps, vinegar traps etc and they never seem to land in them (but my glass of wine was fair game - how do they know?!)

any tips because they are driving me mental!

Am I the only one who just fishes then out and drinks on? I mean, they are tiny!

Invisimamma · 26/09/2023 22:21

You need to disinfect all the surfaces, pour boiling water down the drains, empty bins every day. After about a month of doing this I think we've finally got rid of them.

HowAmYa · 26/09/2023 23:00

Showmethebagels · 26/09/2023 20:13

These!

My grotty disgusting old flat had them for weeks and NOTHING worked until I got these. Absolute winner

Parlourgames · 26/09/2023 23:02

I had these coming out of a disused chimney. Opening it up seems to have cleared it for now

doris9034 · 27/09/2023 00:46

Dowtcha · 26/09/2023 22:11

Am I the only one who just fishes then out and drinks on? I mean, they are tiny!

Show quote history

I do this - and tell them to spit it out!!

Jakadaal · 27/09/2023 01:05

Another vote for the cider vinegar and washing up liquid in a wine bottle
With cling film on top. The little bastards love it! Also clean all surfaces and fruit baskets where a tiny bit of mould may have spilled

VanillaImpulse · 27/09/2023 01:06

I get them from the soil around plants

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 27/09/2023 01:14

VenusClapTrap · 26/09/2023 19:40

Have you got any over-watered house plants? They like soggy soil.

Those will be fungus gnats rather than fruit flies. Very similar in appearance but need different treatment - fungus gnats have no interest in vinegar traps.