Help...to rid Fruit Flies

[OLDERME]

How do you get rid of the little beggars. I have scrubbed, cleaned sprayed. Nothing, but nothing seems to help. Any advice, tips, old wives tales, please.

All of this plus- spray fly spray into your bin and wheelie bin

So glad it's not just me!

It's not just fruit though. I had an empty tim that had contained mixed pulses. I meant to rinse it out when I was washing up. When I had a look at it the next morning, it was absolutely crawling in the little beggars.

Arghhh! That's the stuff of nightmares isnt it!
I don't eat animals but I cant have the little beggers infesting my home

Thank you so much for all of your tips. So pleased is isn't just me.

We’ve had a mare with them as well this year. Started in the summer with a stray apple in a tote bag, and turned into a 3 month battle. Only just got rid of them really, and still seeing the odd one. It’s been an absolute mission

yellow sticky traps
cider vinegar traps
wine traps
putting the kitchen bin outside
putting the fruit bowl in the fridge
leaving out nothing liquid or edible - inc no toothpaste with caps off etc
cleaning all surfaces where they’ve been hanging around / poss laying eggs
no fresh flowers
any kind of antibacterial spray for when I see them land on a surface (to kill them, as well as clean)
leaving doors and windows open as much as possible to encourage them out

I second the vinegar/washing up liquid method, with a spoonful of sugar to really reel them in. They are awful; a few years ago we went on holiday and forgot to clear out the fruit bowl before we left. When we got back home the kitchen looked like something out of a David Cronenberg film. Never again.

Also, make sure you clean the overflow. We had fruit flies in our bathroom and I was puzzled as to where they came from. Saw them fly out of the over flow and once that was clean (it was disgusting!) not had them back.
The kitchen is far harder as they seem to just suddenly appear despite how clean I try and keep it. I have a pop up mesh dome to go over our fruit bowl, which cuts it down, but not got rid. I had a jelly bag straining some apple purée to make jelly and the bag was covered in them!

I do the cider vinegar/washing up liquid without the cling film. Works a treat.

If you mean fungus gnats on houseplants then we had an explosion last year. Tried the yellow sticky things, cider vinegar, mosquito dunks etc none of which worked. The ONLY thing that did work was nematodes. Got rid of them completely. This year had a few on two plants again so went straight to ordering nematodes again and not seen one since. The thought of them does make me feel a bit squeamish though!
I buy from here: dragonfli.co.uk/collections/nematodes/products/fungus-fly-killer-gel-nematodes

Yes plus some extra sweet like maple syrup

I finally have the solution. Take a length of heavy material. Soak it and wring it out, but leave some weight to it. Place the cloth over one shoulder. Walk to where the flies have gathered and stand for a few seconds. This lulls them into a false sense of security. Then, suddenly whack the little buggers withe the cloth. Takes a wee while to get them all, but immensely satisfying 🤣

Fly paper.

Interesting! I've been worried we forgot a banana somewhere, or worse - a leak somewhere (when i worked in a pub one of the beer pipes had a leak and was covered in fruit fly maggots... eugh). Good to know we're not the only ones! Very weird.

I'm glad I happened upon this thread. They've been driving me mad too. Feeling a bit bonkers, I did the mug and clingfilm combo yesterday and found 3 of them dead in the mixture the same afternoon. Really surprised, but happy!

got the first one and it got rid of them within a few days!

Pour my tipple of choice, white wine, and they are there like a shot! If you leave a drop in the bottom of a bottle, put some cling film over the top with few holes poked with a sewing needle, they go in but cant get out.
Other than that I tes5 my reflexes by clapping them although only seems to work when im wearing wet rubber gloves🤨

The ultimate solution:

I was given a potted plant which I placed on the windowsill in the kitchen. Several days later I noticed a few fruit-flies 🪰. Bananas always left out but never had a problem previously before so I suspected that the flies had arrived with the plant. Went away for the weekend & on my return was greeted by hundreds of the things.

Bought a 1.5 litre plastic bottle of cheap sweet cider (enough for a second dose, if necessary). Strategically placed three glasses of cider mixed with a squeeze of Fairy Liquid (lightly stirred in) around the flat. In 48 hours each glass contained a hundred-plus dead fruit-flies. Emptied and refilled & caught the stragglers in another 24-48 hours.

They are attracted by the sweetness of the cider so they land in it - possible becoming intoxicated, into the bargain - but can't fly out again as the grease from the washing-up liquid clings to their wings rendering them immobile, and they drown.

100% surefire method 👌.

Where do they come from? Do their eggs live on fruit? Is that why we wash fruit? If so why are they still in my kitchen?

I have to take a break from recycling food waste sometimes. It seems to attract fruit flies even with the lid on, and even if emptied daily.