Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Fruitflies, tiny flies in kitchen!

27 replies

Eesha · 15/10/2018 15:49

Hi,

My kitchen seems to have quite a few suddenly over the last week near the sink. I can't see any rotting fruit anywhere so not sure how to get rid of them. Just feel sick at the sight of them!

OP posts:
Myusername101z · 15/10/2018 15:58

Same here !!! Interested to see replies always near the sink really annoying

Theweasleytwins · 15/10/2018 16:01

Normal brown Vinegar and washing up liquid

Never figured out where they were coming from but got rid of them all

easterholidays · 15/10/2018 16:02

Where did you put the vinegar and washing up liquid, @Theweasleytwins? I've got the same problem!

Barbayagar · 15/10/2018 16:02

We have loads of them too. I think they live in the sink pipes. What do you do with the vinegar and washing up liquid?

SputnikBear · 15/10/2018 16:03

They breed in water. Could be a houseplant, a leak, or they could even be in the u-bend. You need to cut them off from water - put gravel on your plants to cover the soil or chuck them out, clean up any damp places.

Collywobbles1984 · 15/10/2018 16:04

Following with interest, we've got the same problem in our bathroom!

Original poster
Eesha · 15/10/2018 16:06

@Theweasleytwins where do you put the vinegar?

OP posts:
Theweasleytwins · 15/10/2018 16:12

I used a plastic cup and put the mixture by the window next to my sink

Theweasleytwins · 15/10/2018 16:13

Like literally just put some vinegar and washing up liquid in a cup, stirred and put in the window

They like the vinegar and i think the washing up liquid is an insecticide?

easterholidays · 15/10/2018 16:15

Brilliant, I'll be giving that a try tonight, thanks @Theweasleytwins and @Eesha for starting the thread!

Spiderpants · 15/10/2018 16:17

i always use a small amount of wine with a tiny bit of washing up liquid in, put it on the window sill. They really seem to enjoy prosecco!

zzzzz · 15/10/2018 16:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MingaTurtle · 15/10/2018 16:31

We get them when we get bananas. I stopped buying bananas and they went away.

mommybear1 · 15/10/2018 16:32

Yes same for us with pineapple 🙄 horrible little things

haggisaggis · 15/10/2018 16:34

Red wine vinegar and washing up liquid worked with ours. They were really attracted to the coffee grounds in our coffee machine - every time I opened it to empty the filter about a dozen would fly out. Disgusting! Shot glass with wine vinegar and a couple of drops of fairy liquid and they were gone!

VelociraptorRex · 15/10/2018 16:39

We always get them from potted herbs from the supermarket. I put the vinegar in a jar with perforated cling film over the top, and I've also bought a pitcher plant, it seems to get rid of them better than the vinegar!

northlaine · 15/10/2018 16:44

I blame Bananas! Put cling film over the fruit bowl to trap them & then squash them!

Zillcat · 15/10/2018 17:26

We used a small bit of beer with washing up liquid in a glass. Covered it with cling film and punched a couple of small holes in it. They could get in but couldn't work out how to get out. Also make sure you put the plug in your sink whenever not in use.

WhenDoISleep · 15/10/2018 17:33

I'm having the same problem at the moment - it started a few weeks ago with a really fragrant melon. I used apple cider vinegar in a small bowl with cling film over it and thought I was rid of them as it trapped them really quickly, then a few popped up over the weekend - I generally see them around the bananas in the fruit bowl. I think I am going to stop buying bananas for a few weeks to see if that stops them for good.

Sethis · 15/10/2018 17:36

They like the vinegar and i think the washing up liquid is an insecticide?

They do like the vinegar (sugar water can work too) but the washing up liquid isn't to poison them, it's the break the surface tension of the vinegar/water so that when a fruit fly makes contact with the liquid, they get sucked in instead of just sitting on top.

ItsPeanutButterJelly · 15/10/2018 20:13

If they're by the sink they're probably drain flies and usually indicate you have a blockage somewhere as they feed on "organic matter" 🤢. Do all the usual soda crystals, etc. but might be worth getting a plumber in if they persist

Original poster
Eesha · 15/10/2018 20:27

@ItsPeanutButterJelly what usual stuff should I be doing? I do have a sink plunger but that's it

OP posts:
Original poster
Eesha · 15/10/2018 20:28

Currently they are sitting on the edge of a paper cup which has vinegar and washing up liquid Confused

OP posts:
MarthaArthur · 15/10/2018 20:30

We never have them until yesterday we suddenly have loads from old bananas!

ItsPeanutButterJelly · 15/10/2018 20:30

Oh, I'm not sure. Just what people about have suggested to clear your drain out a bit. Soda crystals and boiling water, sink unblocker, etc