AAARGH! Fruit flies!

[Kavita]

Disclaimer--we have a pretty clean home overall. (lest you think I live in overall pestilence and squalor, lol!)

However, in the last month or so my house is being overrun with fruit flies. I think this is partly because of the worm compost in the basement, and also because of fresh fruit or vegetables (ie tomatoes) sitting out on the counter. I don't have a ton of these items, maybe a bowl of peaches and some bananas out, but the fruit flies are here and driving me crazy.

Is there anything to do to get rid of these without nasty pesticides? I think a few are in the fridge too. Our fridge is super small and it's hard to store all the veggies in there, as well as some things are better left out. But I may have to go the route of putting everything in the fridge. Any other suggestions in the meantime?

[earthie_mama]

Fill a cup with an inch or two of vinegar (apple cider vinegar works the very best) and put a drop or two of dishsoap in it. Works like a charm! (Oh and btw- where I am the fruit flies are just really bad this year)

[Porcelain Interior]

Ug. I brought them home in my CSA box last week and wow did they just have some babies! So gross.

I went and got sticky fly tape. I hung one by the sink where they like to lounge, and I hung one over where I had fruit on the counter (my fridge was full!) and then one by the garbage.

They are loaded (ew) and there are almost none flying around now.

Also get all perishable fruits and veggies put up and scour your sinks (they breed in the drain) and then they should go away.

I hate them. This year the vinegar didn't work. I hate to think they got smart.

[timneh_mom]

I have gotten rid of fruit flies pretty much overnight.

Take a wine glass and put a bit of fruity wine in the bottom or you could probably use juice too if you wanted. Take a piece of regular printer paper and make a cone. Set the cone inside the glass, but the paper should not touch the wine. Let it sit overnight. The flies will go in and not be able to get out.

Another suggestion a friend had (I haven't tried this one but you could give it a whirl) was to put some fruit in a ziplock bag. Let it sit overnight, open. When you get up in the morning, zip it up with the flies in it and toss it.

[littlemizflava]

juice or apple cider vinegar wih drops of dish soap mixed with food wrap over it with a very small hole in the top. harder for them to get out. if you see them in there put a finger over the hole and swish it around to get them in the liquid. place somewhere you see most of them. dont change the liquid just let it sit even when full of bodies.

[rmayherbs]

start up one of the trap ideas, then use the vacuum to get as many as you can. put some baking soda in the vac cup.

then make sure you empty the dirt cup outside!
i emptied it inside once (DO'H) then had to start all over again.

[CalaRei]

We use some pickle juice in one of those parmesan cheese shakers or an old salt shaker.