This time of year, my kitchen seems to hold an open invitation for fruit flies, those tiny little fruit-loving bugs. It feels like they multiply overnight if there is fruit left out on the counter, and the reason it feels this way is because it’s true. Fruit flies lay their eggs on fruit and each female can produce hundreds of eggs. Can we all give a big ol’ YUCK?!
I have bought fruit fly traps of different sorts but have concluded three things help more than anything.
1. Wash all fruit immediately upon unpacking groceries. This includes things like melons and bananas. Rinse off the skin with water and a fruit spray, if you have one. I just spray apple cider vinegar and then rinse off.
2. Toss over ripened fruit immediately. Give it another rinse and then put in a bag you can tie off – don’t just leave it in your kitchen garbage. Those flies will find their way to it somehow otherwise!
3. Make a DIY fruit fly trap.
You will need:
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Dish Soap
- Bowl
- Plastic Wrap
Easy steps:
- Put a few squirts of dish soap into a bowl (any size)
- Add vinegar to fill the bowl about halfway
- Tightly wrap the top of the bowl with plastic wrap
- Using a fork or knife, poke several holes through the plastic wrap (the fruit flies’ entrance)
- The scent of the concoction will attract the fruit flies and once they are under the plastic wrap, they won’t be able to escape. Fruit flies be gone!
