How To Get Rid of Fruit Flies? Good Question

...I remember a recent post on here about using rue to repel them. I haven't been able to find rue in flower stores nor in upscale grocery stores around here. What else can I try to keep them away? I've heard of vinegar. Instead of dealing with the flies, should I re-evaluate my trash choices?

Sent by syckklam

Editor: Syckklam, we recently had an infestation too, after we brought a lot of farm-fresh produce in and left it on our countertops a little too long. They are very annoying!

We have a couple thoughts for you. First of all, yes, you can also use vinegar to keep fruit flies away. Read our post all about fruit flies here:

• Fruit Flies (Revisited)
• Fruit Fly Death Trap: this is all natural, and involves a cone of paper and a dish of vinegar. There are some good alternative natural options in the comments on these posts as well.

Another thought, stepping back, is perhaps you should both change your trash out more often, or consider getting an indoor composter. We have been using the Naturemill indoor composter for all our organic scraps. We don't have to change our trash bag very often because all the organic (and fruit-fly attracting!) scraps go straight into the composter. It seals tightly and doesn't attract fruit flies.

• See a review of the composter here: Re(al)view: Naturemill's Composter

Of course, if you do throw meat or seafood scraps or packaging into your regular trash, be sure to take it out by the end of the day. That will not only attract insects but make your kitchen stink!

Any more tips for syckklam?

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>>Read more Good Questions here!

posted originally from: AT:Kitchen

Image via My Green Start

I bought rue seeds from www.seedsavers.org. Since I haven't planted them yet, I can't tell you how they do as fly repellent.

posted by How Green Is My Valley on October 2nd 2009 at 1:22pm
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I've found that what works best is a stemless wine glass filled about an inch with sweet(ish) white wine. I've tried everything else-- including red wine!-- and this works best for me.

posted by aleec on October 2nd 2009 at 2:48pm
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The one trick I have found to work well for me is beer (or wine) in a glass with a paper funnel. The flies fly in, and can't figure out how to come out. It's not the prettiest thing to have on your counter, but it works.

posted by crossfitcourt on October 2nd 2009 at 2:56pm
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I have a NatureMill composter, given to me by my boyfriend. It's great.. but SO NOISY. In a 455 sq foot apartment, I can hear it wherever I am. And that's not pleasant when it starts stirring at 4 in the morning. Maybe I will build a soundproof cupboard...

I've tried setting out a dish of wine for the fruit flies --- I found that red wine works better, but maybe I'll try rue instead. Or the funnel.

posted by casey w on October 2nd 2009 at 3:01pm
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I had this problem and have successfully trapped all of them by putting a sweet wine (I used sake) and a little dish soap and water in a cup and setting it out to attract them.

posted by ihadi on October 2nd 2009 at 5:37pm
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I swear by the above-listed fruit fly death trap. After being away from home for a month and returning to find that the disposal had not been properly cleared (not a good "welcome home" surprise), it got rid of our resulting swarm within a day.

posted by MNich on October 2nd 2009 at 6:14pm
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I pour some red wine vinegar in a glass jar, cover it with saran wrap and rubber band it on, then poke little fruit fly sized holes in the saran wrap. They get in, and can't get out. I hate those little buggers and this does the trick.

posted by designedtoteach on October 2nd 2009 at 7:16pm
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My friend works in a fruit fly lab and they also use the paper funnel over a glass of vinegar to catch stray flies. So, it seems like a proven method.

posted by justlikelead on October 2nd 2009 at 7:32pm
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I really had a horrible problem with these this year. I used a combination of efforts:

--left an empty wine bottle sitting on the counter This was hands down the most effective fruit fly trap. It didn't even seem to matter if there was any wine in it.

--fly paper. Hideous but it sure did catch a lot of them.

--swatting them first thing in the a.m. with an old fashioned fly swatter. They seem slower in the morning.

Now that it's cooler their ranks are thinning, thank goodness. Normally I take a "live & let live" approach with the odd bug in the house, but this year it was ridiculous!

posted by Charlotte on October 3rd 2009 at 8:46am
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THIS WORKS SO WELL!!!
I moved into an apartment that had SWARMS or fruit flies. I means, hundreds, it was terrible. I asked a friend who works in a veggie warehouse how they repel theirs and this is what THEY use:
a bowl filled halfway with texas pete hot sauce,
covered with seran wrap,
with about 6-8 small holes punched in it.

You can put a few bowls in the kitchen.

It will literally clear your house of fruit flies in 1-2 days. No kidding!!

posted by Gross Noises on October 5th 2009 at 9:55am
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