Got fruit flies? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. These pesky little bugs seem to show up at the worst times and can be a real pain to get rid of. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to get rid of them, including using white vinegar.
So keep reading for all the details on how to get rid of those pesky fruit flies once and for all!
Why and How Does White Vinegar Help To Get Rid of Flies?
We’ve all had the experience of dealing with flies in our homes. They’re pesky little creatures that seem to appear out of nowhere, and no matter how many times we swat at them, they always seem to come back.
So what’s the best way to get rid of them for good? Many people swear by using white vinegar. But why does it work? White vinegar is acidic, and flies are attracted to its smell. When they land on a surface that has been sprayed with vinegar, the acidity destroys their outer coating, causing them to dehydrate and die.
In addition, vinegar also disrupts the flies’ sense of smell, making it harder for them to find food. As a result, spraying a bit of white vinegar around your home can be an effective way to keep flies at bay.
Where Do Fruit Flies Come From?
Have you ever noticed a sudden influx of fruit flies in your kitchen, no matter how clean you keep it? You may have even tried to follow one to see where it came from, but they’re wily little creatures and seem to appear out of thin air. So where do these bothersome pests come from, and how can you get rid of them?
Fruit flies are attracted to ripe fruit and other sweet substances, which is why they tend to congregate in kitchens. However, they can also lay their eggs in drains, garbage disposals, and other damp areas. As the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on decomposing organic matter. This provides them with everything they need to turn into adults and start the cycle all over again.
How to Make a White Vinegar Fruit Fly Trap
A fruit fly trap made of white vinegar is relatively easy to make. A clear dish or jar, white vinegar, and plastic wrap are all you need.
Take your bowl and first pour two inches or so of white vinegar into it. Next, place a layer of plastic wrap over the bowl, making sure it adheres to all sides and that none of the edges are lifting.
Once the plastic wrap is fastened, use a toothpick or other small tool to make a few little holes in the top of it. If a paper funnel will work better with the type of opening your jar has and you’re using a jar, do so.
Place the homemade white vinegar fruit fly trap in or close to your kitchen sink or another location where you have seen fruit flies.
You should observe that the trap you created has successfully captured a sizable number of fruit flies over the course of the following several days. Fruit flies will be far more likely to get caught in the white vinegar and drown if you’ve placed plastic wrap over the top.
Don’t panic if you don’t have any plastic wrap on hand. Although it substantially facilitates and speeds up the process of trapping the flies, it is not necessary for the trap to function. White vinegar will eventually catch the fruit flies whether or not there is plastic wrap present.
If you find that the bowl is attracting a lot of fruit flies, you may wish to refresh the combination by emptying the old vinegar out, cleaning the bowl, and then refilling it with another two inches of white vinegar. You can use this bowl for up to a week. Repeat this procedure as necessary to eliminate all fruit flies and stop noticing them.
Remember that even if you’ve captured the flying adult fruit flies, you still need to check for any remaining eggs in your drains or anywhere else that could hatch later and cause more problems.
Don’t forget the cleaning!
Make sure to clean your kitchen and home thoroughly, and throw out any fruit that might be spoiled. Since fruit flies may reproduce and lay eggs in garbage cans, taking out the trash more frequently also helps.
You can boil some water and pour it down each drain in your house to keep them clean. This also applies to the drains in your shower and bathroom. If you want to be extra careful, you can even go as far as dropping some down your toilet because fruit flies can also reproduce in toilet bowls.
White vinegar can also be used to clean drains because it will instantly destroy any fruit flies, eggs, or larvae that come into contact with it as it travels down the drain. This is a good practice to follow from time to time, no matter if you have a fruit fly infestation or not, as it serves as a prevention method.
Stop and Prevent the Problem Before it Starts
Fruit flies are rather easy to get rid of, but it is much simpler to stop an infestation from occurring in the first place. There are a few straightforward actions you may do to lessen the risk:
Fruits should be consumed right away or processed; don’t leave them out in the open. Learn how to properly store apples, lemons, tomatoes, plums, and other fruits as well to keep them from going bad or getting too ripe. For example, apples and bananas shouldn’t be stored next to other fruits because doing so will hasten fruit ripening.
If you have more bananas than you can use, consider freezing them so you can later make delectable banana ice cream. Alternatively, you may slice them and bake them to make banana chips.
Fruit that is too ripe or damaged should be refrigerated, or you may simply make something delectable with them like vegan apple pie, homemade applesauce, or vegan lemon bars.
Dispose of and compost your garbage often and regularly, but certainly more frequently in the warmer months of the year, considering the fruit flies season.
Avoid storing open wine bottles, fruit juice glasses, or beer outside for too long.
Install screens on your windows if at all possible.
White Vinegar Alternatives for Dealing with Fruit Flies
If white vinegar is not the option for dealing with the fruit flies problem, check out these simple alternatives:
Soap and Water
One of the simplest ways to get rid of fruit flies is to trap them with soap and water. All you need is a bowl, some dish soap, and some water. Simply mix a few drops of dish soap into a bowl of water and set it out where you’ve seen the fruit fly. The soap will break the surface tension of the water, causing the fruit flies to drown.
Red Wine Vinegar
If you’ve got a bottle of red wine vinegar sitting around, you can use it to make a fruit fly trap. Simply add some red wine vinegar to a bowl and set it out where you’ve seen the fruit fly. The vinegar will attract the fruit flies, and they will drown in the liquid.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another type of vinegar that can be used to make a fruit fly trap. Simply add some apple cider vinegar to a bowl and set it out where you’ve seen them flying. The vinegar will attract the fruit flies, and they will drown in the liquid.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is another effective way to get rid of fruit flies. Simply add some lemon juice to a bowl and set it out where you’ve seen the fruit fly. The lemon juice will attract the fruit flies, and they will drown in the liquid.
Hairspray
Believe it or not, hairspray can be used to kill fruit flies. Simply spray a bit of hairspray onto a fly when you see it and it will die almost instantly. Just be sure not to spray too much or you might end up killing other things in your home!
You can also consider planting certain plants that repel flies!
Conclusion
Vinegar is an incredible cleaning agent that many use for a variety of purposes, including getting rid of fruit flies. If you’re struggling with fruit fly infestation, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
With our tips on how to get rid of fruit flies with white vinegar, you’ll be able to banish those pesky critters in no time. Thanks for reading!
