I have been overrun lately with pesky fruit flies. I have been buying fresh fruit like I usually do but the last few weeks have been absolutely ridiculous with fruit flies. They seem to be everywhere and obviously they’re vain….I find them on my mirrors….ewwww and yuck!
In an effort to not use chemicals I came across this recipe for getting rid of fruit flies….and….it works!
You’ll need Apple Cider Vinegar and some dishwashing detergent. I succumbed to the Dawn rage and bought some at Sam’s Club a few weeks ago so that’s what I used.
Add approximately 3/4 of an inch of apple cider vinegar to a container. I used one that I could throw away when I was done with it. The container itself is not very large.
Squirt in some dishwashing liquid and stir it up!
Within seconds of putting the concoction down on my countertop there were already 3 fruit flies ready to take the plunge.
Within 24 hours I had amassed quite a collection of no-longer-pesky fruit flies.
If you try this I would like to know your results or if you have another way to get rid of fruit flies I would love to hear what you do.
AAHHH I need this! Will have to put apple cider vinegar on my shopping list. Thanks, Mary Beth!
Steph @ The Silly Pearl´s last [type] ..Easy Fall Twine Striped Pumpkins
You’re welcome, Steph! Thanks for stopping by and commenting…it is much appreciated.
That’s quite the crop of fruitflies you were hoarding – lol! Thanks for the tip, I hate those pesky little bugs!!!
Anne´s last [type] ..Create a Console Table from a Cube Storage Unit
I was hoarding them….perhaps I need a fruit fly intervention. : P
Thank you so much….I just made the mixture and they are just buzzing around already! Hate those pesky little flies!
Oh…I am so glad you tried it!
Great tip. I’ve tried a variation of this and it didn’t work. I bet the secret ingredient is the cider vinegar. Definitely going to put it on my list. I have a “how to” tip going up on my blog tomorrow. I love sharing tips!! Thanks!
carolyn ~ homework´s last [type] ..Inkling: David Tutera Celebrate cards {easy as 1-2-3}
I love sharing tips as well. I’m a tip junkie! Have a great evening, Carolyn and I will check out your tip tomorrow. : )
Thanks for the tip. I will be trying this. I don’t have any fruit flies at the moment but I wonder if this would work on the pesky little flies that fly around your house plants. I am going to make some and see.
Pinning and sharing!
Linda aka Mixed Kreations
Thanks, Linda for sharing this. I would love to know if it works on the plant flies.
Have a wonderful day! hugs, mg
This is a method I’ve used for years. I have little specialty cups that I bought with covers on with holes. Then you cover the inside part with tinfoil after pouring in the vinegar (has to be cider vinegar) , poke holes in that. They fly in and as another said , don’t check out! I just use the Cider vinegar and it has always worked, but the mixture is good too! You could use any container and cover with tinfoil and the poke the holes in with a toothpick. For the person who wondered about plant flies, just plain soap water attracts that type. They fly in to drink and drown doing it. It seemed like a few always hung around though ,so for the real tough ones I have bought some sticky strips called: Safer brand Houseplant sticky stakes. They are bright yellow and attract all kinds of bugs (the label says whiteflies, Fungus gnats & etc.) The sticky stakes took care of the rest of the fungus gnats that came in the bagged soil I bought (I finally narrowed it down to that).I thought the fungus gnats were fruit flies, but were not, as they appear to be similar, but if you get a magnifying glass they have stripes on their body. I did an online search and found that info out and that’s also where I bought them. I will use the strips again if I ever have the pests appear, as they supposedly lay many eggs and reproduce quickly. I’ve had no problem since poking them in the affected plants! Good Luck
I do the same thing but I make a piece of paper into a funnel and put the vinegar at the bottom of a jar. Then I put the funnel in the jar so the flies cant get out. Then I freeze the whole thing to kill the flies. Sounds like your way is easier. Found you via The Frugal Girls link up.
Thanks doll,
The Glamorous Housewife
Thank you, you glamorous housewife, you! I try to make things as easy as possible…adding any steps tends to stress me out …and well, then I can’t seem to do anything at all so….less for me is better.
Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by and leaving a comment…I love your blog!
hugs, Mary Beth
Great tip, I do something similar…Your blog is the cutest! I’m so glad I found you.
Thanks so much, Linda, for your kind words ~ I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them.
I hope you stop by again and it is a pleasure to ‘meet’ you.
hugs, mb
I need to try this. We have quite a few as well and they seem to like my wine…boo! I have left a glass of wine out with just a bit in the bottom of the glass. If you leave it out overnight, there are plenty that are dead in the bottom of the glass in the morning. I like your idea much better, thanks for the tip!
K Coake´s last [type] ..Organizing Hair Clips
Thanks, K ~ A lot of people have told me about wine attracting them and I had no idea! I guess fruit flies like a little wine with their meal. Have a great weekend! mb
I used our Natural and Organic Dish Soap and this worked great. Thanks!
Thanks for letting me know, Pamela ~ it must just be the vinegar and any dishwashing liquid. Thanks for stopping by! hugs, mb
Thank you….I have been getting them too. I have used everything to get rid of them and they keep coming back. I will try this and see if it works!
I am so glad (in a really strange way!) to see that I’m not the only one having an issue with fruit flies. I kept cleaning everything, throwing away any fruit that looked even remotely old thinking it was just me!
I hope you get rid of your fruit flies with this trick. If not, there are some other good ones here in the comments section.
Have a great weekend! mary beth
I used this trick the other day and it worked also 2 pieces of cut up banana ripe as possible.. cover the container with saran wray and poke a few holes in it with a tooth pick. they can get it but for some reason cant get out woke up the next day a a slew of them in there… it works…
Thanks for sharing this great tip ~ I’m going to have to make a list and try alternatives ~ sort of like a science experiment.
Have a great weekend and thank you for stopping by and sharing. hugs, mb
Not 2 minutes ago, I was complaining to my husband about the fruitflies that had amasses in my kitchen. Even after the fruit was gone, they are still here! Then I was scrolling down my facebook page and there was this post!! I said to my husband, “How did they know????”
Don’t you love when that happens! Thanks for stopping by and hopefully you will get rid of all your fruit flies soon ~ hugs, mb
Bet this would wrk for gnats also.!!
I’ll bet it would! I just wish I could find something to work on stink bugs…they are everywhere this year…..UGH!
Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
Have a great weekend! hugs, mb
I have used a similar mix in a mason jar with good results. You take the vinegar and throw some grapes in there with it (use the bad grapes from your bunches) and then cover the top with some plastic wrap. Poke it down into the jar with your finger and screw the rim onto the jar. Poke a hole in the bottom of the cone formed in the plastic wrap and it’s like a fruit fly trap. They check in — but they don’t check out! No — that’s a roach motel. Same deal though. I have also had great luck with just plain old flypaper. Real good luck. So good luck!
What a great tip, Uncle Bryan! Thank you so much for sharing it and for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment ~ I appreciate it very much.
Have a wonderful weekend. Fondly, Mary Beth
My friend and I were just talking about this– seems like a bumper crop of fruit flies this year!!! I am totally trying your solution. I usually use apple cider vinegar! xoxo
malia´s last [type] ..Vintage Finds: Laguna Vintage Pottery
This post is so timely, I’ve been battling those buggers for the past month! I would put apple cider vinegar in a cup, down in the sink. In the morning, some would be in it, but mostly they would just be hanging out on the edge of the cup. So, I would spray a bug killer right over the cup, and they would fly up…and drop down. I wonder if the dawn would entice more of them to actually come IN the cup. I’m trying this next. I would love to have you stop by ‘Or so she says…’ and share some of your great ideas at the link party, going on right now (every Sat – Tues.). Hope to see you there! http://www.oneshetwoshe.com
Mariel´s last [type] ..Gift Ideas: 2 Year Old Boy (Round 2)
Ugh, I have been having a big problem with these little guys! Thanks for the tips.
Katie´s last [type] ..Giveaway! $25 Kroger Gift Card – Kroger Buy 5 Save $5 Event
I am finally rid of them….so glad as they were driving me bonkers ~ I was swatting at the air constantly!
Have a great week, Katie, and thanks so much for stopping by ~ hugs, mb
Thanks so much! Found your post on Pinterest & if I wasn’t already in bed, I’d be mixing it up right now. Sleep well, suckers, it’ll be your last night…EVAH! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Sarah´s last [type] ..Just a Peek: Buttons
Oh my goodness…you made me laugh….I can just imagine those little pests hiding from you tomorrow morning! Have a great night and thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
Mary Beth
Thanks for the great tip. My husband makes wine in our basement, and we have lots of fruit flies around when he first starts a new batch, eventually they migrate up stairs and invade my kitchen. Going to try this to keep them under control.
It worked really well for me ~ I hope you have the same success! Thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!
Mary Beth
This works wonders…and yes it has to be the Apple Cider Vinegar because of ‘fruit’ base of this vinegar
but the main reason that the dishwashing liquid (any will do) has to be added is because it makes it slippery so they can’t just land on top of the vinegar and then fly off…they have no choice but to drown in the slippery stuff and drop to the bottom 
What am I doing wrong?! I followed the directions but the fruit flies only sit on the edge of the bowl with the mixture: they don’t go into it. HELP!!
Hi Rebecca,
I’m not sure that you are doing anything wrong ~ maybe your fruit flies are just smarter than mine.
Maybe try using a container that has a smaller opening at the top {think funnel} or fill the liquid up closer to the brim. I hope that helps. If I come across any other info, I will let you know.
Have a great week {free of fruit flies, hopefully},
Mary Beth