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While these tiny insects do not pose any harm or threat to you, your family, or your pets, they can be annoying to get rid of. Here are three ways you can finally get rid of these pests from your kitchen once and for all.
Why are Fruit Flies Hanging Around My Sink?
As their name suggests, fruit flies are attracted to fruits, but that's not all they're attracted to. Moisture, rotting organic debris, and organic material trapped in your garbage disposals attract fruit flies to your kitchen sink.
Another insect you may mistake for fruit flies are drain flies or drain moth flies. These are tiny insects, only around 1/8 of an inch in size, and are often found around drains where moisture is present. Their larvae hatch inside drains, feeding off the scum that lines your drain. They are not harmful, but they can be a nuisance.
Are Drain Flies Harmful?
Both insects are not harmful to your kitchen sink, but they indicate that your sink is due for a good, deep clean. Most insects flock around areas where they receive ample moisture, as well as a food source, both of which could be present in your kitchen sink drain. You will need to flush and clean the drain to get rid of these flies.
What You'll Need
Fruit Fly Traps
- Apple cider vinegar
- Plastic cup or Mason jar
- Paper cone
Fruit Fly Bait
- Ripe fruit
- Paper cup or Mason jar
- Plastic wrap
Flushing Drains
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- Dish soap
- Boiling water
- Ice cubes and Rock salt - for garbage disposal
- Sponge
3 Ways to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Fruit Fly Trap
Step 1: Create the Cone
Set up your fruit fly trap by creating a cone out of a sheet of plain paper. The tip of the cone should be big enough for flies to pass through, but small enough to prevent them from escaping.
Step 2: Set the Trap
Pour apple cider vinegar into your plastic cup or mason jar until it is around an inch full. Place the paper cone above the cup, suspending it just over the vinegar, but not touching the liquid. Place the trap right next to your sink to catch fruit flies.
It is important to use apple cider vinegar as the smell is similar to fermenting fruit, so it has a higher chance of attracting fruit flies than white vinegar. You may also dilute the apple cider vinegar if the smell is too strong, but the trap works better with pure vinegar.
Step 3: Wait, and Catch
Let the trap catch all the fruit flies, getting rid of your fruit fly infestation. This may take anywhere between a couple of hours, to overnight depending on the size of your infestation. You may also need to clean and change the vinegar from time to time as the fruit flies pile up.
This trap works by attracting the flies into the jar, going through the cone. As they are led to the small hole in the tip of the cone, the flies have no problems getting into the jar. However, they will be unable to escape as the shape of the cone does not allow them to find the exit easily, trapping them with the vinegar.
Fruit Fly Bait
Step 1: Peel Fruit
Take a ripe piece of fruit, preferably one that is nearly rotten. This will attract more flies and in a quicker turnaround time. Peel and cut off a small piece of the fruit to use as bait on the bottom of your paper cup or mason jar.
Step 2: Set Your Bait
Place plastic wrap over your cup or jar, and poke small holes in them for the flies to go through. Set your bait right next to your sink, or wherever the flies are concentrated in. You may place multiple bait traps around your kitchen for the best removal of an infestation.
Step 3: Bait and Catch
Let the fruit fly traps catch the flies. This may take anywhere from hours to overnight. If you're worried about other insects like ants getting into the fruit, place the jar over a shallow dish filled with water to deter other insects.
As the fruit flies find their way into the cup through the plastic wrap, they will be unable to find their way out, trapping them with the bait. You can then opt to release them away from your home, or toss out the entire cup in a plastic bag.
Flush Your Drain
Step 1: Add Baking Soda and Vinegar Down the Drain
Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. This will remove any smells, and act as an abrasive. Quickly follow with a cup or two of white vinegar to lift the grime, and dissolve any muck blocking the drain. Let the cleaning solution bubble.
If cleaning your garbage disposal, add ice cubes before placing the cleaning solution, and let the ice cubes fill the disposal. Run the garbage disposal to crush the ice cubes. This will clear the grime coating the blades of your disposal.
Step 2: Flush with Boiling Water
Immediately flush your drains with a pot full of freshly-boiled water. This will not only kill fruit flies, it will also kill drain flies and their larvae. Pour boiling water in a steady stream. Do the same for your disposal, while it continues to crush ice.
Step 3: Clean Sink with Dish Soap
Clean your sink with a damp sponge and a few drops of dish soap. This will remove any remaining fruit bits and food particles that the drain flies may be feasting on. Rinse the entire sink afterwards.
Step 4: Dry with Towels (Optional)
This step is optional, but will help deter fruit and drain flies from taking over your sink. Take a clean kitchen towel, and pat the sink dry to get rid of excess moisture. This will deter flies from hanging around your kitchen sink, and will ward from adult fruit flies that lay eggs in high-moisture areas.
Kitchen Cleaning - The Convenient Way
With so much organic material around the kitchen, it's no wonder that fruit flies and drain flies start to hover around sinks, trash bins, and fruit baskets. Cleaning your kitchen is the surefire way to get rid of these pests, and Luce Home makes home maintenance easy with our cleaning services that will bring the pristine clean back to your home!
Clean your kitchen the convenient way - contact us today for more information!
