No one enjoys spotting bugs in their kitchen, especially when those bugs are as annoying as fruit flies! For something so tiny, they sure can be a pain in the neck!
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So if you’re tired of spotting little hordes of fruit flies hovering around your fruit bowl, I understand completely, and I’m here to help! :-) Today’s post is packed with helpful tips to get rid of fruit flies, including instructions on how to make your own quick and easy DIY fly paper!
But before we get to that, I wanted to quickly share how to distinguish between fruit flies and another common household pest: gnats. (You want to know what you’re dealing with, after all!)
Related: Easy Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
What’s The Difference Between Fruit Flies & Gnats?
While fruit flies and gnats are both tiny, flying pests, they have a few key differences you can look out for. Fruit flies range in color from light tan to brown, while gnats are usually gray or black.
And as their name implies, fruit flies have a taste for overly ripe fruit and other sugary substances. Fungus gnats, on the other hand, live in soils and on plants.
Related: How To Get Rid Of Gnats
These identifiers should help you determine which pest you’re dealing with. If you are dealing with fruit flies, I definitely recommend trying out my homemade fly paper, which I’ll show you how to make below!
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How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies With DIY Fly Paper
You’ll need:
- Paper grocery bag
- Scissors
- Single hole punch
- Twine or string
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup honey (or corn syrup)
- 2 Tablespoons water
Directions:
Cut your paper bag into a few strips about 2–3 inches wide. No need to measure them or anything—this isn’t an exact science! :-)
Use the hole punch to make a hole in one end of each strip, then thread a piece of twine or string through the hole and tie the ends together. (This forms the loop you’ll use to hang your fly paper once it’s done.)
Next, add the sugar, honey (or corn syrup), and water to a small saucepan and stir. Cook the mixture over low heat on your stove just until the sugar dissolves.
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Pour the mixture into a shallow bowl, then drag each of your paper strips through the sticky mixture until they are well-coated on both sides.
Hang your homemade fly paper strips somewhere to dry, and place a towel underneath them to catch any sticky drips. Once they’re no longer dripping, you can move the strips to wherever they’re needed around your house!
Replace your homemade fly strips with fresh ones as needed until the fruit flies are gone.
Where To Hang Your DIY Fly Paper
Hang your finished fly paper in one or more of the following areas to help get rid of fruit flies:
- Near produce
- Near houseplants
- In the bathroom
- Anywhere you see them hanging out!
How To Prevent Fruit Flies In The Future
Tip #1: Clean Up Dirty Dishes
Fruit flies will look at those leftover bits of food on your plates and bowls and see a feast! Make sure to clean up your dirty dishes promptly after eating, or at least rinse them off so there isn’t as much food left to entice the flies.
Tip #2: Cover Your Trash
But fruit flies don’t only have their eye on the food stuck to your plate. They’ll happily make a meal of the food in your garbage too, so make sure you’re using a trash can that has a lid to help keep them out!
Tip #3: Keep Humidity In Check
Fruit flies love a moist environment, so it’s important to keep your kitchen as dry as possible. Moisture absorbers can help keep excess moisture under control, plus they’re inexpensive and easy to use!
Do you have a tip or method you use to get rid of fruit flies?
