The mistake most people make: they try to kill fruit flies without removing the source. You can trap 100 and 200 more will hatch from a single overripe banana or drain slime. Fix the source first, then trap the survivors.
Pro tip: Fruit flies have a 8–10 day life cycle. Even after you remove all sources, keep traps out for 10–14 days to catch adults that are still hatching. If you stop trapping after 3 days thinking it's fixed, you'll see a resurgence within a week.
Pre-made sticky or liquid traps — more convenient than DIY and highly effective. Good to have several placed around the kitchen.
Essential for DIY traps — the #1 most effective bait for fruit flies. Get unfiltered (Bragg's style) for best results.
Breaks down the organic film inside drains where fruit flies breed. Vinegar helps but gel cleaner works significantly better for drain infestations.
A single drop in your vinegar trap breaks the surface tension so flies drown instead of escaping. You likely have this already.
Lidded bins dramatically reduce fruit fly access to food waste. If your current bin has no lid, this is a key long-term fix.
Paired with baking soda for drain cleaning. Also works as a surface cleaner to remove residue fruit flies are attracted to.
Airtight containers keep ripe fruit sealed and inaccessible to flies — especially useful for berries and cut fruit.
Used with white vinegar to foam and loosen organic buildup inside drains — a key breeding site.
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