How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in a Bathroom

When the fresh fruits of summer and fall come into season, the annoying presence of fruit flies can soon follow. Although common fruit flies are attracted to fruit (fresh or fermenting) which is usually stored in your kitchen or dining area, they can occasionally become so numerous as to invade other areas of your house. Ridding your home of fruit flies is relatively inexpensive and easy to do through the use of home made traps.

Things You'll Need

  • Red wine or red wine vinegar
  • Dish soap
  • Glass
  • Aluminum foil
  • Fork
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pour red wine or red wine vinegar to a depth of about a quarter of an inch into the bottom of a glass.

    • 2

      Place a few drops of dish washing liquid into the glass. This reduces the surface tension of the water, so when a fruit fly lands on it it will sink rather than be able to say perched atop the liquid to drink it.

    • 3

      Cover the glass with a small piece of aluminum foil. This will prevent the fruit flies from exiting the glass thereby trapping them inside.

    • 4

      Poke several holes in the foil with a fork. This allows the fruit flies to enter the glass. Do not place too many holes in the foil because this will allow the flies to leave too easily. Not enough holes will keep the flies from detecting the wine (or vinegar), and entering the glass.

    • 5

      Check your trap after 24 hours. The flies should have drowned and will litter the bottom of the glass. If there are no fruit flies in the trap, you should try either fewer or more holes in the foil lid. If there are fruit flies present and you still have more flying around, you may want to reset your trap by repeating Steps 1 through 4 again.