Fruit flies are a terrible nuisance. Sometimes they seem to live in the soil of your house plants, but often they’re actually living in your sink drain.

You can get rid of your fruit flies by changing your food storage habits and by following the tips below. Knowing how to eliminate fruit flies from your home can help you keep an annoying pest away, and can make your house a more pleasant environment to live in.

Get Rid of the Food Sources

Fruit flies are attracted to – what else? – fruit! They’re attracted to rotten fruit, actually. If you like to pick berries in the summer, put apples on your counters in the fall, or if you store your fresh tomatoes on your counters, this could be the source of your infestation. Keep fresh foods off of your counters.

Try Natural Solutions First

Natural solutions are the best solutions, as long as they work. Below are a few natural ways that you can kill off the fruit flies living in your drains.

Wine Bottle

Put out a wine bottle that’s half-filled with an inexpensive red or white wine. Fruit flies will be attracted to the wine bottle by the scent of the wine, and once they’re inside, they won’t be able to find their way out.

Clean the Drain

Clean the drain with a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of baking soda, and 1/2 cup of salt. Leave the mixture in the drain overnight.

Buy Commercial Pesticides If Needed

There are many commercial pesticides you can use to eliminate fruit flies from your home’s drains and your counters. Use a countertop bait like Terro Fruit Fly Trap to get rid of the fruit flies you see in the surrounding room and treat your drains with Green Gobbler Drain Treatment. Having more trouble with your drains than fruit flies? Check out our recent article with tips to improve your home’s plumbing. Call today to make an appointment if your drains are clogged or in need of service.