I love fresh fruits and vegetables, but I do not like the fruit flies that they can attract. My end of the season tomatoes seem to really be attractive to these pests.
To get rid of them:
- Put some apple cider vinegar and water in a jar and add a few drops of liquid dish soap. We set the jar near the area of the fruit/vegetables. The flying pests are attracted to the open jar, but when they go in they can’t get out.
- Pour bleach down both sides of my double sink and allow it to stand in the traps a few minutes. This eliminates a favorite breeding ground/living space of these pests.
- Get rid of overripe fruit/veggies, especially bananas and tomatoes. The overly ripe produce is the main attraction. They love fermentation.
- Make sure to find their source. Eliminate any attractors.
- Keep a close watch for them to reappear about a week after you think you have eliminated them. They may have propagated.
Prevention:
- Don’t buy bananas, tomatoes or other produce that you can not refrigerate or use them immediately.
- Refrigerate all fresh produce.
- Do not keep any fermenting product in an open container.
- Keep drains cleaned out, especially ones connected to a garbage disposal.
- Keep counter, sinks and floors clean, especially of any sweet, sticky spills.
- Keep a tight lid on any kitchen compost container.
- Wash out any recyclables before putting them in a home recycling bin, especially soda pop or beer cans.
Good luck!
