How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies and Gnats Fast

If you see small flies in your kitchen or around your indoor plants, they’re probably fruit flies or gnats.

Fruit flies and gnats are small fly species, with many similarities as well as unique traits. Fruit flies are mostly attracted to vegetables and fruits. Gnats are generally seen near moist soil or your compost pile. Fungus gnats can be found near indoor plants.

These small flies are common during the summer season in homes, restaurants, markets and anywhere that food is allowed to rot and ferment.

Fruit flies can shorten the life of your expensive, organic fruits and vegetables, while gnat infestation can damage both ornamental and edible plants.

Apple Cider Vinegar Trap :-

Before you panic about your fruit-fly invasion, start with a simple trap and some apple cider vinegar. Fruit flies can’t resist the smell of fermentation, and since apple cider vinegar is from fermented apples, it’s a dream drink to them. Heat the vinegar beforehand to release more of its irresistible fragrance.

You will need…

-A mason jar or something similar
-A funnel (you can make one yourself)
-Apple cider vinegar, about ½ cup
-A drop of dish soap
-A piece of ripe or overripe fruit (optional)

Directions

Heat up a half cup or so of apple cider vinegar and pour it into your jar- it just needs to be deep enough for the flies to drown-and add a drop or two of dish soap. The dish soap will break the surface tension of the liquid so the flies can’t just sit on top and fly away when they’re done.

Jar-Type Trap with Fruit :-

Fruit flies like fruit, so what better to lure them into a trap than…fruit?

You will need…

-A glass jar
-Plastic wrap
-A toothpick
-Some very ripe or overripe produce
-Soapy water

Directions

Place several pieces of very ripe or almost rotting fruit in the bottom of a glass jar, and cover with plastic wrap (using a rubber band works to secure it well.) Poke holes in the wrap with a toothpick, and set these jars strategically throughout your house where you notice fruit flies seem to come from or congregate. Also set one outside the doorway on a warm sunny say. The flies will be drawn into the trap but won’t know how to get out. At least they can enjoy a nice little feast until you decide the jar is full enough. At that point, submerge the jar in a bucket of warm soapy water and let it be for about 10 minutes to ensure the flies won’t be coming back. Rinse out, refill, and repeat! This is a great way to get rid of produce that you accidently let sit too long.

Merry Fly Trap :-

A drunk fly is a strange thought, but they can get intoxicated just as we can. They are very drawn to red wine and will congregate to it if any is left out. They will either drown, or you can use the freezer or soapy water technique to finish the deed.

You will need…

-Just a little bit of red wine left in the bottle (you can use red wine vinegar or balsamic in a pinch)

Directions

Leave a little bit of red wine at the bottom of the bottle and let it sit out. The flies will flock to it, and die a very merry death. You can also put it in a separate container with plastic wrap and holes poked in the top if you wish.

Lemongrass Essential Oil :-

You can use the strong-smelling lemongrass essential oil to keep both gnats and fruit flies at bay. This is intended to be used as a preventive measure, since the oil itself will not kill flies that are already present.

1. Pour 2 cups of hot water in a clean spray bottle.
2. Add 10 to 15 drops of lemongrass essential oil in it.
3. Spray this solution around your kitchen counters, near your indoor plants and other places where you have noticed these flies the most.

This homemade spray also works to deter spiders and ants.

Red Wine :-

As fruit flies love the smell of red wine, you can use it to trap them. Red wine will surely get the flies intoxicated!

1. Mix ½ cup of red wine and 1½ cups of water.
2. Pour the solution into a small container.
3. Wrap the top of the container tightly with plastic, then punch a few holes in it.
4. Put the container where you see the most flies.
5. The flies or gnats will be drawn to the smell and they’ll drown in the mixture as soon as they make contact.
6. When the jar fills up with dead flies, dump the contents and clean the container with warm soapy water.

You can even leave a little bit of red wine in its original bottle and let it sit out.

Rotten or Overripe Fruit :-

Just like apple cider vinegar and red wine traps, you can use rotten or overripe fruit to make a fruit fly trap.

1. Put several pieces of very ripe or rotting fruit in the bottom of a glass jar.
2. Cover the mouth of the jar with plastic wrap and poke holes in it with a toothpick or fork.
3. Place the jar where you see the most flies.
4. After a few hours, you’ll see the jar is filled with flies. Submerge it in a bucket of warm soapy water for about 10 minutes so that the flies cannot fly back.
5. 1. Repeat as needed.

Pouring Bleach into Sink :-

1. If you are dealing with drain flies then this is something that may help with reducing the problem.
2. Sometimes, pouring bleach won’t necessarily eradicate the problem because the gnats may be breeding deep within the drainage system.
3. When you use this method, do not straight up pour bleach into the sink.
4. You want to dilute it a bit with a bit of water first.
5. Some people also had some success using ammonia to kill off drain gnats.
6. Make sure you wear eye and mouth protection when you pour these liquid into the drains.
7. Warning: do not mix bleach with ammonia.
8. Mixing these two chemicals will cause a deathly toxic fume.

Fogging Products :-

1. Fogging is an effective way to get rid of gnat swarms.
2. If you are dealing with a large area then fogging is probably the most practical way of getting rid of gnats.
3. The Burgess Insect Fogger is quite a popular choice for outdoor use.
4. The Hot Shot Insect Fogger, on the other hand, has been the most popular item for indoor fogging.

Lemon-Scented Liquid Dish Soap :-

A lemon-scented, soapy solution is another good option to keep your indoor plants free from gnats. The gnats will be attracted to the lemony smell and the soap will kill them.

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon-scented liquid dish soap in 4 cups of water.
2. Transfer the solution to a spray bottle.
3. Spray this soapy solution on the infested plant to kill the gnats.
4. Finally, mist the leaves and stem of the plant with clean water to get rid of the soapy solution.

Milk, Sugar and Pepper :-

Another tried and tested homemade trap for fruits flies can be made with milk, sugar and pepper. The fruit flies will be attracted to the mixture and drown in it.

1. In a saucepan, combine 2 cups of milk, 4 tablespoons of ground pepper and 8 tablespoons of raw sugar.
2. Simmer the solution on low heat for 10 minutes.
3. Pour the mixture into a shallow dish and place it where you see the most flies.
4. When the dish is full of flies, dump out the contents and wash it.
5. Repeat as needed.