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Tiny little flies

(37 Posts)
62Granny Mon 12-Aug-24 13:18:41

Has anyone had any suggestions for getting rid of those pesky tiny little flies that seem to have taken up residence in my kitchen.
I don't leave food out
Clean up as soon as I prepare anything. I only keep a few bananas out so they don't get over ripe. Empty my food bin daily.
Fly spray doesn't seem to work on them.
I feel as soon as I manage to squash one or two , 3 come to take their place.
My kitchen is between lounge and conservatory but I never see them in the two other rooms.

grandMattie Wed 14-Aug-24 05:36:08

I put some vinegar in a little jar, cover with cling film. A few holes in the film and the flies go in but can’t get out..l

JamesandJon33 Wed 14-Aug-24 03:55:16

In our biology lessons at school, doing human reproduction, we didn’t touch on people at all. Just fruit flies! It was a little confusing .

Bindy Wed 14-Aug-24 00:05:35

Put your plugs in your sinks, they come up through the drains, I have to even close my toilet lid otherwise they are everywhere

JenniferEccles Tue 13-Aug-24 22:59:22

Isn’t it said we share a large number of genes with fruit flies?!

Cambsnan Tue 13-Aug-24 19:15:08

If you have pot plants, cover the soil with little stopes. If the problem is the fruit bowl add a bunch of lavender.

Gingster Tue 13-Aug-24 19:00:42

A little fairy liquid and cider vinegar in a small dish . Gone in no time!

tictacnana Tue 13-Aug-24 18:11:23

Citronella candles.We were plagued a couple of years ago and so was everyone I knew in our two villages. These worked a treat . Amazon .

grandtanteJE65 Tue 13-Aug-24 17:31:28

Get rid of the bananas or put them in a fridge dish - those pesky little flies are fruit flies and there are usually hoards of them in August, especially if you have a bowl of fruit standing out.

Katcoffee Tue 13-Aug-24 16:22:43

Put some Coca Cola in a mug and add a little water on top. The mug should be about half full. Leave overnight and the flies will be gone or almost gone as they’re attracted to the sugar in the Coca Cola

Eirlys Tue 13-Aug-24 15:01:58

I also trap these little flies with cider vinegar. I don't bother with washing up liquid.

Summerlove Tue 13-Aug-24 14:57:16

From what understand, it’s not about bananas getting over ripe - the eggs are laid on the peel and then hatch in your house.

When I have an issue, I put some apple cider vinegar and dish soap in a shallow bowl and cover it with cling wrap. I then poke holes in the film with a fork. Fruit flies go in and get trapped.

4allweknow Tue 13-Aug-24 14:52:13

Fruit flies perhaps. I use those stick on window sunflower flykillers. Seems to keep rooms clear, even have them on a couple of windows in
the summerhouse.

Daffydilly Tue 13-Aug-24 14:43:56

Callistemon213

Have you got indoor plants?

I bought new indoor compost, re-potted some plants and it's infested with tiny flies.

I 100% she with this. We were driven mad by them last year.

The solution (after much googling) was to water from the bottom up and to pop a thin layer of gravel into the top of the plant pot.

Apparently these little pests love the topmost layer of compost and set up home in there. Keeping the top dry and using fine gravel makes the pot inhospitable to them.

The good news it's they don't damage your plants at all.

We've had no problem at all this summer.

shysal Tue 13-Aug-24 12:34:55

As others have said, the cider vinegar and washing up liquid works a treat. Leave in an open shallow dish and the surface will soon fill with the little pests.

123kitty Tue 13-Aug-24 12:26:04

I place pieces of cinnamon stick in the soil of indoors plant pots. No fruit flys so far!

missdeke Tue 13-Aug-24 12:25:44

I have finally resorted to keeping bananas in the fridge, I discovered that although the skins go black the actul fruit stays nice and fresh. I buy my bananas in hands of 6 so that's at least 6 days and they are still nice and fresh.

Bazza Tue 13-Aug-24 12:20:28

I just keep a clean tea towel or napkin over the fruit bowl.

knspol Tue 13-Aug-24 11:33:38

Don't seem to get these little flies but will soon be cluster fly time of year and these seem to come with a vengeance. Large slightly dozy things. Have hoovered up literally hundreds at a time and they seem to keep coming for weeks and weeks, really get me down and have tried all sorts of sprays and remedies none of which work. Any suggestions gratefully received.

Maremia Tue 13-Aug-24 11:33:05

I have found this thread just in time, Thanks. Will try the cider vinegar version. Again, thanks Calendargirl, LadyStardust and Grandmabatty.

Philippa111 Tue 13-Aug-24 11:27:51

Any hint of fruit flesh or peel will bring them in and they multiply rapidly. The only way to get rid of them is to get any fruit that is even slightly bashed and the peels out of the house immediately. They can live and multiply in my food recycle bin. I keep the lid closed very tight and then take it outside... they fly away. They are harmless but very irritating! It takes a few times to get rid of them totally.

Grandmabatty Tue 13-Aug-24 11:20:37

I have small ramekins in every room with cider vinegar and a tiny amount of washing up liquid. They mop up most of the fruit flies. I replace it every few days

rowyn Tue 13-Aug-24 11:15:23

RE flies - a VERY thorough strong clean of every nook and cranny in kitchen, especially window sills, grooves in tiles, floors and any flooring accessible underneath appliances. Clear away crumbs; never leave food out.

But BANANAS! I only learned this a few months ago. YOU CAN KEEP THEM IN THE FRIDGE!

LadyStardust Mon 12-Aug-24 20:37:33

I've had some success with this method.
Put a couple of inches of apple cider vinegar in an empty jam jar. Squirt a little bit of washing up liquid in and mix. Then stretch a bit of clingfilm over the top and poke some holes in.
The fruit flies are attracted to the smell and drop in through the holes but don't seem to be able to get out again! I think they just drown. It may work without the cling film. Pesky things they are!!

Bea65 Mon 12-Aug-24 20:31:48

These pesky little flies do love bananas -drive me crazy as you go to swipe and they are off

LOUISA1523 Mon 12-Aug-24 20:19:49

It will be the bananas