While prevention is always ideal, it can be easy to forget fruit left in the fruit bowl or food left on the side.
These little pests can multiply very quickly, and one or two flies can seem like dozens in a matter of days.
That’s why the experts at Airtasker have put together a useful guide to help you get rid of them at home.
They explained: “Keeping your kitchen clean is essential because it’s where you serve food.
“Small pieces of food can cause a fruit fly problem. Regular house cleaning, especially in the food area, will reduce desirable places for fruit flies.
“Be thorough and empty the counter, wipe everything well and make sure you don’t forget the floor and baseboards.
“The fruit bowl is another place that requires a good adult. If you have products that are overripe, it’s time to move on.”
If you’ve skipped the preventative method and are deep in a fruit fly infestation, the “effective” way to get rid of the pests is with white wine vinegar.
The goal is to make a trap for the flies by pouring a small amount of vinegar into a tall glass jar with a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid.
The pros added: “Cover the top with foil with holes in it and secure it with a rubber band.
“Einka attracts fruit flies, so they crawl through the holes in the film, but it’s hard for them to get back out.
“This gives you plenty of time to release the little guys back into the wild.
“The main advantage of this method is that you avoid harmful chemicals and you probably already have everything you need in the house.
“Just make sure you change the mixture regularly to avoid unpleasant situations.”
White vinegar can be picked up from many supermarkets, including Tesco, for as little as 30p, proving to be an affordable pest repellent.
The experts continued: “If you enjoy the convenience of indoor composting too much to get rid of it, make sure you empty it every day.
“Another thing to keep in mind is how clean and dry your compost bin is. Fruit flies love moisture and food becomes softer if there is moisture in the bin.”
