Fruit Flies

It’s summer. Time for weekly trips to the Farmer’s Market, fruit and produce piled on the table and counters. And fruit flies everywhere.

I used to think there was nothing to be done about the swarms of pests. I just endured and tried to throw out any old produce that was starting to turn. But recently I learned a little trick that really works. I thought I’d pass it on since I’m sure there are people out there who are plagued by the little suckers and haven’t heard of it.

Pour about half an inch of cider vinegar into the bottom of a small juice glass. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap and stir. Set the glass on the counter or windowsill and watch the little corpses pile up.

The only drawback for us is that Dom really can’t stand the smell of the vinegar. I think it’s a small price to pay. But it’s not my stomach. I put the glass on the windowsill by the open window. That helps to reduce the smell and doesn’t seem to reduce the body count. Cleaning out the glass may also be icky for the squeamish. I think it’s probably a good idea to toss the vinegar and refresh it every few days.