Danged fruit flies!!

EthelBloggs

hi everyone.. I've got loads of horrible little black flies all around my kitchen sink.. they are very tiny and sort of slow moving

Any ideas as to what they are and how to get rid please?

LorW

Hiya
My boyfriend had the same problem when he moved into his new flat and it hadnt been lived in for a while. He ran the tap lots and basically attacked the sink hole with bleach etc, which seems to get rid of them for a while but if he didnt use the sink for the day theyd come back!
Not the most helpful answer sorry, but I am interested to know what on earth they were too!

moggins

These sound like fruit flies, I always get them in my kitchen if I've managed to forget about some fruit or veg somewhere. The only way I've found to get rid of them is to track down what is attracting them and then hang a fly paper up somewhere.

EthelBloggs

thanks moggins,, I thought that but theres nothing around to attract them, I even checked the cloths and sponge and stuff, can't find any reason why they're there :mad:

gonna try putting some soda crystals down the plug hole i think

lovelyjay

u need to clean the whole area with bleach. Then pour some salt dour the plug hole followed by some lemon juice.

If all else fails take your bin out and pour bleach and hot water into that.

Hope this helps.

amyandoli

we had these in summer, i bought a pot of mint to keep on one of the kitchen windows, and it soon grew so that i had several pots of mint. it keeps flies away, i think i saw it on the martha stewart website... i plant big pots of mint around the rabbits/guinea pigs outside too, it keeps flies away from them. if the mint looks a bit drab, i put it outside for a few hours to 'refresh it'

tigerfeet2006

They are all over my kitchen :mad::mad:

Everytime I lift the lid of the compost bin they fly out. They've also seemed to have settled on my banannas :mad:

How do I get rid of them? Anyone any ideas If it's non chemical all the better but any thing to get the little blighters :mad::mad::mad::mad:

Magentasue

I've had this. Empty the compost bin and keep outside until you get rid of them. Same for fruit - remove the stuff they like. Then make up a spray of dilute washing up liquid and put in a plant spray bottle or an empty kitchen spray or whatever and spray them.

I think you only have them once! Now as soon as I see one in the kitchen, I'm on the warpath. If they're all over the kitchen, it'll take a while to get rid, without chemicals.

JailhouseBabe

I had these last year. They seem to like alcohol - if you leave a small amount of wine or beer in a glass, by morning there should be several flies floating in it. It maybe that other drinks work as well, but these are the only ones we regularly have in the house.

As with MagentaSue's post, it may take a while to clear them - but you'll have a good excuse to crack open a bottle or two!

Magentasue

Yes, that's true - I had to put a coaster OVER me wine glass of an evening.

Also, they congregate on the windows and yellow or white surfaces, especially high up.

tigerfeet2006

Cheers for that. I will try the washing up liquid thing tonight. Gonna be a pain to have the bin outside but never mind.

Jailhouse will also try the alchofrol, am liking your thinking. *hic*