When the monsoon sets in, it's not just the smell of wet earth and hot tea that fills the air. The moisture, overripe fruit, and food left uncovered invite one more guest into your kitchen: fruit flies.

They come in quietly, multiply fast, and hover around everything. From cut fruits to sugar jars, nothing is safe. Most people assume they’re harmless, but these tiny flies can carry germs and contaminate food.

If you’ve tried multiple ways to get rid of them and nothing has worked, try this simple fix using a few things from your kitchen.

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First, keep things tight and tidy:

  • Wipe down surfaces: Moist countertops and sinks are perfect breeding grounds.
  • Refrigerate ripe fruits: Never leave them out in the open during rainy days.
  • Seal your pantry jars: Airtight containers can stop flies from sniffing out grains and sugar.
  • Take out the trash often: And clean bins weekly.
  • Wash produce before storing: And toss anything that's too ripe.

Then, make a natural fruit fly trap:

You will need:

  • A clean glass jar
  • Some vinegar (apple cider vinegar works best)
  • A piece of ripe fruit or peel
  • A few drops of dishwashing liquid
  • Plastic wrap and a rubber band
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Pour vinegar into the jar, add the fruit and dishwashing liquid. Cover the jar with plastic wrap and fix it in place with a rubber band. Poke a few small holes on top.

The smell attracts the flies. They enter through the holes, fall into the mixture, and don’t make it back out.

Simple, safe and effective
You don’t need sprays or chemicals. This method is safe to use around food and family. And during the monsoon, when the flies are at their worst, it helps to have a trick like this up your sleeve.

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