It's that time of year. We all have fruits and veggies on our counters and sometimes a piece of produce goes bad with out us knowing. Boom, we have a fruit fly problem. Here's a quick and easy hack to solve this!  

By simply pouring apple cider vinegar into an open cup or bowl and adding a drop or two of dish detergent you can easily make an incredibly effective trap for ridding your kitchen of fruit flies. Place it near your fruit bowl or trash can and within a day you will have nipped the problem in the bud.
Supplies:
  • apple cider vinegar
  • dish soap
  • a small mason jar, dish or bowl

Preparation:
  • pour a cup of apple cider vinegar into a jar or small bowl
  • add a couple drops of dish soap to the jar
  • place the trap in the area where you've see the fruit flies

Why This Works:
Fruit flies are attracted to the smell of the vinegar and will attempt to land on the surface. However, since the dish soap breaks the surface tension of the vinegar, the fruit flies fall in and sink to the bottom. 

Benefits:
  • no harsh fumes
  • inexpensive
  • environmentally-friendly

Tips:
  • keep out of the reach of children
  • a bottle with a small neck can also be used
  • keep a fruit fly trap on your kitchen counter, even after you've trapped your fruit flies... it will prevent future flies. 
  • use a decorative container, so it doesn't stand out
  • the vinegar evaporates over time, so just top it off whenever it gets low

Prevention:
  • be diligent about eating fruits and vegetables before they become overripe or go bad... fruit flies like fermented produce
  • be sure to take your trash and recyclables out regularly... small amounts of juice or wine left at the bottom of bottles is enough to catch the attention of a fruit fly
  • if you can't remember the last time you cleaned your kitchen trash can and recycling bins, be sure to give them a quick wash before the fruit flies remind you are long overdue

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Reference: 100 Best health Foods, Eat This Not That, Cooking Light What to Eat
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