How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies With an Easy Fix From Your Wine Cabinet
Figuring out how to get rid of fruit flies can feel like an impossible puzzle to solve. The tiny pests buzz around our kitchens every time the weather gets warmer — and sometimes manage to linger around during the colder seasons, too. Apparently, we just need a few good bottles of wine to solve this pesky issue. (Isn’t that always the best answer?)
Well, the corks from those wine bottles, to be more specific. But hey, pouring ourselves a glass or two after duking it out with annoying flies all summer helps, too! TODAY food editor Emi Boscamp recently shared the game-changing the tip she picked up from her mom and it really could not be easier. Just toss two or three clean, thoroughly dried-off wine corks into your fruit bowl to keep the bugs at bay.
The magic works because fruit flies seem to hate the woody smell cork fibers gives off. Ryan Watts, a sommelier with Cameron Hughes Wine, also explained to the morning show how the corks help to wick up all the sweet-smelling moisture the bugs are drawn to. Just make sure your bottle uses natural cork, not synthetic material. And give it a good rinse with soap and water (and let it dry) to get rid of the sweet wine smell, which will only end up attracting the flies even more.
Watts claims the corks from white wines works best, but that fans of red wine can still count on those corks getting the job done. Food52 vouches for this vino-inspired fruit fly repeller and adds that you can place some around your trash can to avoid flies buzzing around there, too. You can also invest in a fancy French bowl made with natural cork, like the Emile Henry Fruit & Vegetable Storage Bowl ($140, Amazon).
Whichever way you go, we’ll cheers to our next glass of wine helping us out-smart those frustrating flies once and for all.
