Here’s the information about getting rid of fruit flies using the paper towel trick:

To make a trap, you’ll need a deep bowl and the ingredients mentioned below. You can cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a paper towel cone placed in the mouth of the bowl. This trap works well for items like jars of olives or jam. Create a small hole in the paper towel and moisten it with the trap liquid so that the flies stick to it.

Here are some ingredients you can use for the trap:

1. Red Wine Trap:
   • 126ml (1/2 cup) of red wine
   • 375ml (1 1/2 cups) of water
   • Plastic wrap or paper towel cone

Mix the red wine and water in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a cone made from a paper towel. Pierce the covering with a toothpick or make a small hole. Place the jar on the kitchen counter where you’ve noticed the most fruit flies. Change the mixture after a week or when it accumulates many dead flies. It takes about two weeks to eliminate all fruit flies due to their rapid egg-laying.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar Trap:
   • 125ml (1/2 cup) of apple cider vinegar
   • Few drops of dish soap
   • Plastic wrap or paper towel cone

Heat the apple cider vinegar in the microwave or on the stove for a few minutes to increase its potency. Add a few drops of dish soap and mix well. Pour this mixture into the trap and follow the instructions for the red wine trap. The vinegar attracts flies, while the soap kills them.

3. Moldy Food Trap:
   • Spoiled food, fruits, or vegetables

Replace the trap liquid with spoiled food. When the trap becomes full of insects, submerge it in water to dispose of them.

4. Milk, Pepper, and Sugar Trap:
   • 500ml of milk
   • 8 tablespoons of white sugar
   • 4 tablespoons of black pepper

Heat the milk and add sugar and black pepper. Let it simmer for 10 minutes. Put this mixture in a covered deep container as you did with the previous traps. Flies are attracted to the sweet scent and will be captured.

5. Lemon Scented Spray:
   • 500ml (2 cups) of hot water
   • 10-15 drops of lemon oil
   • Clean spray bottle

Mix hot water and lemon oil in a clean bottle and use it to spray your kitchen surfaces. If the problem persists, mix hot water and lemon-scented dish soap, then spray infested plants.

Remember that it might take more than a week, nearly two weeks, to completely eliminate fruit flies since they reproduce rapidly by laying eggs. Keep your kitchen, counters, and refrigerator clean, especially during hot weather.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How does the paper towel trick work to get rid of fruit flies and mosquitoes? The paper towel trick involves creating a trap using a deep bowl and the ingredients mentioned in our guide. By covering the bowl with plastic wrap or a paper towel cone and moistening it with the trap liquid, you create an enticing trap for the insects. They are attracted to the scent of the ingredients and get trapped on the paper, effectively eliminating them.

What ingredients can I use for these traps? You have several options for trap ingredients, including red wine, apple cider vinegar, spoiled food, a mixture of milk, pepper, and sugar, and a lemon-scented spray. Each ingredient has its unique way of attracting and trapping the insects, giving you multiple solutions to choose from.

How do I set up the red wine trap? To set up the red wine trap, mix 126ml (1/2 cup) of red wine with 375ml (1 1/2 cups) of water in a bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a paper towel cone, creating a small hole for the insects to enter. Place the trap on your kitchen counter where you’ve noticed the most fruit flies. Change the mixture after a week or when it accumulates many dead flies.

Can you explain the apple cider vinegar trap in detail? Certainly! For the apple cider vinegar trap, heat 125ml (1/2 cup) of apple cider vinegar for a few minutes to increase its potency. Add a few drops of dish soap and mix well. Pour the mixture into the trap and follow the instructions for the red wine trap. The vinegar attracts flies, while the soap helps eliminate them.

Is using spoiled food an effective method? Surprisingly, yes! Fruit flies are initially attracted to spoiled food, which is why this method works. Simply replace the trap liquid with spoiled food, fruits, or vegetables. When the trap is full of insects, submerge it in water to dispose of them.

How does the milk, pepper, and sugar mixture work? The milk, pepper, and sugar mixture emits a sweet scent that attracts flies. Heat 500ml of milk, add 8 tablespoons of white sugar and 4 tablespoons of black pepper, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Place the mixture in a covered deep container as you did with other traps, and the flies will be lured and trapped.

Can you provide more information about the lemon-scented spray? Of course! Mix 500ml (2 cups) of hot water with 10-15 drops of lemon oil in a clean spray bottle. Use this mixture to spray your kitchen surfaces. If the problem persists, create a stronger solution by mixing 1000ml (4 cups) of hot water with 2 tablespoons of lemon-scented dish soap and use it to spray infested plants.

How long does it take to completely eliminate fruit flies? Fruit flies reproduce quickly by laying eggs, so it might take more than a week, almost two weeks, to completely eliminate them. It’s important to maintain cleanliness in your kitchen, on your counters, and in your refrigerator to prevent their return.

Remember, these methods are not only effective but also use ingredients you likely already have at home, making them convenient and budget-friendly solutions for dealing with fruit flies and mosquitoes.