Woman's simple two-ingredient hack to get rid of fruit flies in 'less than 48 hours'

Fruit flies can be a nuisance throughout the year, even during winter. Despite being most prevalent in summer and autumn, these pests may invade your home during colder months as they seek warmth and food.

Your kitchen provides an ideal environment for them, with leftover food, ripe fruit, warmth, and moisture. This is why you often find fruit flies around your fruit bowl, bin or sink, where they tend to lay eggs.

Fortunately, there are several ways to eliminate these pesky insects, and one method is incredibly simple. All you need are two items that you likely already have in your kitchen, and if not, they're relatively inexpensive.

TikTok user Em tried this hack herself and was amazed by its effectiveness. She said it had "worked wonders".

She explained: "All you're going to need is a cup of white vinegar to attract them and then olive oil, or liquid dish soap, to make sure they can't get out." Em grabbed an empty, and clean, jar she had lying around and using a clean jar, she filled it halfway with vinegar, added a bit of olive oil and some fragrant hand soap. With this method, Em managed to trap about 30 fruit flies in less than 48 hours, reports the Mirror.

TikTok users have been sharing their own tips for getting rid of fruit flies. One social media user suggested, "Also pour boiling water down the drains once a week."

Another added, "I use apple cider vinegar for the sweet smell! " Many have found success with these methods.

One person said: "This works! I've done this for years! Thanks for sharing for others! " Another commented: "I'm using the Vinegar and dish soap combo and I love it so much. Using it less now, as they aren't as many as when I started with it but it's definitely worth using."

A third user agreed, saying: "Yes, this is great advice. I am using this method every summer and it really works well. I put two jars - near the fruits and the bin. I do not add oil and mix vinegar with water and it is also good."

TikTok cleaning expert Ann Russell advises that you also need to eliminate what's attracting the fruit flies to your kitchen, or they will keep coming back. If you don't, you could end up with a continuous cycle of infestations.

Ann recommends filling your sink with hot, soapy water to "clean everything thoroughly until you find what's attracting them," whether it's a stray drop of fruit juice behind the bin or your indoor compost bin. To ensure these annoying pests are gone for good, she suggests pouring boiling water down your drains and overflows daily.

Stick with it for about two weeks, says Ann, and those unwelcome visitors should disappear permanently.

Ann concludes her guidance with a stringent emphasis on hygiene: "Wash your bins. Empty them regularly. Home compost outside. Absolutely scrupulous cleanliness. And that will do it."