How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Usually I don't have much trouble getting rid of fruit flies. If I notice a few, it generally means one banana in the bunch on the kitchen counter has gone brown, or perhaps I've dropped half an onion behind the stove. Get rid of the problem, get rid of the flies.

But everyone I've spoken to around town seems to have been left with an unusual overabundance of fruit flies as a legacy of the garbage strike. Now that the last bag of yard waste has left the property, things should start to return to normal. But in the meantime, thanks to my neighbour Zenya for this great tip:

Pour some malt or cider vinegar into a glass. Cover the top with cling wrap and poke a few holes in it. Within a few hours, you'll notice the fruit flies swarming inside it, and eventually succumbing to the lure of the vinegar.

Unlike certain other techniques for getting rid of pests, it doesn't smell bad or have to be cleaned up often or present any special hazard to children or pets. It also won't contaminate other food that may be kept nearby. And it's very effective! I was seeing clouds of fruit flies last week; now we're down to a mere flurry.