Can someone PLEASE tell me why I'm getting fruit flies and how to get rid of them???

We had fruit flies at the end of September. I put apple cider vinegar in a dish, poured Clorox down the drain daily, and eventually they went away. Now they are back and I cannot, for the LIFE OF ME, figure out where they are coming from, why I'm getting them, and how to get rid of them for good? Ther is NO food left out EVER, everything is in cabinets tightly closed or in the fridge. The garbage is taken out daily, dishwasher run daily, no food/residue anywhere.

HELP

Re: Can someone PLEASE tell me why I'm getting fruit flies and how to get rid of them???

we had, what we thought were fruit flies, but it turned out to be some other fly that's attracted to water. It took us 2 years (yes 2 years) to figure it out. The grout around my kitchen sink was worn and they were coming from between the sink and counter top. I had no idea there was even grout there - it was clear. Once we dried it out and re-grouted they were gone.

Not sure if you have the same thing - but it could be water and not food attracting them. We had the exterminator here more times then we could count and they finally sent in some specialist. The guy found them by chance - he leaned on my counter with his weight and we saw small amounts watery goo come out between the sink and counter. We would have never figured it out if he didn't do that - I guess that's why he's a specialist

eta: it was called a phorid fly. look it up and see if it looks like that. that kind of fly is attracted to water, not food.

Message edited 12/1/2010 10:30:11 PM.

Re: Can someone PLEASE tell me why I'm getting fruit flies and how to get rid of them???

I had a big fruit fly problem 2 months ago. But I was leaving fruit out so I guess it was to be expected. What worked really well for me was keeping a small container filled with apple cider vinegar and adding a drop of dish soap.

Re: Can someone PLEASE tell me why I'm getting fruit flies and how to get rid of them???

This just started in my house last week!! I have no clue what it is from, I also thought perhaps the drain. I am about call an exterminator.

Re: Can someone PLEASE tell me why I'm getting fruit flies and how to get rid of them???

Do you have plants in the house ?
They may be small gnats coming from the soil.

Put a drop of dishwashing soap in the vinegar. That works for the gnats as well as fruit flies.

Re: Can someone PLEASE tell me why I'm getting fruit flies and how to get rid of them???

Re: Can someone PLEASE tell me why I'm getting fruit flies and how to get rid of them???

Re: Can someone PLEASE tell me why I'm getting fruit flies and how to get rid of them???

We had tons of flies last year..it was sooo growss! Sure enough they were the same flies that a PP stated about water... they came in through our basement, and there was NO way to get rid of them. It was awlful. We had those fly catchers hanging in each room, we bombed the house 2x... and even had an exterminator come ocne... still... we coudln't find the 'source' so they kept coming back. We sealed the basement, and so far none thisyear!

Re: Can someone PLEASE tell me why I'm getting fruit flies and how to get rid of them???

Thanks ladies! I will see if I can get maintenance to come in and see what the problem is. We have no plants, so thats out. We're in an upstairs apt. complex so I get really skeeved thinking that bugs can come in from other peoples apts.