Fruit flies are a huge pain for anyone who uses fresh fruit or even just alcohol bottles at their bar. Today we’re talking about some tips & tricks to get rid (or at least reduce the number) of that pesky fruit fly population!
(Note that this article has been updated from a 2014 post.)
How to Be an Amazing Fruit Fly Killer:
Tips for Getting Rid of Fruit Flies:
1. Minimize the Resources
Try to reduce food and water residue on your bar by keeping it super clean and tidy. Make sure your bottles of alcohol or any other containers that contain food are sealed properly before you end your shift.
We all know these annoying drain flies love alcohol vapor, which draws them in. One easy way to keep them out of your spirits and fruity mixers is to use the A Bar Above liquor bottle pour spouts, which features an internal cover that keeps your doses of alcohol fruit-fly-free.
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2. TRASH
Clean up and throw out your trash regularly. Seems obvious, but the trash can is one of the best opportunities for adult flies to find food and lay eggs. Not good!
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3. BAR MATS
Bar mats collect organic material, making them like a homemade fruit fly trap! Clean them off frequently, at least every night, to eliminate food debris and alcohol concentration.
4. LIMIT THEIR ACCESS TO LIQUIDS
Ensure that your ice well is completely dry, as well as your bar sink, beer tap, and anywhere else you may have standing liquids.
5. LIMIT THE PLACES WHERE THEY CAN LAY THEIR EGGS
Pay a lot of attention to places that have lots of organic materials, water, and other residue. These are huge opportunities for flies to lay eggs – which is both extremely gross and will create an even bigger fruit fly problem at your bar.
Make sure to clean up common fruit fly sources like fruit trays, properly putting away all ripe fruit (or overripe fruit, for that matter). Make sure your empty beer bottles are disposed of each night instead of leaving them to be taken out in the morning, and cover food items with plastic wrap during service.
Here are a few products that I recommend for dealing with fruit flies
(Affiliate links)
Place these in the area where you consistently notice large concentrations of fruit flies.
This will help to prevent destroy any fruit fly eggs that are going to hatch in your floor drains. Pour a little down the drain before you leave for the night.
These fruit fly traps can help manage the active fruit flies, while Hot Shot and Bio Drain can help keep the next generation from forming.
Do you have fruit fly issues at your bar? Do you have any tips I’ve missed? Let me know!
Eco drain systems is an all natural way to get rid of fruit flies and odors. Other products contain caustic chemicals that eat away at the interior of drains. These same chemicals will then get washed out to sewers and streams.
Anyone know where i can purchase one of those fruit fly flashlights? The one you use to check alcohol bottles for fruit flies.
Hmm, I haven’t heard of those – but I will definitely keep my eye out!
You can use just a small handheld flashlight. You just need to shine it through the liquid to see if any are in there at the bottom. It is not a “special light.” Waterproof ones work best if they are going to be kept behind the bar.
Try: https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-40440-Flashlight-Aluminum-Waterproof/dp/B003QLFBDG/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1502740304&sr=8-11&keywords=small+handheld+bar+flashlight
Chris-I sell bacteria for waste water plants. We made up a product that foams and discovered it works great in drains on bar flies. I ran a trial since last April in 4 local bars and so far has eliminated 90% of the flies. It is not expensive I need resellers and a way to promote this in the bar business and microbrew Industry. The stuff is completely natural and has no harsh chemicals.
Message me
Have been test marketing the foam in Microbrews. Caveat is not using it, flies come back pretty quickly. Best thing would be go to my company site and submit a Info request. I will get that www,bioscienceinc.com. We are B2B but I can get you product.
Chris, Would you share details with me please thanks,
Have applied everything you addressed but, recently, paid more attention to any standing water we could find behind the bar. We don’t have a cleaning crew to take care of this. After we started doing this we put a fan on overnight to these areas behind the glasswasher and drain boards and it’s made a difference. Disrupt the flies from getting to their breeding grounds.
Oh no! Sounds like a lot of work, but I’m so glad to hear you’ve found a workable solution. Thanks for reading and keeping everyone posted on what has worked for your bar.