How to Prevent Fruit Flies:

The summer is finally here, but as the warmer weather arrives so do those pesky fruit flies. This summer temperatures are set to soar as the UK endures its third major heatwave by mid-July. Unfortunately, the rising heat turns fruit flies into a buzzing nightmare, particularly for bars, cafes, and restaurants. Apart from being a complete annoyance they can also be detrimental to your company’s hygiene rating and customer satisfaction. However, the good news is, with the right equipment and practises, you can easily keep your venue fruit fly free all summer long.

Why are bars a hot spot for fruit flies?

Bars are fruit flies favourite place as they love fermenting sugars and moisture, and feed on overripe fruit and vegetables.

• Sugary liquids and alcohol. Bars are likely to have spillages of sugary liquids like juice, beer, spirits and soft drinks. This is the perfect sugary feast for fruit flies, especially because they use their sense of smell to find somewhere to mate and lay eggs.
• Exposed fruit and garnishes. These garnishes, particularly when overripe, left uncovered or unused attract fruit flies through their release of sweet scents.
• Damp cloths and dirty drains. Bars tend to be warm and places like damp cloths, floor mats, drains and bins are the perfect breeding ground for fruit flies.
• Slow cleaning routines. When the bar gets busy its likely cleaning becomes slightly delayed. This can encourage fruit flies to multiply quickly.
• Improper storage. The inappropriate storing of rubbish, fruit or bottles can also allow fruit flies to multiply fast.

Practical Prevention Tips:

Here are some unmissable tips that will save your café or restaurant this summer!

Use Store and Pour Bottles

Our Store and Pour Bottles have a mess-free design with tight-fitting lids ensuring no spillages occur. They seal your juices and syrups away from fruit flies and can be put into the fridge to further limit their exposure. This not only keeps fruit flies away but also keeps your drinks fresh and chilled.

Use First In, First Out Garnish Stations

Keeping garnishes in enclosed compartments prevents contamination and deters fruit flies by restricting the exposure of sweet scents. The garnish station is perfect for maintaining proper storage while rotating the garnishes in a ‘first in, first out’ routine to ensure no fruit or vegetable begin too overripe. Another notable benefit is that waste is likely to be reduced, helping with the storage of rubbish to limit the breeding of the flies.

Use Juice Dispensers with Lids

As summer arrives, it’s time to swap open jugs for sealed juice dispensers. This quick and easy swap ensures sugary liquids are sealed, limiting the attraction for fruit flies. Some of our Juice Dispensers even come with an ice core that can be filled with ice cubes to keep the drinks chilled and guarantee they are long-lasting. This is the ideal storage to keep fruit flies at bay.

Use Bottle Pourer Covers

One of the most common issues surrounding fruit flies is them crawling into open bottle spouts overnight. By simply capping your bottle pourers overnight, a small and simple step makes a huge difference. By sealing any liquids or foods fruit flies will not have a reason to be attracted to your bar.

Clean Drains and Sinks Regularly

This is one of the most effective ways of reducing fruit flies. By creating a rota or routine to clean these damp areas regularly, it will eliminate breeding grounds for the flies as they often lay their eggs in the sludge that builds up inside drains. Not to mention, a regular cleaning routine will also remove attractive smells for the flies, making your bar less appealing as a breeding ground. Top Tip: Use our enzyme-based drain cleaners as they break down organic matter without damaging your plumbing. It removes the gunk that attracts the fruit flies, making it likely they will not come back!

Store Damp Cloths and Towels in Sealed Containers

One simple step can eliminate fruit flies by ensuring your bar is clean and organised. Keeping damp cloths sealed away once again ensures breeding grounds are removed, making your bar a less attractive choice for fruit fly breeding and infestation.

Use Bar Mats and Spill Trays

Rubber bar mats catch drips and make cleaning up a quick and efficient process. They reduce sugary buildup that attracts the fruit flies through its overpowering scent.

Use Air-Tight Ingredient Bins

Improper storage can be an issue when trying to solve a fruit fly infestation. Storage with sealed lids and scoops keeps contents protected and sealed, limiting the attraction for pests.

Use Vinegar Traps if They Persist

Sometimes, maintaining cleanliness doesn’t completely eliminate fruit flies. Therefore, it may be time for a trap. Fruit flies are easy to outsmart as they use their sense of smell to find fermenting produce and fly straight to their target. Luckily, apple cider vinegar has the right amount of aroma of rotting fruit to attract them. For most DIY traps you only need a few items, so they are a quick and easy solution.

Overall, combating fruit flies doesn’t have to be complicated and time-consuming. They may be small, but in your busy restaurant or café, they can cause big problems. With the right tools and a few consistent habits, you can tackle them now before the temperatures rise further. Our most important tips are to keep your area clean, organised and professional.