Since fruit flies thrive in slime no one would like to share their food with them or take a bath with them in the bathroom.
Having large quantities of fruit flies in your house not only spoils the beauty of your home but also causes many bacterial infections.
To get rid of fruit flies, people take various measures and hydrogen peroxide is one of them.
In this article, we will tell you how to get rid of fruit flies with hydrogen peroxide. And does it really kill fruit flies or not?
But before that, we want to answer some important questions about fruit flies and hydrogen peroxide.
So let’s go a little deeper.
Are You Sure That It Is Fruit Fly’s Infestation?
Many times we feel that there is an infestation of fruit flies in our house. But in reality, it is not an infestation of fruit flies but of drain flies.
There are many similarities between both, so many times people get confused.
Both can be found around your kitchen sink, bathroom drains, septic tanks, garbage disposal, and any other place where there is decayed organic matter.
In the article given below, we have told you all the important things that will help to recognize the difference between the two. And know how to get rid of them.
Must Read: Difference Between Drain Flies Vs Fruit Flies & Treatment!
Now you must have come to know whether there is actually a fruit fly infestation in your house or not?
So let’s go ahead and get to know a little bit about hydrogen peroxide. What is this and does it really kill fruit flies?
What Is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is a colorless liquid chemical compound made of hydrogen and oxygen elements.
It is commonly used as an active ingredient in disinfectant products. Also, it is used as an oxidizer, and bleaching agent.
But can hydrogen peroxide be used as an insecticide?
As stated in the factsheet by Ombudsman, Biopesticides, and Pollution Prevention Division, hydrogen peroxide is approved for microbial pest control for crops.
This shows that hydrogen peroxide works great as an agricultural pesticide.
But what about fruit flies and other similar insects?
I know you are waiting to know how well it will work on fruit flies. And how to use it to get the best effective results with all the precautions.
So without any further delay, let’s find out.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Repel Fruit Flies?
Hydrogen peroxide has antiseptic properties. When fruit flies come in contact with hydrogen peroxide, its antiseptic properties destroy the cells of their body, causing them to die.
Hydrogen peroxide is capable of killing not only adult fruit flies but also their larvae and eggs. It reduces the fertilization capacity of the eggs and prevents the infestation from reaching the next level.
As we have known, hydrogen peroxide works effectively on fruit flies. Now we will learn step by step how to use it so that you can get 100% results.
How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies With Hydrogen Peroxide?
To kill fruit flies, we have to prepare a spray of hydrogen peroxide and water. So let’s learn step by step how you can prepare it.
Step 1: For your safety, first of all you have to wear glasses, mask, gloves and long sleeve clothes. You will also need a spray bottle, 3% hydrogen peroxide concentration and water.
Step 2: In the next step, you have to open the spray bottle, fill it up to 75% water and add 25% hydrogen peroxide (3% concentration). Seal the bottle properly and be careful not to use hydrogen peroxide with concentration more than 3% for fruit flies.
Step 3: Now you have to shake the spray bottle gently so that the water and hydrogen peroxide dissolve well. Your fruit fly hydrogen peroxide spray is ready. Now you can spray it wherever you see fruit flies.
You can also use this spray on plants to avoid fruit flies. And if you have fruit flies in your kitchen sink or bathroom drain, then you have to heat the water lightly and then add hydrogen peroxide to it and you can pour it into the sink or drain.
When you pour it down the drain, a kind of foam will appear which is caused by the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and slime bacteria.
This reaction is normal and it clears out the clogs in the drain, thereby destroying the larvae and eggs of the fruit fly or drain fly.
How long does hydrogen peroxide take to kill fruit flies?
How quickly hydrogen peroxide will kill fruit flies depends on the level of the infestation.
If the infestation is in the early stages, it can be controlled with hydrogen peroxide immediately in the one go.
But if the infestation is very widespread then you have to use it 4 to 5 times a week.
It takes longer to get rid of fruit flies when they have already spread their infestation inside the drains.
The effect of hydrogen peroxide does not last long, so if there are more fruit flies, then you may have to use it twice a day.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Do Any Damage to Drain Pipes?
You can use hydrogen peroxide without any worries, it does not harm the drain pipes, even if it is plastic.
Hydrogen peroxide works very effectively in removing clogs and eliminating bacteria from the drains.
Whenever you use hydrogen peroxide for drain, make sure to use only 3% concentrated hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide concentrated more than 3% can probably damage drain pipes.
Can fruit flies come back after using hydrogen peroxide?
Often times when fruit flies get inside your bathroom drains or kitchen drains, they won’t die after the first application.
In such a situation, we recommend that if it comes again, then you use this solution twice a day and 3 to 4 times a week.
By applying 3 to 4 times a week, you will get rid of fruit flies completely with hydrogen peroxide.
Is Hydrogen Peroxide Safe for Humans, Kids and Pets?
It is not worth getting rid of fruit flies if you injure yourself.
In many cases, it has been seen that if children or pets have ingested or inhaled it, then they have to face serious injuries.
You especially have to keep it away from children and pets. Even if it is inhaled, it can be dangerous.
Not only children but also adults can be harmed by this.
We recommend that you take special precautions while using it and wear a mask, gloves, glasses, and long sleeve jacket during the application.
It is also important for you to know that whenever you buy hydrogen peroxide, buy only 3% concentrated.
Because hydrogen peroxide is also available in the market for many commercial uses that are 35% concentrated, which can cause serious health issues. You do not have to buy it for regular purposes.
Which is the best alternative to hydrogen peroxide for fruit flies?
If I can say in one word, Vinegar is the best replacement. Vinegar is also rich in acetic acid which kills fruit flies immediately.
Vinegar, on the other hand, isn’t as harmful as hydrogen peroxide. But it doesn’t clean drain clogs as good as hydrogen peroxide does.
If you need to spray on surfaces and have small amounts of fruit flies, we recommend using white vinegar instead of hydrogen peroxide.
But if the fruit flies have gone down to the drain, you can use hydrogen peroxide solution mentioned above.
FAQs:
Question 1: Is Hydrogen Peroxide Best for Getting Rid of Fruit Flies?
Answer: Since hydrogen peroxide kills fruit flies quickly, it is very effective. But it is necessary to take special care before using it.
Question 2: Which works better on fruit flies between vinegar and hydrogen peroxide?
Answer: If you don’t have hydrogen peroxide, you can also use vinegar. Since a good amount of acetic acid is also found in vinegar, it acts immediately on fruit flies. Vinegar is less dangerous than hydrogen peroxide.
Suggested: How to use vinegar on drain flies?
Question 3: Which works better on fruit flies between vinegar and hydrogen peroxide?
Answer: Baking soda contains sodium bicarbonate which is quite mild and takes some time to show effect on fruit flies. Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, is harsh in nature and kills fruit flies immediately.
Question 4: What can be the danger if hydrogen peroxide is not used properly?
Answer: If hydrogen peroxide comes in contact with the skin, it can cause problems like skin burns and skin irritations. And if it comes in contact with your eyes, it can damage the eye tissue.
Even if someone injests or inhales it, it can cause quite serious injuries. However, 3% concentrated hydrogen peroxide is not as dangerous as the 35% concentrated one which is used in industries and commercial purposes.
Question 5: What are the precautions to be taken before using hydrogen peroxide as a spray for fruit flies or similar bugs?
Answer: Before using hydrogen peroxide, you have to keep in mind that your eyes, mouth and skin should be well covered. You must use glasses, gloves, mask and long sleeve jacket.
Conclusion:
I hope you now know how to get rid of fruit flies with hydrogen peroxide?
Since it has a lot of fungicidal and antiseptic properties, it helps in controlling a wide variety of mites and aphids apart from fruit flies.
Earlier it was not approved as an insecticide but now it has also been approved for microbial pest control in agriculture. It is used as an active ingredient in many agricultural insecticides.
However, it can also be quite harmful if it is not used with prior caution. So if you use it according to the above mentioned instructions then you will not get any harm from it.
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