How Do People Use Wine Corks To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies, And Does It Actually Work?

Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) are common pests that creep up around kitchens and outdoor barbecue areas. Their numbers tend to peak in the summer and fall, where you may find them lurking around sweet foods and moist areas. In particular, fruit flies are attracted to fruits and vegetables, especially ones that are overripe. They also have an affinity for fermented foods, vinegars, and alcoholic beverages. Despite their attraction to wine though, some people have reported that corks from wine bottles may act as possible deterrents to fruit flies.

Traditional wine corks are made from the barks of cork oak trees, and are known for being resistant to liquids. Deterring fruit flies may be just one of the ways to reuse wine corks around your home. In theory, strategic wine cork replacement around certain areas, such as fruit bowls, might deter fruit flies. These pests purportedly do not like the way the corks smell, and don't like the lack of moisture, per a report on Today. It's not clear whether this method is 100% effective, though. Also, for this trick to work, all traces of wine must be cut from the cork, or else you may inadvertently attract fruit flies to the sweetness of the fermented grapes. You might also not see the same results from synthetic wine corks, which are made with plastic instead of cork oak bark.

Trying the wine cork trick to help get rid of fruit flies certainly won't cause any harm. However, be aware that the evidence is largely anecdotal, and not based on scientific studies. If you have a bowl of fruit you'd like to leave on your kitchen counter or serve outdoors, you may consider placing a few clean corks alongside them. Still, it's also important to keep in mind that there are other known ways to prevent them by getting rid of things that attract fruit flies to your home. These include keeping excess moisture out of your home, promptly disposing of used cans and bottles in your kitchen, and perhaps even keeping fruit in your refrigerator. 

Also, wine corks will likely do little to treat any active fruit fly infestation around your home. If you have signs of a problem, now may be the time to implement measures to actually get rid of fruit flies once and for all. You can try homemade fruit fly traps, such as those containing apple cider vinegar in a glass jar with a paper funnel on top. Another option is to buy commercial fruit fly traps, which are relatively affordable and can be effective in drawing and eliminating these pests in your kitchen and outdoor entertainment areas.