Fruit flies are back in full force, and if you've noticed them circling your compost bin or hovering around your fruit bowl, you're not imagining things. These tiny pests thrive in the warmth of spring and summer, and your kitchen provides the perfect conditions with ripe produce, damp drains, and the occasional vegetable scrap.

As their name suggests, fruit flies are drawn to the scent of fermenting fruit, feeding on its surface. But it’s not just fruit that attracts them, vegetable peelings and food waste can be just as enticing, especially when left in compost bins or on countertops.

Combined with the moisture they need to breed, your kitchen can quickly become their personal paradise.

Thankfully, there’s an incredibly easy way to get rid of them, using nothing more than a pint glass and a few pantry staples. To make the trap, start by half-filling a pint glass with cider vinegar.

Add a generous squirt of washing up liquid, then top it up with water and give it a stir to create bubbles on the surface. Leave the glass on your kitchen counter or windowsill and wait.

The fruit flies, drawn by the scent of the vinegar, will head straight for the glass, the Good Housekeeping reports. But the bubbles prevent them from escaping, effectively trapping them.

This simple trick works like a charm, but getting rid of the flies is only half the battle, the real key is prevention.

Fruit flies lay eggs in moist, decaying matter, which makes kitchen drains, bins, and neglected produce ideal breeding grounds. A few flies can multiply fast, turning a minor nuisance into a full-on infestation in no time.

To keep fruit flies from returning, it’s essential to maintain a clean and tidy kitchen.

Empty bins and compost caddies regularly, and make sure drains are kept clear and clean. Rinse out food containers before disposal and wipe down surfaces to remove residue that might attract them. Keeping fruit fresh is equally important, store ripe stone fruits like mangoes and nectarines in the fridge to extend their shelf life and keep them away from hungry flies.

And don’t forget to clean your fruit bowl regularly to stop it from becoming a sticky, fly-attracting zone.