How do I get rid of fruit flies?
Find and remove breeding spots
Fruit flies lay eggs on fermenting fruit, vegetables, and sugary residues. Start by checking your fruit bowl, pantry, recycling bin, and trash can for anything overripe or sticky. Move produce to the refrigerator temporarily, and take out the trash daily.
Don't forget drains and mops. Fruit flies often breed in the gunk inside kitchen sink drains or on damp mop heads. Pour boiling water down the drain or use a drain brush to scrub the sides, and wash mop heads in hot water.
- Check fruit bowls, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes
- Empty and rinse recycling bins and trash cans
- Clean sink drains with boiling water or a brush
- Wash damp mops, sponges, and dish towels
Set simple traps
A bowl of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of dish soap attracts and kills fruit flies. Cover it with plastic wrap and poke small holes, or leave it open near the problem area. Replace the trap every few days.
You can also use a jar with a paper funnel. The flies enter but can't easily find their way out. Commercial sticky traps or UV light traps can help for larger infestations, but they work best alongside cleaning.
- Apple cider vinegar + dish soap in a bowl
- Paper funnel in a jar with bait (beer, wine, or fruit)
- Sticky fly strips near windows or trash
- Replace traps every 2–3 days
Prevent their return
Once the flies are gone, keep produce in the fridge or in sealed containers. Wipe up spills immediately, and rinse cans and bottles before recycling. Take compost out regularly, or keep it in a sealed bin.
If fruit flies persist after two weeks of strict cleaning, check for hidden sources like a forgotten potato in a cabinet or a slow drain. In rare cases, they may breed in a damp crawlspace or under a refrigerator.
- Refrigerate ripe produce
- Use sealed containers for fruit and compost
- Rinse recyclables before tossing
- Check for hidden rotting items
Common mistakes
- Spraying adult flies with insecticide won't work long-term because new flies keep emerging from eggs and larvae.
- Assuming fruit flies only come from fruit—they also breed in drains, trash, and damp mops.
- Leaving a vinegar trap in place for weeks without changing it; it becomes a breeding site itself.
