How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Let’s get straight to the point: fruit flies are annoying. They show up uninvited, throw a house party on your bananas, and act like they pay rent. Spoiler alert: they don’t.

You probably left one piece of overripe fruit out, and now you’ve got an entire insect festival in your kitchen. Yeah, we’ve all been there.

So, how do you actually get rid of them? Not just sort of reduce the swarm—but actually eliminate them?

That’s what we’re talking about today. I’ve tried every hack, trap, spray, and myth out there. Some worked. Some were a joke (looking at you, clove-stuffed lemon trick).

Let’s walk through what actually works, what’s just hype, and how you can stop these pests from turning your kitchen into their playground.

What Even Are Fruit Flies?

Before we kill ‘em, let’s meet ‘em.

Fruit flies are tiny flying insects, usually about 1/8 inch long. They’re attracted to ripening or rotting fruits, sugary drinks, and even the gunk in your drain (gross, I know).

They lay eggs in moist, fermenting places. One female can lay hundreds of eggs. Fast-forward a few days, and you’ve got a party you didn’t ask for.

Step 1: Find the Source (AKA, The Crime Scene)

If you skip this step, nothing else will work. I don’t care how many traps you build—if you don’t find where they’re coming from, they’ll just keep coming back.

Ask yourself:

• Got old fruit on the counter? Toss it.
• Forgot a potato in the pantry? Yeah, check that.
• Left juice or wine out? Sticky = fruity = fly magnet.
• Sink smell kinda funky? Drain could be the culprit.

Pro tip: Sometimes they hide in your recycling bin. I once found a whole swarm partying inside an empty wine bottle. Rude.

Step 2: Clean Like You’re Expecting Guests

Now that you’ve found the scene of the crime, it’s time to clean. And I mean really clean. Fruit flies don’t need much to survive.

Hit these zones hard:

• Countertops – Wipe down everything, especially sticky spots.
• Sink & Drain – Scrub with baking soda and vinegar, then pour boiling water.
• Trash and Recycling – Empty them. Clean the bins. Repeat as needed.
• Fruit Bowls – Store fruit in the fridge temporarily.

Basically: remove every trace of food smell. If you wouldn’t lick it, clean it.

Step 3: Set a Trap (Or Three)

Alright. You cleaned. You found the source. But there are still a few freeloaders flying around. Time to trap those suckers.

Here are a few traps I’ve actually tested (and ranked, IMO):

1. Apple Cider Vinegar Trap (Classic & Effective)

• Grab a small bowl or glass.
• Pour in apple cider vinegar (2–3 tablespoons).
• Add a drop of dish soap (breaks the surface tension).
• Cover with plastic wrap and poke small holes.

Result? They crawl in, get stuck, and never come out. RIP.

Ever wondered why apple cider vinegar works so well? It smells like fermented fruit. Basically, it’s their favorite club.

2. Wine Trap

• Pour leftover wine (or vinegar) in a glass.
• Add dish soap.
• Leave it uncovered.

Result? They dive in for a drink and don’t come back up.

Bonus: You feel like a classy assassin.

3. Banana Trap (When You’re Desperate)

• Mash up a banana in a jar.
• Cover with plastic wrap and poke holes.

They’ll be drawn to the smell, but this one gets gross fast. Only do this if the vinegar isn’t working.

4. Store-Bought Fruit Fly Traps

If DIY isn’t your thing, there are solid store-bought options. I’ve used:

• Terro Fruit Fly Trap – Shaped like an apple. Works fast.
• Aunt Fannie’s FlyPunch – Smells funky but gets the job done.

Tip: Place traps where you’ve seen the most flies. They’re lazy. They won’t travel far to find food.

Step 4: Keep Them Out for Good

You’ve won the battle. But if you don’t change a few habits, they’ll be back faster than your Wi-Fi cuts out during a Zoom call.

Here’s how to keep your kitchen a fruit-fly-free zone:

Store Food Properly

• Keep fruit in the fridge until the problem is gone.
• Seal produce in containers or bags.
• Cover drinks and open bottles—even wine. Yes, I know. Tragic.

Take Out the Trash (Seriously)

• Empty your trash daily if you cook often.
• Wash the bin every few days if things got real.

Clean That Drain

• Pour boiling water down the drain regularly.
• Use a drain brush or baking soda + vinegar to scrub it.

Ever smelled the inside of your kitchen drain? Yeah. Don’t. Just clean it.

Watch the Compost Bin

• If you compost indoors, cover it tightly.
• Empty it frequently.
• Use compost bags to seal off odors.

Things That Don’t Work (Trust Me, I Tried)

Not every “hack” you see online actually works. Let’s call out the duds:

• Clove-studded lemons – Smells nice. Useless.
• Essential oils – Lavender smells lovely, but fruit flies don’t care.
• Leaving the lights off – They’re not vampires. They still party.

FYI, burning incense didn’t work either. Just made my kitchen smell like a yoga retreat for insects.

What If They Keep Coming Back?

If you’ve:

• Cleaned everything
• Set traps
• Sealed food
• Scrubbed drains

…and they still come back, you might be dealing with:

A hidden source

• Forgotten fruit in a drawer
• Juice spill under the fridge
• Plant soil that’s too wet

Drain Flies, Not Fruit Flies

Yep. There’s a difference. Drain flies hang around sinks and bathroom drains. They’re fuzzier and slower.

Test it: Tape over your drain at night. If you find flies under the tape in the morning, congrats. You’ve got drain flies now :/

Extra Tips from the Fruit Fly Battlefield

A few more things I’ve learned the hard way:

• Don’t kill them with your hands. You’ll miss. They’ll laugh.
• Don’t spray Raid in your kitchen unless you like poison on your fruit.
• Don’t wait to act. A few flies = hundreds by the weekend.

Oh, and one more thing: don’t ignore your bananas. I swear those things are like five-star hotels for flies.

Final Thoughts (Let’s Wrap This Up)

Fruit flies are persistent little punks, but you can beat them.

Here’s the cheat sheet:

• Find the source (rotting fruit, drain, trash).
• Clean like a boss (every surface, every crevice).
• Set traps (apple cider vinegar is your BFF).
• Change your habits (no more open fruit bowls).

You don’t need fancy gadgets or toxic sprays. Just a little vinegar, a little patience, and a lot of stubbornness.

Ever wondered how something so small could be so annoying? Yeah, me too. But now, you’ve got the tools to evict them for good.

Now go take back your kitchen.

🍌✌️