How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Fast (and Keep Them Gone)

To get rid of fruit flies, set a trap made of apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap, and at the same time remove whatever is attracting them: overripe fruit, sticky spills, uncovered trash, recycling with residue, and gunky drains. Traps catch the adults, but cleaning up the food source is what ends the problem.

Quick Summary

• Make a trap: apple cider vinegar plus a drop of dish soap.
• Toss or refrigerate overripe fruit.
• Take out the trash and rinse recycling.
• Clean your drains.
• Keep traps out for about a week to catch new hatchlings.

Why You Have Fruit Flies

Fruit flies are drawn to fermenting, sugary, moist things. They lay eggs on or near that food, and the eggs hatch quickly. That is why a few flies can turn into dozens. Common sources:

• Bananas, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and other produce on the counter
• Trash and compost bins
• Recycling with soda, juice, beer, or wine residue
• Kitchen and bathroom drains
• Damp sponges, mops, and dish rags
• Spills under the fridge or stove

Step 1: Make an Apple Cider Vinegar Trap

1. Pour a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a small jar or cup.
2. Add one drop of dish soap. The soap breaks the surface tension so the flies sink.
3. Cover with plastic wrap secured by a rubber band, and poke a few small holes with a toothpick. (Optional, but it helps.)
4. Place it near where you see the most flies.

Make two or three traps for bigger problems. Replace them every few days.

Other Trap Options

• Wine trap: leave a small amount of red wine in a bottle. The narrow neck traps flies.
• Fruit trap: put a piece of very ripe fruit in a jar, cover with plastic wrap, and poke holes.
• Paper cone trap: roll paper into a cone and place it in a jar with vinegar. Flies enter but struggle to get out.
• Store-bought traps: sticky traps and pre-made lures work well, too.

Step 2: Remove the Food Source

• Throw away overripe or damaged produce.
• Store ripe fruit in the refrigerator until the flies are gone.
• Wash produce when you bring it home.
• Wipe counters and clean up sticky spills right away.

Step 3: Deal With Trash and Recycling

• Take out the trash and compost more often.
• Use bins with tight lids.
• Rinse cans, bottles, and jars before recycling.
• Wash out the bins themselves with soapy water.

Step 4: Clean Your Drains

Drains collect food residue and moisture, which makes them perfect breeding spots. To check, put a strip of clear tape sticky-side down across part of a dry drain opening overnight. Flies caught as they emerge suggest the drain is a source.

To clean it:

1. Wear gloves and remove the stopper if it comes out easily.
2. Scrub away the slimy buildup inside the opening and around the stopper with a stiff drain brush.
3. Rinse with warm water and clean the surrounding sink.
4. Repeat if residue remains. If the source is beyond reach or there is a sewage smell, contact a plumber.

Our guide on how to unclog a drain without chemicals has more tips.

Step 5: Swap Out Sponges and Rags

Damp sponges and dish rags can attract flies. Wash rags in hot water, let them dry fully, and replace old sponges.

Step 6: Keep Going for a Week

Even after you remove the source, eggs may still hatch for several days. Keep traps out and stay on top of cleaning for about a week until you stop seeing flies.

How to Prevent Fruit Flies

• Refrigerate ripe produce, especially in summer.
• Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
• Rinse recycling right away.
• Clean drains regularly.
• Check potatoes and onions for any rotting ones.

Planning meals so produce gets used before it over-ripens also helps. See how to meal prep for the week.

Fruit Flies vs. Drain Flies vs. Gnats

• Fruit flies: small, tan, often with red eyes, hang around produce.
• Drain flies: fuzzy, moth-like, found near drains.
• Fungus gnats: dark, thin, found around houseplant soil.

Fungus gnats usually mean your houseplants are overwatered. Let the soil dry out between waterings.

FAQ

How long does it take to get rid of fruit flies?

With traps and a thorough cleanup, most infestations clear up in about a week.

Why isn’t my vinegar trap working?

Make sure you used apple cider vinegar, added a drop of soap, and placed it near the source. Also remove competing food.

Where do fruit flies come from?

Often they arrive as eggs on produce from the store, or fly in through screens and doors.

Do fruit flies bite?

No. They are a nuisance, but they do not bite people.