How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies: Prevention and Traps

Fruit flies seem to appear overnight, especially around ripening fruit, compost pails, and drains. They're a nuisance, but easy to control with a combination of sanitation and trapping.

Eliminate Breeding Sites

• Cover fruit bowls or refrigerate ripening fruit (especially bananas).
• Rinse recyclables (beer/wine bottles, cans) before binning.
• Cover compost pails tightly; empty frequently.
• Clean drains: pour boiling water or enzymatic drain cleaner down sink drains where slime builds up.
• Wipe up spills (juice, soda, alcohol) immediately.
• Take out trash daily; use a sealed bin.

Trapping Adult Flies

Apple cider vinegar trap: Fill a jar with ½" apple cider vinegar + a drop of dish soap (breaks surface tension). Cover with plastic wrap, poke small holes. Flies enter, can't escape.

Commercial traps: Sticky traps or lure-based traps work well for larger infestations.

Prevent Reinfestation

• Store produce properly; don't leave cut fruit out.
• Run garbage disposal daily with plenty of water.
• Keep kitchen surfaces clean and dry.
• If you have a worm bin, avoid adding fruit—fruit flies love it.

With consistent sanitation and a few traps, fruit flies disappear within days.