We hate all bugs in our homes with a passion, but if we had to pick one we’d love to cast out for good, it’s fruit flies. If you’d tend to agree and would like to learn how to get rid of fruit flies once and for all, consider this your guide. We’ve got you and your produce covered so that you never have to deal with the constant buzzing, the horrifying speed with which they multiply, and their little legs dancing across your fresh fruit.
We chatted with Diana Ludwiczak, a home pest inspector certified in New York City, to snag some of her tips for expelling fruit flies from the home.
First, what causes fruit flies in your home?
Good news: Fruit flies aren’t necessarily your fault. “Fruit flies are attracted to ripe and rotting fruits and vegetables, so it’s important to keep your kitchen clean and free of any food debris,” says Ludwiczak. “Wipe down counters, sweep or vacuum the floors regularly, and store fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator to reduce their exposure to the air.”
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The experts at Orkin confirm that fruit flies are attracted to ripe, rotting, and decayed fruit and produce. They also like fermented items including beer, liquor, and wine. Not only can they breed in drains, but they can do so in garbage disposals, trash cans, and mop buckets. “Once they begin reproducing indoors, females are able to lay about 500 eggs and the eggs will hatch in as little as 24-30 hours after being deposited by the female,” Orkin shares on its website.
How do you prevent fruit flies?
Rinse your fruit.
When you bring home fresh produce from the grocery store or market, wash it off before storing or displaying it. “Fruit flies are also attracted to standing water, so it’s important to dry out sinks, showers, and other areas where water can accumulate. Make sure to fix any leaky pipes or areas of your home where water tends to accumulate,” says Ludwiczak.
Consider vinegar.
For that vinegar wash, Ludwiczak mixes around two parts water and one part vinegar. She notes that the combination might also keep your food from rotting a little bit longer as it kills some bacteria. Make sure to give your fruits and veggies one more final rinse in water before you’re done, though, so the vinegar flavor and scent don’t stick around.
Watch out for crumbs and older fruit.
No, you shouldn’t shame yourself as a housekeeper if some fruit flies appear. “Keep overripe fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator to prevent fruit flies from being attracted to them,” Ludwiczak explains. “If you choose to leave your produce out on the counter, make sure to eat it before it becomes too ripe.” But there are some hygienic behaviors you can be sure to maintain. There you have it! Tiny pests, begone.
How do you get rid of fruit flies?
Create a jar trap.
If the little suckers have already infiltrated, here’s one way to kill them. We would take a jar and put something that's going to attract them inside. Fruit flies like sweet, rotting, fermenting things, so you could try overripe fruit, old wine, stale beer, or soda. Put that in the jar, cover the jar with plastic wrap and poke a couple of small holes. They can get in but can’t get out.
We’d suggests placing a few of these jars around your home, perhaps near sinks, cabinets, or the trash, if the problem’s gotten worse and you want to guarantee to wipe them out quickly.
Stage a dish trap.
Another way to kill the flies is by drowning them. “Fill a small jar or cup with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap, and then cover the container with plastic wrap tightly,” Ludwiczak suggests. Don’t forget to poke a few holes in the wrap and place the jar near the fruit fly infestation. “The fruit flies will be drawn to the smell and will become trapped in the jar. This is my number one tip, that I personally use every summer!” she adds.
Try a store-bought product.
There are insect sprays and repellants you could spritz around your kitchen, as well as sticky fly paper and plastic traps. One tip you to considered? “Make sure to use screens on windows and doors to prevent fruit flies from entering your home,” Ludwiczak says. “This is especially important during the warmer months when windows and doors are more likely to be open.”
If you’re on the hunt for an easy product that’ll get rid of any flying insects in your home, consider the TikTok-viral ZEVO electric flying insect trap, which is basically like a plug-in night light and bug trap combo. For a few other highly recommended options, see below. And make sure to check out a few of our favorite non-toxic cleaning products and the best natural bug repellant to control all pests once and for all.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies ASAP
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Kaitlin Menza is a freelance features writer. She lives in New York. You can see more of her writing at kaitlinmenza.com.
Kelly Allen is the current Associate Editor at House Beautiful, where she covers design, pop culture, and travel for digital and the print magazine. She’s been with the team for nearly three years, attending industry events and covering a range of topics. When she’s not watching every new TV show and movie, she’s browsing vintage home stores, admiring hotel interiors, and wandering around New York City. She previously worked for Delish and Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
Jessica Cherner is House Beautiful’s associate shopping editor and knows where to find the best high-low pieces for any room.
