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Your guide for trapping and killing fruit flies, plus how to stop them from coming back
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Have you noticed some small pesky flies circling around your fruit bowl? Even though fruit flies are harmless to humans, they can still be a real nuisance when they start showing up in your home. When fruit flies get to your produce before you can, there are some easy things you can do to get rid of them fast using some common household products. We’ll walk you through the best ways to trap and spray fruit flies so they’re gone for good from your home.
This article is based on an interview with our pest control specialist, Joshua Bloom. Check out the full interview here.
Things You Should Know
- Catch fruit flies in a bowl filled with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap so flies can get in but not escape.
- Roll a piece of paper into a cone and stick it inside of a glass jar with ripe fruit. Empty the trap and replace the bait every 2–3 days to get rid of the flies.
- Spray fruit flies directly with rubbing alcohol or an aerosol insecticide to kill them on contact.
- ​​Get rid of any overripe fruit where fruit flies might lay eggs to keep them from coming back.
Steps
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Use a bowl with apple cider vinegar and dish soap to catch the flies. Pour enough apple cider vinegar into a bowl so it’s two-thirds full. Add a drop or two of liquid dish soap to the bowl, and then cover it with a sheet of plastic wrap. Poke about 10–15 holes in the wrap with a toothpick and set it out to attract the fruit flies. [1] X Research source
- Fruit flies will be drawn to the scent of the vinegar and drown when they come into contact with the soapy surface. The plastic wrap prevents any fruit flies from escaping once they crawl inside. [2] X Research source
- Empty the bowl and replace the bait every 2–3 days until your fruit fly infestation clears up. Fruit flies usually only survive for 1–2 weeks, so it won’t take long to catch them all.
- Avoid using distilled white vinegar since it doesn’t attract fruit flies very well.
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Trap flies with a paper funnel and jar baited with fruit. Roll a regular piece of paper into a cone so the opening at the point is less than 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm). Tape the paper so it holds its shape. Set a ripe piece of banana, peach, or tomato inside a jar. Set the point of the cone in the jar so it’s just above the bait. After a few days, toss out the trap and replace it with fresh bait. [3] X Research source
- The fruit flies will go down the funnel toward the bait, but they won’t be able to find their way back out and get stuck.
- Stick the trap in your freezer overnight to humanely kill the flies before throwing away the old bait. That way, they won’t fly away or stay alive in your trash. [4] X Trustworthy Source Science Direct Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics Go to source
- Try to throw the trap out within 7 days to keep new fruit fly larvae from hatching in your home.
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Turn a plastic bottle into a funnel trap for a cheap and effective fix. Cut the top of a plastic soda bottle off just above the label. Put ripe fruit, apple cider vinegar, old beer, or wine in the bottom section of the bottle. Take the cap off the top section of the bottle, and place it upside-down inside the lower section. Leave your trap out in your kitchen for 2–3 days to capture the flies. [5] X Trustworthy Source EDIS Electronic database of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences's peer-reviewed articles Go to source
- Flies will be able to fly down into the bottle trap, but they won’t be able to get out by themselves.
- Alternatively, take an old beer or wine bottle that still has a little bit inside and cover the top with a piece of plastic wrap. Poke a hole or two in the plastic wrap so flies can crawl in but are unable to get out.
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Try hanging up strips of flypaper in problem areas. Place the adhesive flypaper where you’ve seen the most fruit flies, which will normally be in your kitchen near the trash or by the sink. Leave the flypaper up as long as you see fruit flies in your home. If the strips fill up with flies, take them down and throw them away. [6] X Research source
- Flypaper may not be as effective against fruit flies as standard house flies, but it can still catch the ones that didn’t get stuck in a trap.
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Spray rubbing alcohol directly on flies to kill them instantly. Fill a spray bottle with any rubbing alcohol that you have around your home. When you see any fruit flies hovering around in your home, apply the spray directly to the insects so they die on the spot. [7] X Research source
- Avoid spraying the rubbing alcohol onto any fruit since it could cause it to spoil and attract even more flies.
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Use an indoor aerosol insecticide to get rid of large swarms. Point the spray nozzle at the fruit flies and press the button down to spray them with the insecticide. Since the instructions may vary depending on the brand you’re using, always read the label and instructions on the insecticide to ensure you’re applying it properly. [8] X Research source
- Avoid spraying insecticide on any food or cooking surfaces so you don’t contaminate anything you’re going to eat.
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Try applying to Spinosad insecticide for fruit flies outside. If you notice any fruit flies outside of your home, load the insecticide into a garden sprayer and apply it around the base of your home. If you’re growing any fruits or vegetables in a garden, be sure to treat them directly with Spinosad as well to kill any fruit flies that stop by for a meal. [9] X Research source
- Spinosad impacts a fruit fly’s nervous system to kill it, but it doesn’t pose any serious threats to pets or other animals. You can safely use it around pets and children.
- Rinse off any fruits and veggies that you applied Spinosad to before you eat them.
- Try to limit your exposure to Spinosad since it could cause slight eye irritation or allergic reactions.
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Wash fruits and veggies when you bring them in your kitchen. As soon as you bring fresh produce in from the grocery store or garden, rinse it under clean water. Check the fruit and vegetables for damage, bruises, and soft spots, which could all be signs that fruit flies have gotten to them. Get rid of any damaged fruit to keep the flies away from your other fresh produce. [10] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to sourceEXPERT TIPPest Control Specialist, MMPCKevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.
How do fruit flies enter my home? Fruit flies typically enter your house on the produce you buy. The fruit you bring inside, especially tropical fruit, usually has fruit fly eggs already on it. To prevent the eggs from hatching, scrub your fruit under running water with a brush to destroy the eggs. Or, you can keep the fruit in your fridge.
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Store produce in your fridge or a covered container. Rather than keeping fruit out in the open, place it in a bowl that has a lid or cover it with plastic wrap to prevent flies from getting to it. Alternatively, just put your produce in the fridge where fruit flies can’t survive the cold temperatures. [11] X Research source
- As soon as your fruit starts softening or going bad, throw it away so fruit flies don’t lay eggs on it.
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Keep your home cool to deter flies. Fruit flies thrive in warmer climates and during the summer months, but they’re less likely to hang around your kitchen when it’s colder. Run a fan or air conditioner to keep your kitchen at a consistent temperature to keep the flies away. [12] X Research source
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Clean up food spills right away. As soon as you spill anything sweet or syrupy on your counters or floors, wipe it up with soapy water to get rid of all the residue. Focus especially on cracks and seams where food particles could get caught since fruit flies will be able to reach them. For stubborn spills, apply a multipurpose cleaner and scrub the residue away with a clean cloth.
- Try to keep your kitchen tidy by wiping up after you cook and doing a thorough clean once a week.
- Be sure to wipe your cabinets and any other surfaces that come into contact with food as well.
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Rinse out empty cans and bottles before tossing them. Since fruit flies are attracted to the liquid residue that’s left from soda, juice, beer, and wine, avoid tossing out the containers as soon as they’re empty. Swish a little clean water inside of the container and dump it out in your sink before putting it in your recycling bin.
- Store empty cans and bottles outside of your kitchen if you’re able to so you reduce the risk of fruit flies getting inside.
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Take out your kitchen garbage regularly. Keep your trash in a can with a closed lid to help keep fruit flies out. When your garbage is full or after you throw away food scraps, tie up the bag and take it to an outdoor receptacle or dumpster so flies don’t lay their eggs in the trash. [13] X Research source
- Clean out the bottom of your trash can with soapy water if you notice any liquid or spills inside.
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Clean and sterilize your sink drains. Try to clean your sink drains at least once a week to prevent any food buildup from forming inside where fruit flies could lay eggs. When you finish cleaning your drain, boil a pot of water and pour it down the drain to sterilize it and kill any eggs that might have been laid. [14] X Research source
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How Do You Catch Fruit Flies?
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Over the past couple weeks my house has become infested with fruit flies and I don't know how to get rid of them! I've tried keeping my kitchen a... Read More
The issue with fruit flies is that they proliferate very quickly and tend to be chronically reintroduced. What that means is that for the most pa... Read More
I never knew about putting fruit in the fridge to get rid of fruit flies, so I'm going to do that ASAP. I set out a vinegar trap and already have... Read More
Expert Q&A
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QuestionI have fruit flies in my fridge. What is the safest way to clean my fridge to get rid of them?Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.Grab a little ramekin and put some vinegar in it. Then cover with plastic wrap and poke some pin holes in the plastic. The fruit flies enter the ramekin and can't escape.
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See What You Learned
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Tips
- Fruit flies are usually the most active during the warm summer months, so you won’t have to worry about dealing with them in the winter. [15] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to sourceThanks
- Even though you should be able to manage fruit flies on your own within a week or two, contact a professional pest control specialist if you can’t get rid of the infestation.Thanks
- To get rid of flies on your plants , let the soil dry out in between waterings since too much water could attract them.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Be sure to check for in hard-to-reach places where food may have fallen, and clean it up. Look under your fridge, behind your trash can, and the space between your counter and stove.
- Add dry yeast to fruit in a jar with the paper funnel. I read it somewhere and it really amps up the trapping of fruit flies.
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Warnings
- Avoid using bleach to kill fruit flies since it won’t be as effective and it could be harmful if you get it on anything else. [16] X Research sourceThanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/how_to_get_rid_of_fruit_flies_in_your_home
- ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/planthealth/ipm/notes_nuisance/fruit-flies
- ↑ https://cals.cornell.edu/new-york-state-integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/fruit-flies
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002203020572676X
- ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1103
- ↑ https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/flies-in-the-home-5-502/
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/1196980099/how-to-get-rid-fruit-flies
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/how_to_get_rid_of_fruit_flies_in_your_home
- ↑ https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/awm/docs/Spinosad_FAQ.pdf
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/7-tips-cleaning-fruits-vegetables
- ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fruit-flies
- ↑ https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fruit-flies
- ↑ https://www.ocvector.org/how-to-avoid-a-fly-infestation
- ↑ https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/pest-management/insect/drain-flies.aspx
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/pest-control/whats-the-best-way-to-get-rid-of-fruit-flies-a9159517841/?srsltid=AfmBOopNgfpLoVgZqWpODlNuxWhlK3s8qq5c2TpSdv9tFYKw5Lh_aEVf
- ↑ https://www.pesticide.org/fruit_flies
About This Article
Article Summary
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The easiest way to get rid of fruit flies is with a trap made from a jar and a paper funnel. Fill your jar about halfway full with something sweet like fruit, honey, or juice. Then, roll a piece of paper into a funnel, making sure that the narrow end of the funnel is small enough to fit into the mouth of the bottle or jar. Use tape to secure the funnel. Place the funnel into the opening of the bottle or jar, and leave your fruit fly trap out overnight. The fruit flies will be attracted to the smell of the sweet bait and will fly into the jar. The narrow opening of the funnel will trap them. Leave the trap out overnight. Each morning, pour some soapy water into your jar to kill the fruit flies, and discard the solution into the trash. Refill the trap, and place it out again. Continue to use your trap until you stop seeing fruit flies getting caught inside of it. If you want to learn other methods to prevent fruit flies, such as killing their eggs, keep reading below!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I have a neighbor that has a bad problem with fruit flies. It is winter here in Wisconsin and your video helped me so I can kill them at my home and my cats won't be bothered with them. Thank you, thank you. My neighbor won't do anything about them so now she is now called the bug lady. So sad!!" ..." more
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"I have a neighbor that has a bad problem with fruit flies. It is winter here in Wisconsin and your video helped me so I can kill them at my home and my cats won't be bothered with them. Thank you, thank you. My neighbor won't do anything about them so now she is now called the bug lady. So sad!!"
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"I had no idea that the fruit flies would be attracted to damp sponges or mops. We don't keep fruit out in the open so I wondered why they kept multiplying. Now I know. Thank you for the tips on how to make a bait trap. I'm looking forward to getting rid of these pests!"
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"I appreciate how thorough the article was. Common sense had led me to construct very effective fruit fly traps, but I had not thought about eliminating the eggs, so they kept coming back. I look forward to complete eradication now."
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"I worked in a hospital that used this method every year during fruit fly season, it works great. Now that I have moved to the South and it seems it's fruit fly season all the time, I keep a ready bowl in several places in my kitchen."
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"The funnel really helped because before I just took a normal glass and added some red wine. Thought that they would just dive in and drown. I only realized it when after a couple days, when it looked like they multiplied."
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