7 Ways to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Once and for All
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Almost everyone has had to deal with pesky fruit flies inside their house at one point or another. Whether you typically DIY a trap or opt for a store-bought solution, there are tons of options out there that all claim to keep these pests away from your home once and for all. So how do you know which ones really work? We spoke to pest experts for their best advice on how to kill fruit flies.
Because fruit flies are attracted to produce and garbage, they're typically found in the kitchen (and sometimes in the drain, too). Once you spot a few, it's important to act quickly. Female fruit flies can lay hundreds of eggs on overripe fruit — which might lead to maggots.
The experts we spoke to recommended homemade traps involving apple cider vinegar, rubbing alcohol and even old wine or beer. We've also included a couple products tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, including a GH Seal-holder our Lab experts love.
What are fruit flies?
Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) are tiny brown insects with red eyes that tend to fly around your kitchen, targeting garbage, vegetables and fruits. Before you begin tackling an infestation, it's important to make sure you're identifying them correctly. Drain flies, house flies and gnats can easily be mistaken for one another.
Fruit Fly
Drain Fly
Fungus Gnat
House Fly
How to prevent fruit fly infestations
According to the pros at Orkin, fruit and produce that's ripe, rotting or decayed, along with fermented goods like beer, liquor and wine, can all attract fruit flies. And if there's enough food, you can likely find them hovering around trash cans and garbage disposals.
In order to prevent an infestation, start by deep cleaning your kitchen and throwing out any rotten food. To cut fruit flies off from their food source and prevent them from entering your home in the first place, take these preventive measures:
Regularly toss any overripe produce.
When possible, store fruits and veggies in the fridge.
Wash produce as soon as you get home to remove any existing eggs or larvae.
Take out the garbage regularly.
Clean up spills ASAP, especially fruit juice or alcohol.
How to trap and kill fruit flies
Here are the best ways to kill fruit flies, according to experts.
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1. STEM Flying Insects Light Trap
STEM Attracts and Traps Flying Insects Light Trap
This GH Seal-holder impressed our experts at the Home Improvement and Beauty Labs with its ability to catch a variety of flying insects. The light trap is completely free of chemical insecticides, making it people- and pet-friendly. All you have to do is plug it into an outlet and swap in a new cartridge when it's full.
2. Apple cider vinegar and plastic wrap trap
For this DIY fruit fly trap, sweet apple cider vinegar (ACV) is more effective than white vinegar. Fruit flies can't resist the scent of vinegar, and they won't be able to exit once they're inside. For an even better chance at success, make several of these traps and place them around your kitchen. Here's how to do it yourself:
Pour a little ACV into a glass.
Cover the opening with plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band.
Poke a few small holes for the fruit flies to enter.
3. Paper cone, vinegar and old fruit trap
The smell of rotting produce will help entice the fruit flies into the mixture, but the cone part of this fruit fly trap makes it difficult for them to get out. Here's how to do it yourself:
Place a little vinegar and a chunk of very ripe fruit in a jar.
Roll some paper into a cone and stick it into the jar, placing the narrow opening down. You can recycle or compost the homemade funnel afterward.
A similar idea: Cut open the top of a plastic bottle and use the bottle's top as your narrow opening (cone) for the flies to go through. Place vinegar and ripe fruit at the bottom to trap them.
4. Vinegar and dish soap trap
If you find fruit flies immune to your plastic wrap or paper cone traps, try adding three drops of dish soap to a bowl of vinegar and leave it uncovered. The dish soap cuts the surface tension of the vinegar so the flies will sink and drown.
5. Aunt Fannie's FlyPunch
FlyPunch Fruit Fly Trap
The product analysts in the Good Housekeeping Institute were excited to see this product cross their desks, especially Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Director Sabina Wizemann, who found that it worked better in her home than other DIY remedies she's tried. The pre-made mixture uses the active ingredients sodium lauryl sulfate (a surfactant used in soaps) and malic acid (found in fruit) and comes in a stand-up jar. All you have to do is open the top and set it on your kitchen counter.
6. Old wine or beer trap
Fruit flies love the smell of wine. Try leaving out an open bottle with a little leftover liquid — the skinny neck will keep the flies trapped. The Old Farmer's Almanac also recommends using stale beer to attract fruit flies to a DIY trap. Add a couple drops of dish soap to either for greater success.
7. Alcohol spray
Fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and spritz any insects you see in your home. Just make sure to avoid spraying the alcohol on fruit, as it may cause it spoil, which will lead to more fruit flies.
Can I use bleach to kill fruit flies?
If you notice fruit flies in your drain, you might be looking for an instant fix — like pouring bleach down the drain. But experts say this isn’t the most effective solution. Doing so might kill some larvae, but it will not kill enough of the eggs or larvae to eliminate the problem. That's because bleach passes down the drain too quickly to do a thorough job.
If you have a garbage disposal, here's how to keep it clean and free of fruit flies:
✔️ Always run cold water before turning on the disposal or grinding food, and for a few seconds after the grinding stops. The water flow will help food move all the way through the pipes after it leaves the disposal.
✔️ Every week or so, with the disposal and faucet both turned off, toss in a bunch of ice cubes, a tablespoon of baking soda, a few thin lemon slices and a teaspoon of bleach. Turn the disposal on without running water until you hear the grinding stop. Then, with the motor still running, flush the machine with cold water for about a minute.
How do I kill fruit flies outdoors?
If you notice fruit flies buzzing around the homegrown fruits and vegetables in your garden, our Lab experts recommend using Spinosad insecticide to kill them. Fill a garden sprayer with the formula and apply it around the base of your home. You can also spray the liquid directly onto your fruits to kill any flies that may have already landed on them — just make sure to rinse the fruits and veggies thoroughly before eating them. While Spinosad insecticide is safe to use around people and animals, you will want to limit your exposure, as it may cause eye irritation and allergic reactions.
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