Whether you go the DIY route or consider store-bought traps, there's no shortage of solutions to keep pesky fruit flies out of your home. We spoke to cleaning and pest experts to pinpoint exactly how to kill fruit flies and keep them away from your home for good. Believe it or not, you can find effective solutions right in your kitchen.
Fruit flies are small, irritating insects that often swarm around garbage, vegetables and fruits. Chances are you might have even spotted them in drains, too. If you're not careful, the problem can easily get out of control, because female fruit flies can quickly lay hundreds of eggs on overripe produce. This may even result in maggots and other bugs setting up shop in your kitchen and dining area.
The experts we interviewed recommended a slew of effective homemade traps, including ones that rely on apple cider vinegar, rubbing alcohol or old wine and beer. Or, you can lure them into a jar filled with a combination of dish soap and vinegar. Just keep in mind that while some of these traps work their magic instantly, others perform overnight.
The key is acting fast to get a handle on your fruit fly infestation, then taking the necessary steps to keep them away from your home for good. (For that, you'll need to get into a routine of cleaning your garbage can frequently, washing any produce you buy right away and tossing overripe fruit.) But rest assured that soon enough, you'll be able to say goodbye to these sugar-loving pests forever.
What are fruit flies?
If you spot tiny brown bugs with red eyes flying around your kitchen, they might just be fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). But first, be sure you're identifying them correctly — they could also be drain flies, house flies or fungus gnats (which favor overwatered houseplants). For those bugs, see our guides on how to get rid of gnats and how to make a homemade fly trap.
Fruit Fly
Drain Fly
Fungus Gnat
House Fly
What causes fruit fly infestations indoors?
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. Don't surprised if you suddenly notice a couple tiny fruit flies turn into a full-blown infestation in the blink of an eye.
How to prevent fruit fly infestations
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.
But first, you'll want to find a way to trap the existing fruit flies in your kitchen, fast. Our Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab experts have found that a DIY fruit fly trap is a quick and effective solution. What's more, these homemade fruit fly traps can be fashioned from supplies you likely already have in your pantry. If you want to skip the DIY approach, you can buy pre-made fruit fly traps, too, including the GH Seal-backed Zevo Flying Insect Trap, which was vetted for performance and effectiveness by our on-staff chemists in the GH Institute.
How to trap and kill fruit flies, fast
Here are the best ways to kill fruit flies, according to pest experts.
1. 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.
2. Zevo Flying Insect Trap
This GH Seal-holder impressed our Lab experts with its pesticide-free technology, long-lasting effectiveness, low-effort maintenance and continuous defense against fruit flies, as well as house flies, mosquitoes, gnats and moths. Rather than using pesticides, this plug-in trap uses a combination of blue and UV lights to lure flies toward the sticky back of the device. Just plug the trap into a wall outlet that's easily accessible to flying insects and away from other light sources.
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
The product analysts in the Good Housekeeping Institute were excited to see this product cross their desks, especially senior chemist 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 cleaning pros 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 your 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.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
