How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Updated 2026-06-07
Fruit flies seem to appear out of nowhere and multiply fast — a single female lays hundreds of eggs on overripe produce and in the gunk inside drains. The good news: fruit flies are one of the easiest pests to handle yourself. The trick is to remove what they breed on AND trap the adults at the same time, so a new generation can’t take over.
1. Find and remove the source
Fruit flies breed on fermenting, sugary organic matter. Before trapping anything, hunt down what’s feeding them — otherwise they’ll keep coming back.
Check overripe fruit and vegetables on the counter, potatoes and onions in the pantry, the bottom of the trash and recycling, spilled juice or soda, wet sponges and mops, and the liquid at the bottom of the recycling bin. Throw out or refrigerate ripe produce and take out the trash.
2. Set an apple cider vinegar trap (the free method)
Fill a glass or jar with a couple of inches of apple cider vinegar, add a drop of dish soap (this breaks the surface tension so flies sink), and either cover it tightly with plastic wrap poked with a few small holes, or roll a sheet of paper into a funnel and place it in the jar.
The flies are drawn to the vinegar smell, go in, and can’t get out. Set two or three near where you see the most activity and leave them overnight. This alone clears most light infestations in a few days.
3. Or use a ready-made trap
If you’d rather not mix your own — or you want something tidy that you can leave out long-term — a purpose-built fruit fly trap works the same way with less mess and a longer-lasting lure.
4. Clean your drains
If flies keep appearing near the sink, they’re almost certainly breeding in the organic film inside the drain. Pour boiling water down the drain, then a mix of baking soda followed by vinegar, let it fizz, and flush again with hot water. A stiff drain brush helps scrub the buildup the flies lay eggs in.
Tip: tape a piece of plastic wrap (sticky side down) over the drain overnight — if flies are breeding there, you’ll find them stuck to it in the morning, which confirms the drain is the source.
5. Stop them coming back
Store ripe fruit in the fridge, rinse recyclables before binning them, empty the trash often, keep drains clean, and wipe up spills quickly. Remove the food and moisture and fruit flies have nothing to breed on.
When it’s not actually fruit flies
Tiny flies around houseplants are usually fungus gnats (breeding in damp potting soil, not fruit), and small flies clinging to bathroom walls are often drain flies. If traps and drain cleaning don’t solve it within a couple of weeks, or you’re dealing with a larger pest problem alongside them, it can be worth getting a free quote from a licensed local pest pro.
Dealing with a bigger pest problem than fruit flies? Get free quotes from licensed local pest pros — no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get rid of fruit flies?
With the source removed and a vinegar trap running, most light infestations clear in 3–5 days. Heavier ones tied to a dirty drain can take a week or two of consistent trapping and cleaning.
What’s the difference between fruit flies and gnats?
Fruit flies are tan/brown and hover around ripe produce and drains. Fungus gnats are darker and slender and come from over-watered houseplant soil. The fix is different: fruit flies need source removal + vinegar traps; fungus gnats need you to dry out and treat the soil.
Does apple cider vinegar really work on fruit flies?
Yes — the fermented smell attracts them, and a drop of dish soap makes them sink instead of landing on the surface. It’s one of the most reliable home methods, as long as you also remove what they’re breeding on.
Are fruit flies harmful?
They don’t bite, but they can carry bacteria from rotting matter onto food surfaces, so it’s worth clearing them promptly rather than living with them.