How to get rid of fruit flies in your home

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Even if there are only a few fruit flies, it can feel like they are everywhere. It may be in part because of how quickly they move, but also because of how quickly they multiply. 

Fruit flies are those pesky little flies that hover everywhere, but more specifically near ripened fruit, thus the name fruit flies. However, fruit isn’t the only thing they are attracted to. They typically gravitate towards rotting fruit or vegetables, unrefrigerated produce from the grocery store, and perishable items from the garden.  

I think it is quite commonly understood why they are around, but what isn’t as widely known is how to get rid of them. 

I had an encounter with a swarm of them last summer and I was able to get rid of them, which has made me into somewhat of a pro on how to get rid of them, if I do say so myself. So, from the expert herself, check out some of the steps to get rid of them below.

How to get rid of fruit flies in your home

Step 1: Eliminate the source(s)

The first course of action should be to get rid of anything that the flies are attracted to. This means getting rid of produce and or cleaning it thoroughly and storing it in the refrigerator until you have had a chance to wipe down and clean anywhere the fruit flies could have laid eggs. This includes all surfaces, spills, food residue, garbage cans, drains, etc. – let’s just say a deep clean of the kitchen and surroundings.

Fruit flies lay eggs in moist areas, so make sure to pay extra attention to those areas (mop buckets, plant soil, bathrooms). If the flies have dominated beyond the kitchen, this may require a full deep cleaning of your entire space. Unless all the breeding areas are gone, the flies will continue to hatch and appear and it will be an ongoing problem, so this is the absolute key to getting rid of them.   

Step 2: Trap the flies

Now that the potential of more eggs hatching and more flies appearing is handled, it’s time to catch any flies buzzing around. There are a few ways to go about this depending on how many there are. 

• Use a homemade trap: Add some apple cider vinegar or ripened banana to a glass jar with a few drops of dishwashing liquid, then put a funnel on top of it with the spout facing down. The bait will lure the flies in and the dishwashing liquid will help drown them, making it almost impossible for them to escape. Pro tip: if you don’t have a funnel, using a paper rolled up as a cone also does the trick.
• Make a spray: Add 91 per cent isopropyl alcohol to a spray bottle. Spraying the flies with it will kill them on contact.
• Purchase a fruit fly trap and or spray: There are tons of great options in various formats to help trap fruit flies depending on how many are around and the areas in which you need them:
  • For plants
  • For windows
  • For wall outlets
  • For the drain
  • For the instant kill

Step 3: Be consistent

Now that the legwork has been done, it is vital to upkeep all of the efforts to ensure the flies are truly gone. This includes:

• Washing produce when it is brought inside your space whether from a grocery store or garden because there can be eggs already laid on them waiting to hatch. Additionally, storing produce in the refrigerator since the flies thrive in warmer climates.
• Regularly clean surfaces.
• Avoid leaving anything out that the flies will be attracted to and breed on.

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