How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies—and Keep Them From Coming Back

If you've ever had fruit flies in your home, you know how big of a nuisance they can be. From buzzing around sink drains to nesting in your fruit bowl, fruit flies can feel impossible to get rid of. This is largely due to how quickly they multiply—in fact, adult fruit flies can lay up to 2,000 eggs at a time. The good news? You can get rid of fruit flies (and prevent future infestations) with some effective natural remedies and simple lifestyle changes.

Where Fruit Flies Come From

Contrary to popular belief, fruit flies are not spontaneously born from rotting fruit—instead, they feed on the yeast found on decaying fruit. "Adult fruit flies lay eggs on overripe fruit, and larvae feed on the yeast," says Jim Fredericks, board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). "Adult fruit flies can detect the odor of fermenting fruit from great distances, and their tiny stature allows them to enter a home through minuscule cracks and crevices."

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Use one of these methods to get rid of fruit flies once you notice them in your home.

Make a Fruit Fly Spray

As tempting as it may be to buy over-the-counter pesticides, consider making an alcohol spray as a safer alternative. "Instead of dangerous and toxic pesticide spray, use 91 percent isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle," says Timothy Wong, technical director at MMPC, an environmentally sensitive pest control company. "It is effective at killing the flies on contact and less harmful than conventional pesticide."

Make a Fruit Fly Trap

Since fruit flies can't resist the smell of vinegar, try making a homemade trap to help reduce your population. "Pour a little apple cider vinegar into a glass and cover the opening with plastic wrap and a rubber band," says Wong. "Poke small holes into the plastic cover for the fruit flies to enter—they won't be able to exit once they're inside the glass." If you don't have plastic wrap, add a few drops of dish soap to the glass and leave it uncovered. "The soap cuts the surface tension of the vinegar so the flies sink and drown," says Wong.

Purchase a Fruit Fly Trap

Rather than making a homemade trap, consider purchasing one instead. Sticky traps, which are widely available online and in stores, are one of the most effective options. The fruit flies are attracted to the brightly colored strips and get stuck on the glue upon landing.

How to Prevent Fruit Flies

Some simple lifestyle changes and home upgrades can keep fruit flies away from your home.

Seal the Gaps

Fruit flies are tiny, which makes it easy for them to enter your home through even the smallest openings—particularly those around your windows. "One of the first things people can do to prevent fruit fly outbreaks is to have functioning window screens," Wong says. You should also seal any gaps around windows, especially ones around air conditioners, he adds.

Don't Store Product on Countertops

Keeping fruits and vegetables on your counter can attract fruit flies. "Since eggs can be found in ripening fruits bought from stores, we suggest storing all fruit and vegetables inside refrigerators," says Wong. "Fruits and vegetables that are stored on countertops should be washed well and covered."

Throw Away Old Produce

In the same vein, any produce that is no longer edible should be thrown away immediately. "A major step in fruit fly control is the elimination of their feeding and breeding grounds," says Fredericks. "If you identify a fruit fly infestation in your kitchen, dispose of all overripe or decaying fruit and produce."

Deep Clean Your Home

Keeping your home clean is one of the most effective ways to keep fruit flies at bay. Garbage cans and recycling bins that contain the residues of fruit juice or soda, as well as drains and garbage disposals, can attract fruit flies, so it's important to clean these areas regularly. "If food or drink residues spill into garbage cans or recycling bins, they should be cleaned," says Fredericks.