Fruit flies are the worst. One day, everything’s fine, and the next, they’re everywhere—buzzing around the kitchen like they own the place.
After trying just about everything, I finally found a handful of tricks that actually worked. It took some trial and error, but once I figured out what was attracting them and how to cut off their food supply, I got rid of them for good.
If you’re dealing with these annoying little pests, here’s what helped me take back my kitchen.
1. Find and Get Rid of Breeding Spots
The first thing I had to do was figure out where they were coming from. Fruit flies don’t just show up out of nowhere—they need a place to lay eggs.
I checked my kitchen for overripe fruit, tossed anything questionable, and started storing my produce in the fridge. I also made sure my trash was taken out regularly, especially if it had food scraps.
Another spot I didn’t think about at first? The pantry. I went through everything and tossed any expired or half-rotted produce. Once I cut off their breeding grounds, I noticed a big difference.
2. Make a Simple Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
I’d heard about vinegar traps before, but once I actually tried one, I saw how well they worked.
I poured about half a cup of apple cider vinegar into a jar, added a drop of dish soap, then covered it with plastic wrap and poked a few holes in the top. The vinegar lured them in, and the dish soap made sure they didn’t float on the surface.
Setting a few of these around my kitchen—especially near the fruit bowl—helped clear out the flies fast.
3. Toss Overripe Fruit Before It Becomes a Problem
I used to leave fruit sitting out way too long, thinking I’d get around to eating it. Turns out, that’s basically an open invitation for fruit flies.
Now, I check my fruit bowl daily and toss anything that’s getting too soft or starting to spot. If something’s close to going bad but still edible, I freeze it for smoothies instead of letting it attract flies.
I also started storing more fruit in airtight containers or the fridge, which made a huge difference.
4. Keep Drains Clean and Clear
I had no idea fruit flies could lay eggs in sink drains until I looked it up—and suddenly, it made sense why they kept coming back.
I started cleaning my drains with a mix of baking soda and vinegar. I’d pour it in, let it fizz for a while, then flush it with boiling water.
Now, I do this regularly, and it’s made a big difference. No more surprise swarms showing up overnight.
5. Use Essential Oils to Keep Them Away
Some scents fruit flies hate? Lavender, peppermint, and lemongrass.
I mixed a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and spritzed my counters, sink, and even my fruit bowl. It made my kitchen smell fresh and helped keep flies from coming back.
For an extra boost, I ran my diffuser with peppermint oil. I don’t know if it was the oil or just making my kitchen less appealing in general, but I saw way fewer fruit flies after I started doing this.
6. Fix Window Screens and Keep Doors Closed
It’s a small thing, but making sure my window screens didn’t have holes made a big difference. Even tiny gaps can let fruit flies (and other bugs) sneak in.
I also got into the habit of keeping doors closed, especially when I was cooking or taking out the trash. No sense in making it easier for them to move in.
7. Set Sticky Traps Near Fruit
I picked up some sticky traps and put them near my fruit bowl, and they worked surprisingly well. The bright color attracted the flies, and once they landed, they were stuck for good.
This didn’t solve the problem on its own, but combined with everything else, it helped get rid of the last few stragglers.
8. Keep Trash Cans and Recycling Bins Clean
I used to just take out the trash when it was full, but I realized that wasn’t enough. Even if the bin looked empty, tiny bits of food and liquid would stick to the bottom, giving fruit flies plenty to work with.
Now, I wash my trash and recycling bins regularly with warm, soapy water and wipe them down with vinegar. It keeps everything smelling fresh and makes sure I’m not accidentally attracting flies.
9. Don’t Let Dirty Dishes Sit in the Sink
Leaving dirty dishes in the sink—even for a few hours—is an easy way to end up with fruit flies. I learned that the hard way.
Now, I make it a habit to rinse off any leftover food right away, even if I don’t have time to wash the dishes immediately. If there’s nothing for them to eat, they move on.
10. Store More Produce in the Fridge
I started keeping more of my fruit and veggies in the fridge instead of leaving them out on the counter. Not only does this help keep them fresh longer, but it also keeps fruit flies from getting to them.
Some things—like apples and berries—do just fine in the fridge, while others (like bananas) can be stored in sealed containers to keep flies away.
11. Use a Simple Alcohol Spray
For any fruit flies that were still hanging around, I started using a homemade alcohol spray.
I mixed equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water in a spray bottle and used it to mist the areas where I’d seen flies. It kills them on contact without leaving a weird residue behind.
Spraying this around my fruit bowl and sink at night helped me get rid of the last few persistent ones.
*This article was created with the help of AI.