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Fruit flies

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies seem to appear out of nowhere — but they're laying eggs on ripening fruit and inside the soft gunk in drains. Cut both and they're gone in days.

The vinegar trap

A simple physical trap is faster than any spray and safer around food.

  • Pour 2 cm of apple cider vinegar into a small jar.
  • Add one drop of dish soap and stir gently.
  • Cover with plastic wrap, poke 3–5 small holes with a fork.
  • Set near the fruit bowl. Refresh every 3 days.

Remove what they breed in

  • Compost or refrigerate ripening fruit.
  • Empty the bottom of the kitchen bin daily for a week.
  • Pour boiling water down sink drains weekly.
  • Check the recycling bin — sticky soda cans are a top breeding site.

Pest control disclaimer. Photo-based identification can help, but it is not always perfect. For dangerous spiders, large infestations, or anything you are unsure about, contact a licensed pest control professional.

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