Fruit flies can appear out of nowhere and multiply fast, especially in warm kitchens with ripe fruit, dirty drains or trash. Here’s a clear, step‑by‑step guide to get rid of fruit flies quickly and keep them from coming back.

# 1. Find and Remove the Source

Fruit flies breed in moist, fermenting organic matter. If you don’t remove their breeding site, traps will only help temporarily.

Check and clean:

  • Fruit and vegetables

    • Throw out overripe, bruised or rotting produce.
    • Rinse fresh fruit and store it in the fridge where possible.
    • Don’t keep fruit bowls right next to sinks or trash.

  • Trash and recycling

    • Empty kitchen trash daily if it contains food scraps.
    • Rinse bottles, jars and cans before recycling.
    • Wash or wipe your trash can with hot, soapy water and a bit of vinegar.

  • Drains and garbage disposals

    • Fruit flies lay eggs in organic sludge.
    • At night, pour:
      • a kettle of boiling water, then
      • 1/2 cup baking soda, followed by
      • 1 cup white vinegar
        Let it fizz 5–10 minutes, then flush with hot water.

  • Compost bins

    • Keep kitchen compost in a container with a tight lid.
    • Empty it frequently and rinse it out.

  • Hidden spots

    • Check under appliances for forgotten food.
    • Clean sticky spills on counters, cabinet doors and floors.

# 2. Use Simple DIY Fruit Fly Traps

Once you’ve removed food sources, traps help catch the adults already flying around.

# A. Apple Cider Vinegar + Soap Trap

One of the most effective and popular home remedies.

You need:

  • A small bowl or glass
  • Apple cider vinegar (works much better than white vinegar)
  • A few drops of dish soap
  • Plastic wrap (optional)

Steps:

  1. Pour 1–2 cm (about ½–1 inch) of apple cider vinegar into the container.
  2. Add a few drops of dish soap and gently swirl (this breaks the surface tension so flies drown).
  3. Optionally cover with plastic wrap and poke several small holes (flies go in but struggle to get out).
  4. Place near where you see fruit flies (fruit bowl, sink, trash).
  5. Replace the vinegar every 1–2 days or when you see many dead flies.

# B. Fruit and Jar Trap

Great if you have some overripe fruit already attracting them.

You need:

  • A jar or glass
  • Small piece of overripe fruit (banana, peach, etc.)
  • Plastic wrap or paper funnel
  • Rubber band or tape

Steps:

  1. Put the fruit into the jar.
  2. Cover the top with plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band, then poke tiny holes;
    or create a paper funnel (narrow end down) and tape it in place.
  3. Set the jar near the infestation.
  4. When many fruit flies are trapped, submerge the jar (still sealed) briefly in hot, soapy water to kill them, then reset if needed.

# C. Wine or Beer Trap

If you have a bit of old wine or beer, fruit flies love the fermenting smell.

  1. Pour a small amount of red wine, white wine, or beer into a glass.
  2. Add one drop of dish soap.
  3. Leave uncovered or cover with plastic wrap with small holes.
  4. Replace every couple of days.

# 3. Clean Drains and Sinks Thoroughly

If fruit flies keep coming back, they may be breeding in your drains.

Deep clean method:

  1. Scrub inside the drain (as far as you can reach) with a bottle brush and hot, soapy water.
  2. Pour boiling water down the drain.
  3. Add baking soda (about ½ cup), then pour white vinegar (about 1 cup).
  4. Let it sit and fizz for 10–15 minutes.
  5. Flush with hot water again.

Do this daily for 3–4 days if you suspect the drain is a main source.

# 4. Improve Food Storage and Kitchen Habits

Prevention is the easiest long‑term “treatment.”

  • Refrigerate or cover fruit

    • Move ripe fruit into the fridge.
    • Use mesh covers or lids for fruit stored on the counter.

  • Clean up spills immediately

    • Fruit juice, soda, wine and vinegar spills attract flies fast.

  • Avoid leaving dirty dishes out

    • Rinse dishes and glasses instead of letting them sit overnight.

  • Take out the trash frequently

    • Especially in warm weather or if you cook a lot with fruits and vegetables.

  • Check grocery items

    • Rinse fruit after bringing it home.
    • Don’t leave produce in sealed plastic bags on the counter (they break down faster and attract flies).

# 5. Natural Repellents (To Keep Them Away from Certain Areas)

Repellents don’t solve an existing infestation but can help protect specific spots.

  • Herbs and plants
    Some people find these help as mild deterrents:

    • Basil
    • Mint
    • Lavender
    • Rosemary

    Place fresh herb sprigs near fruit bowls or on windowsills.

  • Essential oils (light use)

    • Peppermint oil
    • Lemongrass oil
    • Eucalyptus oil

    Mix 10–15 drops with water in a spray bottle and spritz around windows, doors and counters (avoid direct contact with food and keep away from pets’ areas, especially cats).

# 6. When Fruit Flies Won’t Go Away

If you’ve:

  • Removed all rotting produce and food sources,
  • Cleaned drains and trash thoroughly,
  • Used multiple traps for a week,

…and you still see many tiny flies, you may have:

  • Drain flies or fungus gnats (often from houseplants or very damp areas), or
  • Another moisture or mold issue.

In that case:

  1. Inspect houseplants for soggy soil or moldy top layers.
  2. Let soil dry out more between waterings.
  3. Consider a sticky yellow gnat trap for plants.
  4. Check for hidden leaks under sinks, behind dishwashers, and around fridges.

If the problem persists, a licensed pest control professional can help identify the insect type and recommend safe treatment options.

# 7. Quick 24–48 Hour Action Plan

Day 1

  1. Throw away any overripe or rotting produce.
  2. Empty trash and recycling, wash bins.
  3. Clean counters, floors and any sticky spots thoroughly.
  4. Deep‑clean sink drains.
  5. Set up:
    • 1–2 apple cider vinegar + soap traps near the sink and trash.
    • 1 fruit jar trap near your fruit bowl.

Day 2–3

  1. Replace or refresh all traps.
  2. Recheck for any missed food sources.
  3. Keep counters, sinks and trash very clean and dry.

Most light to moderate infestations improve dramatically within 2–3 days with this routine.

# Useful Resources

For more detailed guidance and identification help, you may find these resources helpful:

Summary:
To get rid of fruit flies fast, remove all rotting food and sludge, clean drains and trash thoroughly, and set up multiple vinegar or fruit traps where you see them. Then keep fruit covered or refrigerated, wipe up spills, and manage trash and compost properly to prevent them from coming back.