How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Without Losing Your Mind (Tiny bugs. Big rage.)

One minute you’re slicing a banana, minding your business, and the next—bam. Fruit flies. Just hovering there like they pay rent. They’re tiny, they’re smug, and somehow, they multiply faster than your to-do list. If you’ve ever waved your hand around your face like a lunatic trying to shoo one away, you know the pain.

Here’s how to deal with those little nightmares—fast—without flipping your kitchen upside down or Googling “how to start a new life far from fruit flies.”

First, stop feeding them. Literally.

Fruit flies aren’t deep. They’re not emotionally complex. They’re here for the snacks. Overripe bananas, that apple you meant to eat last week, the puddle of juice near your trash can—chef’s kiss in their world.

So step one? Cut off the buffet.
Toss old fruit. Rinse your cans before recycling. Clean out the drain (yep, that smell might be more than “just your sink”). And for the love of all things holy, don’t leave an open wine bottle on the counter. It’s basically a welcome mat.

Make them a trap they can’t resist

You don’t need fancy gear. Fruit flies are dumb. Here are three DIY options that actually work:

• Apple cider vinegar + dish soap
  Pour some vinegar in a glass, add a drop of dish soap, and leave it uncovered. The smell lures them in, the soap breaks the surface tension, and plop—they’re done.
• Fruit-in-a-jar trick
  Throw a piece of mushy fruit in a jar, cover the top with plastic wrap, and poke a few tiny holes. They’ll crawl in for a snack and realize too late they can’t get out. Like a bug Hotel California.
• Old wine or beer
  Same concept. If you’ve got a half-empty bottle, leave it near the fruit fly war zone. They’ll fly in for a drink and won’t make it back out. Tragic, but effective.

Don’t forget the gross, hidden stuff

Fruit flies aren’t just into fruit. They’ll lay eggs in weird places—like your sponge. Or the inside rim of your trash can lid. Or that gunky spot under your fridge that you swore you’d clean last fall. (No judgment. We all have one.)

Quick checklist:

• Wipe down your counters and backsplashes
• Rinse your sink strainers
• Take out the trash regularly (and scrub the inside of the can once in a while—sorry)
• Check your mop bucket if it’s been sitting around (shudder)

Still seeing them? They might not be fruit flies.
If they’re hanging around plants, drains, or wet spots but ignoring your fruit fly traps, you might be dealing with fungus gnats or drain flies. Similar vibes, but different solutions.

Gnats? Dry out your plants a bit and swap to better-draining soil.
Drain flies? Scrub your drains and maybe pour boiling water down there once a day for a few days.

Either way: annoying, but manageable.

The Takeaway?

Fruit flies are persistent, but you can absolutely win this one. Clear the food, clean the sticky spots, set a few sneaky traps, and don’t underestimate the power of a little vinegar and plastic wrap. And if one lands on your face mid-cooking again? You have full permission to dramatically scream.

Got a weird fruit fly hack that works every time? Or a battle story from fruit fly hell? Drop it in the comments—we’re all in this buggy mess together.