How to keep fruit flies off of fruit

Those buzzing, pesky, little fruit flies are the last things you want to find in front of your face — especially when you're cooking dinner or sitting down to breakfast. And for such little pests, they sure prove a tough challenge to get rid of once they arrive.

Fruit flies reproduce at a rate that can only be described as astonishing: According to Orkin, a pest control company, female fruit flies lay hundreds of eggs in a very short time, commonly on moist foods like overripe fruit and vegetables. Then, within 24 to 30 hours, those eggs hatch into larvae, or maggots, that feed on the food source on which they were laid. Within about a week those larvae become sexually active and not more than two days later, start the cycle over again — leaving you with way too many fruit flies to stomach.

Fortunately, there are simple and effective ways to get rid of fruit flies indoors fast — maybe not instantly, but certainly in one day or overnight — using fruit fly traps that you can DIY at home. All it takes to stop these irksome insects in their tracks is some strategic cleaning and a few household supplies.

First of all, what causes fruit flies in the house?

According to the experts at Orkin, fruit flies are attracted to ripe, rotting or decayed fruit and produce, as well as fermented goods like beer, liquor and wine, but they can also inhabit trash cans and garbage disposals if sufficient food is present — which is why you might struggle with fruit flies in the kitchen sink.

And, unfortunately, considering their reproductive prowess, this means those two tiny fruit flies will quickly multiply into a critter problem that can feel almost impossible to control.

To cut off fruit flies from their food source and prevent them from entering your home, take these preventive measures to avoid getting fruit flies.

• Throw out overripe produce
• Store fruits and veggies in the fridge
• Wash produce as soon as you get home to remove any potential eggs or larvae
• Take out the garbage regularly
• Clean up spills ASAP, especially fruit juice or alcohol

How to get rid of fruit flies using a DIY fruit fly trap

A fruit fly trap is a very effective solution — and one that can be assembled in as few as five minutes. These DIY traps can also be tailored to suit what you already have on hand, eliminating the need for a hasty trip to the grocery or hardware store.

First, you may want to double-check that your pests in question aren't drain flies, which lurk around drains or garbage disposals, or fungus gnats, which prefer overwatered houseplants. For those critters, you'll want to check out our guide for how to get rid of gnats.

Fruit flies usually appear light or dark brown in color with red eyes. If you're sure you've identified the critters correctly, then try one of these effective remedies to get rid of fruit flies in your kitchen.

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1. Apple Cider Vinegar and Plastic Wrap

Part of the problem with fruit flies is that they look a lot like other types of flies, and how you get rid of each does depend on what they are.

"It's important to confirm whether or not you are in fact dealing with fruit flies, because treatment for getting rid of them differs from something like fungus gnats or drain flies," says Wesley Wheeler, owner of Bug Lord.

So how do you tell the difference? Drain flies look like tiny black moths and can often be confused with fruit flies because both lay eggs in drains. "They have fluffy dark wings that are round and held flat on top of the body, and their antennae are fluffy and feathery like moth antennae," Wheeler says. In fact, another name for drain flies is moth flies.

"Fungus gnats are roughly one-eighth inch in size and have a similar resemblance to mosquitoes — just smaller," Wheeler says.  They have long legs and a lackluster flying ability, so you may see them stumbling around and spending more time scurrying along house plants and windows. Fruit flies on the other hand, Wheeler adds, are very quick and elusive, and are usually found in kitchens where there is ripening fruit and garbage. They can quickly be identified by their characteristically large red eyes.

Fruit flies hate several rather nice smelling natural scents, including peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and clove. "You can hang dried herbs in paper tea bags or muslin sacks around the house, or add essential oils of these plants into a diffuser," says Nicholas Martin, founder and editor-in-chief of Pest Control Hacks. A fun added bonus is that your home will smell really pleasant after doing this.

Sponges may be essential kitchen items for keeping things clean and tidy, but the reality is they are magnets for food leftovers. "They are accumulated inside even if you don't see them," Martin says. And you know what? Fruit flies breed on them. Replace these items weekly to prevent that. 

Related: The 12 Best Dish Towels, According to Thousands of Reviews

That means taking care of crumbs, tiny cooking leftovers, dust, stains, dishes. "All these are highly attractive to fruit flies and many other insects, so keeping your kitchen sparkling clean is an essential step," Martin says.

If those bananas or onions are starting to look iffy, it's time to toss them before they become a breeding ground for pests. "Promptly discard any rotting food, as this is where fruit flies lay eggs — which can be up to 500 at a time," Wheeler says. That means you should also immediately take that garbage that's filled with rotting fruits and veggies outside and tie it up, too, instead of simply tossing it in your kitchen trash can. 

Fruit flies are extremely sensitive and can sense when there's fruit and vegetables they can get to. They can even do this from afar, according to Martin. That's why covering them with a cake dome, cloth, or plastic wrap is a good plan.

Related: Keep Picnic Food Bug-Free With These Adorable Food Covers

Believe it or not, fruit flies can travel to your home right on the produce you get from the store. "Leaving unwashed produce on the counter, you just let the flies feast and breed nonstop," Martin says. To prevent that, you can simply wash new produce with a vegetable wash and water before putting them in their bowl or containers for sage keeping.

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A fruit fly trap can get the problem under control pretty quickly. Many store-bought traps perform really well, says Wheeler, pointing to the Terro Fruit Fly Traps specifically. It's simply a sweet liquid that attracts the flies into a container from which they are unable to escape. 

You can also make your own fruit fly trap though. It's not difficult to make your own fruit fly trap, and it can be a little cheaper and more satisfying than buying a commercial trap.

"The best way to make your very own fruit fly trap is to use a small jar like a mason jar, and put about a cup of apple cider vinegar into it," Wheeler says. Then add a few drops of dish soap. That is all there is to it.

"You can also add a funnel to the top of the jar which makes it easy for flies to enter, but very difficult to leave before touching the liquid," Wheeler says.

Related: The World's Greatest Fruit Fly Trap Is Hiding in Your Cupboard

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Brace yourselves: Ultimately, there's no way of knowing how many fruit flies and eggs are inside your drains. Flushing out those drains can get things under control.

To do this, just use a commercially available fruit fly drain cleaner. Treat it like Draino, and pour it right down the sink, following the directions on the packaging.

"Green Gobbler is one example of a gel-based drain cleaner for fruit flies. It's created from natural citronella oil, so it won't hurt you or your pipes, but it will kill the flies hiding there," Wheeler says.