How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in House?

Buzz… That unbearable buzzing has returned to the kitchen. Is it the neighbors’ renovations? Or perhaps the dishwasher has broken down? Well, neither. It’s the fruit flies, back at it again.

Oh no. They’re tiny, but very persistent, and the truth is, they can appear even if we’re careful. All it takes is a slightly overripe piece of fruit or a moment of inattention with food scraps for them to settle in the kitchen.

But don’t worry, we’re here to help: we’ll tell you how to get rid of fruit flies and what to do to prevent them from coming back. Let’s get them!

Ceratitis capitata or Mediterranean fruit fly: what do we know about this insect?

You probably already know it quite well, but just in case, here are some interesting facts about the Mediterranean fruit fly, or Ceratitis capitata.

For example, you might be surprised to learn that it measures between 3 and 5 centimeters—smaller than a grain of rice! You tend to see them more often in summer because the females only lay eggs at temperatures above 16°C and can live for up to six months. Amazing!

Although some people believe these flies are responsible for fruit spoilage, the truth is they are attracted to the smell of rotten or overripe fruit.

Therefore, to prevent them from appearing, the first thing to do is keep the fruit in good condition and discard any affected pieces, however unpleasant it may be.

Tips for getting rid of fruit flies and preventing them from coming back

Clean and disinfect the fruit as soon as you get home

If we want to get rid of fruit flies, we need to eliminate the problem at its source. To do this, we must disinfect the fruit we buy at the supermarket as soon as we take it out of its bag.

While cleaning it, we should check each piece to make sure it doesn’t have any scratches, bruises, or dents, as these can attract flies or encourage the appearance of larvae.

So, you know what to do: take a look at our post to learn how to disinfect fruit sustainably and don’t let these little critters sneak into your home.

People cleaning fruit to prevent fruit flies

Flies in sight? Identify the breeding ground and get rid of it.

Have fruit flies already invaded your kitchen? Let’s find out where they’re coming from so we can get rid of them completely.

The source is usually some rotten fruit in your fruit bowl, but that’s not the only place they can appear. They can also breed in food scraps, garbage cans, alcohol bottles, drains, or even damp sponges and dirty rags.

To get rid of them completely, it’s essential to locate the source of their breeding and eliminate it .

#ALDITip: If the breeding ground is on a piece of fruit, don’t leave it in the trash for days, as the flies won’t die. Ideally, take the fruit out of the house as soon as possible and throw it in the organic waste bin. Checkmate!

Set homemade traps with apple cider vinegar and soap

If there’s one thing that never fails, it’s a homemade trap. Insecticides don’t usually have much effect on fruit flies; however, the combination of apple cider vinegar and dish soap gets rid of them in no time.

To prepare this magic formula, simply pour apple cider vinegar into a glass (about 2 cm) and add a few drops of dish soap. Then, mix and leave it uncovered on the countertop or somewhere near where these insects breed.

The smell of the vinegar will attract them, and the soap will cause them to drown. We promise it works!

Apple cider vinegar and fruit to prevent fruit flies

Get them out of the house with the help of a ripe banana

Don’t want to get rid of them, but do want to get rid of them? Don’t worry, we have the solution. Just place a very ripe banana on a plate and cover it with plastic wrap.

Then, poke holes in the plastic and place the banana near the flies. They’ll enter through the holes and won’t be able to get out. All you have to do afterward is release them outside and let them live happily ever after—far away from your kitchen!

Quick tips to prevent fruit flies from arriving

Don’t let trash accumulate for days and make sure your trash cans have lids.
Cover your fruit bowl so that flies cannot access the fruit inside.
Rinse alcohol bottles before throwing them away, as alcohol also tends to attract these insects.
Get rid of old, dirty scouring pads and rags.
If you’ve been careless and have overripe fruit in the fruit bowl, consider using it for composting or recipes where the ripeness of the fruit doesn’t matter (like baked apples ) before throwing it away.

Trash cans with lids to prevent fruit flies

To have an insect-free kitchen, the most important thing is to maintain proper cleaning throughout the entire room. Start by making the stovetop shine, then, and last but not least, make the floor shine like never before.