The short answer
Remove the breeding site and trap the adults. Bin or refrigerate ripe produce, clean the drain and recycling bin, then set an apple cider vinegar trap with a drop of dish soap. A colony clears in 3–7 days.
Fruit flies breed in wet organic film — the drain, the bin lip, the base of the fruit bowl. Traps alone never win.
Step by step
- Refrigerate or bin all overripe fruit and vegetables.
- Empty and wash the bin and the recycling, including the lid rim.
- Scrub the sink drain and pour boiling water or an enzyme cleaner down it.
- Wipe up spilled juice, wine and beer under appliances and behind the bin.
- Fill a cup with apple cider vinegar, add a drop of dish soap, cover with pierced cling film.
- Leave traps for a week and keep surfaces dry.
What it costs
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Apple cider vinegar | $3–$6 |
| Enzyme drain cleaner | $8–$15 |
| Commercial fly traps | $8–$18 |
Common questions
Why do they keep coming back?
The breeding site is still wet. Check drains, mops, plant saucers and the bin lid.
Do bug sprays work?
They kill adults for hours, not eggs. Sanitation is the fix.
Are they harmful?
Not directly, but they carry bacteria from bins onto food surfaces.