How to Keep Fruit Flies Out of Your Kitchen for Good

MPS
6 days ago
2 min read

Fruit flies show up fast. One day your kitchen looks clean; the next, you’re swatting tiny flies around the sink, trash, and fruit bowl. They’re more than a nuisance—they spread bacteria and multiply quickly. The good news? A few simple habits keep them out for good.

Sliced green apple covered in small flies on a glass plate, placed on a wooden surface. The mood is unsettling and unsanitary.

Start With the Source: Exposed Produce

Fruit flies lay eggs on ripening or overripe fruit. If bananas, apples, or tomatoes sit out too long, the flies find them first.

What to do:

• Store ripe fruit in the fridge.

• Rinse produce when you bring it home to remove eggs.

• Toss overripe items before they attract activity.

Hand holding overripe bananas with dark spots in a white dish on a dark surface, suggesting a setting for baking or cooking.

Keep Your Sink and Drain Clean

Fruit flies breed in moisture and food buildup. Your sink drain is one of their favorite places because it stays damp and warm.

What to do:

• Pour boiling water down the drain every two days.

• Use a bottle brush to scrub the drain edges.

• Avoid leaving dirty dishes overnight.

Suggested image: hand pouring hot water into kitchen sink drain.

Watch the Trash and Recycling

Even tiny bits of juice or food stuck to cans attract fruit flies. Open trash bins make it even easier for them to breed.

What to do:

• Keep trash tightly covered.

• Rinse soda cans, juice bottles, and jars before recycling.

• Take trash out daily during warm months.

Clean Up Spills Quickly

Fruit flies detect smells fast. When juice, wine, or soda spills on counters or floors, they show up within hours.

What to do:

• Wipe spills immediately.

• Don’t ignore sticky spots on cabinets or under appliances.

• Use warm soapy water instead of just wiping with a dry cloth.

Person cleaning a kitchen counter with a cloth, wearing a gray sweater and blue shirt. A small white dog stands on the wooden floor nearby.

Check These Forgotten Spots

Fruit flies hide in places people rarely think about. A quick look can stop a growing infestation.

Check:

• Damp mops and sponges

• Recycling bins

• Empty beer bottles

• Drains in laundry or utility sinks

• Under the fridge or stove

Make a Simple Fruit Fly Trap

If you already have flies, this removes them fast.

You need:

• A small bowl

• Vinegar

• Dish soap

• Plastic wrap

How it works:

• Fill the bowl with vinegar and a drop of dish soap.

• Cover with plastic wrap and poke small holes.

• Fruit flies enter and can’t escape.

Every kitchen is different. What causes fruit flies in one home may not be the source in another. With Montana Pest Solutions, you get clear guidance, targeted treatment, and solutions that actually remove the problem.

Ready to protect your home? Contact Montana Pest Solutions today and schedule your pest inspection.

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