Experts reveal the dream frequency households should empty food waste bins to avoid fruit fly nightmares

A few fruit flies hovering around your home in summer is expected, but the last thing you want is to open your trash can to a plume of these pests.

So, how often should you empty your food waste bins and trash cans to prevent fruit flies? Pest pros reveal the dream frequency.

How often to empty food waste bins to cull breeding cycles

Preferably, you should empty a trash can every day to avoid infestations, our pros advise. How often you empty your food waste can, however, depend on the type of trash can you have and how warm it is where you live.

As a general rule of thumb, pest experts suggest emptying them and replacing the bag at least every two days to get rid of gnats and maggots.

It might sound excessive, however, Daniel Baldwin, board-certified entomologist at Hawx Pest Control, explains, ‘Fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs, which can hatch in 24 hours. This is why it’s important to reduce opportunities for them to breed and feed to avoid a larger infestation.’

If you don’t want to empty your food waste every day, Daniel adds that a more effective approach is to dispose of any food waste straight into outdoor trash cans with tight-fitting lids.

‘This is because fruit flies are highly attracted to the smell of fermenting sugars in rotting fruits, vegetables, and other organic waste,’ he says. ‘You should also be cleaning your trash cans regularly with soap and water to remove lingering smells and residue.’

Masking trash can smells can also be effective, but to a lesser extent. The source of odor should always be removed to truly prevent indoor pests.

Using a smaller trash can for food waste, such as the simplehuman countertop compost caddy from Wayfair, and small compostable trash bags from Walmart, can make daily emptying less wasteful.

Of course, preventing infestations of these tiny flying insects also comes down to cleaning a kitchen correctly.

Jim McHale, entomologist and president at JP McHale Pest Management, suggests completing a full inspection of your kitchen if you have lots of fruit flies, hunting out any sticky residue they may be feeding on (especially around and inside your trash can), and keeping fruits and vegetables stored inside the fridge where possible.

Don’t forget to also check stored food for rot, and toss out as needed.

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Meet the experts

Daniel Baldwin

Daniel is an entomologist with over a decade of experience, working at Hawx Pest Control, which was founded in 2013. Since it has grown across 12 states.

Jim McHale

Jim McHale is a certified entomologist as well as the President and CEO of JP McHale Pest Management.

Still struggling with these pesky pests? People swear by the Zevo Flying Insect Trap, or you can make your own DIY gnat trap with apple cider vinegar.