DIY Fruit Fly Trap That Actually Works
Tiny pests, meet your match. This DIY fruit fly trap uses pantry staples to lure, trap, and eliminate those pesky flyers once and for all. It’s quick, effective, and wildly satisfying—no lab goggles required.
Servings: 1 trap
Cost: Less than $1 per trap
Equipment
- small bowl
- Plastic wrap
- Toothpick or fork (to poke holes)
Ingredients
- 2-3 tbsp unfiltered apple cider vinegar like Bragg’s
- 1 drop dish soap
Instructions
- Check the area: Before setting the trap, clean your counters, take out the trash, and hide any ripe fruit.
Assemble the trap:
- Pour the apple cider vinegar into a small bowl.
- Add a single drop of dish soap.
- Stretch plastic wrap tightly over the bowl.
- Poke a few small holes with a toothpick or pull back one corner slightly to let the flies in.
Place and wait:
- Set the trap near the problem area: sink, fruit bowl, trash can.
- Wait a few hours. You should see results quickly (and possibly more fruit flies than you expected).
Dispose and repeat:
- Discard the contents, rinse the bowl, and reset the trap as needed until the problem is gone.
Notes
Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is key. Filtered vinegar just won’t cut it.
Dish soap breaks surface tension, so flies can’t sit and sip. They sink.
For best results, use multiple traps if you have several problem zones.
Once the flies are gone, stay vigilant. Clean drains, store produce properly, and keep your kitchen dry to avoid round two.
