The Best DIY Fruit Fly Trap
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Are fruit flies driving you nuts? Never fear, this DIY fruit fly trap is sure to help.
I tested a bunch of ways to get rid of these pests, but this easy homemade fruit fly trap came out as the winner! Read on to find simple the end to your fruit fly woes.
If you eat a lot of veggies and fruits in your home, then likely fruit flies have been a part of your home as well. Sigh. For that very reason, this past week I had reason to work on finding the best fruit fly trap. Somehow we got inundated with them and had to find a way to get rid of them. Fast.
Those little buggers multiply fast and they were well — driving me buggers!
I scoured the internet to figure out the best way to nab these little pests – but one fruit fly trap worked much better than the others.
First however, I’m going to share with you some annoying and almost terrifying fruit fly facts:
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Facts About Fruit Flies
Did you know these?
– Mother fruit flies can lay about 500 eggs at a time
– The most likely place for a mother fruit fly to lay her eggs is in a piece of fermenting food.
– As soon as the babies hatch, they start reproducing very rapidly
– From the time the mother fruit fly lays her eggs until you see the fruit flies buzzing around is about 7-13 days. Yikes! – instead of saying how things “multiply like rabbits”—should we change the saying to “multiply like fruit flies”? (source)
See why it’s so important to get rid of these pesky critters right away? If you don’t, you could have hundreds in a very short amount of time.
Well, this past week we tried 3 different methods to get rid of these flies and I think we’ve found the winner.
DIY Fruit Fly Traps We Tested
Trap #1 – Hands
Yes, I’m not kidding. This is the way I’ve always caught fruit flies and we’ve always been successful in the past. But this time, the flies were getting the best of us. I’m guessing that you all probably have used this method too, right?
I’m sure you can imagine myself and my two sons standing the kitchen, climbing on step stools, clapping our hands together and slapping cabinets, trying to get rid of every last one.
(I can’t believe how smart these little buggers seem to be. They really seemed to know that they blended well into our dark kitchen cabinets and hid there almost completely invisible. Almost.)
We all thought this was fun (kind of) for awhile, but it got old after awhile.
And standing on a step stool trying to catch fruit flies is an accident waiting to happen.
It was time to find a new way.
Trap #2 – Apple Cider Vinegar and Dish Soap
This method is supposed to work by putting some apple cider vinegar in a bowl or jar and then adding a drop or so of dish soap. The dish soap is supposed to create tension across the top of the apple cider vinegar. The vinegar attracts the flies. They fly in and the soap traps them there.
Tried this for about 5 days.
The result?
Only 2 flies dead. Not anywhere near enough to make a dent in our burgeoning fruit fly colony.
Trap #3 – Inverted Cone
With this method, you put something attractive to the fruit flies in a container and invert a cone (paper is fine) so that it extends to the rim of the container.
The flies travel down the cone but can’t get back up.
Never tried this because #4 – the winner — worked so well. I don’t think I’d bother with this because the other is much easier and a little nicer to look at. And once you see The Winner you’ll see another reason why.
Trap #4 – The Winner!
I know – it’s an icky photo–just stuff from my compost bowl with plastic wrap on top with a few tiny holes poked in it.
Perfect for attracting fruit flies – but not great for nice photos :-).
I love this fruit fly trap.
Why?
Why We Love This Trap
- First of all, it worked! At the height of our fruit fly troubles, I would catch 5, 10 or more flies in there and would take them out on our deck to let them all go.
- Secondly, it’s cheap! (Basically, I just put plastic wrap on top of my compost bowl.) On Amazon, the fruit fly trap I looked at was more than $7. So you can save a bunch of money with this and get rid of your fruit flies effectively – and you don’t need to wait for the trap to arrive in the mail :-).
It’s also cheaper than using my high quality apple cider vinegar which I love and really don’t wish to waste on fruit flies. - Third, I didn’t have to put another thing on my countertop since I could just use my compost bowl. Who needs something else on the whole foods countertop, right :-)?
Here’s how to do it:
(Please note that the original post instructed people to let the fruit flies out of the trap outdoors, after catching them, but some readers pointed out that this would only serve to make the fruit fly problem worse. After doing some research, I realized what a huge problem the fruit fly population is and so I changed the post.
Now you simply let the flies die in with the fruit.)
More DIY Healthier Household Ideas
– Amazing No Streak Glass Cleaner
– DIY Plastic Wrap Substitute
– DIY Foaming Soap
– DIY Facial Oil Wash
– Natural Dishwasher Rinse Aid (3 Ways!)
– Homemade Laundry Detergent
– Best Eye Makeup Remover
The Best DIY Fruit Fly Trap
Ingredients
- bowl
- fruit or food items
- plastic wrap
- toothpick or other sharp item
- dish soap
Instructions
- Place some fruit or other food items in a bowl.
- Add a drop or two of dish soap.
- Secure a plastic wrap over the top and secure, if necessary, with a rubber band.
- Poke small holes in the top of the plastic wrap (with a toothpick, the sharp end of a knife, or something like that).
Notes
Have you every tried a DIY fruit fly trap?
Have another pest problem you are battling?
Thanks for sharing. Fruit flies are so annoying, and I don’t know about you, but always make my house feel dirty and it’s embarrassing!
in the past I’ve always used Braggs ACV with a couple drops of orange or lemon scented dish soap, which worked okay for me. but this summer i happened to have (homemade) elderberry flavored kombucha in the fridge, so i put some of that in a small cup with a few drops of unscented dish soap and the cloud of fruitflies LOVED it. i’m really impressed, it’s been working splendidly!
We had an influx recently too… I did the ACV (only a tbsp or two) and a little slice of banana from breakfast. Used a cone so they couldn’t come out. Trapped most of them that way. Glad you found a solution. They’re annoying little buggers.
I have pretty good luck with the apple cirder and vinegar, but I’ll try your technique next time. It definitely makes sense!
I blogged about this last week … & linked up here today. I used the ACV & dishsoap … & it worked wonderfully! There were gobs of fruit flies at the bottom of the bowl.
https://callherblessed-angela.blogspot.com/2012/09/mad-scientists.html
Great ideas Adrienne. Everyone encounters fruit fly issues from time to time!
Did you cover your ACV/soap with saran wrap and poke holes in it? That’s what gets them. I catch them all this way. They climb in the holes and can’t get out, fall in the liquid, and drown. Your other idea is good too though as long as they really stay trapped in there. 🙂
Didn’t do that, Rose – the flies do stay trapped in my compost – whenever there are a lot of flies I’ll just go and dump them. Good to know the holes thing worked for you – I never really saw any hovering over my ACV – just over the compost, so I just didn’t get it. 🙂
Brilliant. That’s EXACTLY what draws the little beasts in the first place in our house. I never thought of using plastic wrap with holes. I’m a little bit in love with you right now, I hope that’s okay.
Well, I really saw the idea elsewhere. I just decided to try some of the ideas to see what worked. But thanks!!!
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
These must be everywhere! Having trouble with them around a plant in my kitchen. Going to try this method-thanks!!
I use a combination of #2 and #3 except my inverted cone is a small 5″ plastic water bottle with the top 2″ cut off and inverted into the bottom half. It works best placed next to the fruit bowl or tomatoes. I’m going to try the compost bowl next year during peach season. That’s when we get the most flies.
Danielle S., thanks for the tip of ammonia down the drain. I’m trying that one, for sure.
I also only use about a tablespoon of the vinegar in a small glass dish! Not sure why you need to use so much in regards to the other posts I read?
I’m not sure about that either. ???
I found that when I omitted the soap to my Braggs acv I caught MANY more flies. It looked like it wasn’t working, but when I picked up the glass to inspect the bottom, they were lying dead in the good ole’ mother. I think the soap only works if you get just the right consistancy and flavor (citrus).
It’s funny, because I just did a video about this for my clients a couple of weeks ago. I like the ACV…it seems like it takes a couple of days (I think as some of the liquid evaporates it gets stronger). I caught about 2 dozen this way using Dr. Bronner’s soap on the top of Braggs ACV in a small 1 cup bowl. It did take 2-3 days before they started to get caught. I also find I have to have the bowl by the bananas or fruit bowl, or wherever they happen to be hanging out at the time.
I will try the fruit with plastic wrap, because I like the idea of not wasting my raw ACV if something else works better 🙂
I used the exact same thing. Braggs and Bronners. 2 flies in maybe 3 days. Oh well. I do so like the compost bowl better for the same reason!
Maybe our Alaskan fruit flies haven’t gotten wise to it yet 🙂
I do a combination of #2 and #4. Take a cup or pint-size mason jar and fill about half way with RED WINE VINEGAR – way cheaper than ACV… I think I got a 16 oz bottle for $1. Add a little dish soap and gently stir to combine. Cover the top with plastic wrap and an elastic band. Poke about 8 holes in the top with a pencil. Place near your problem area… fruit bowl, kitchen sink, etc. If it’s REALLY bad you can make more than one trap and put them in different areas. Within about 24 hours they should all be dead at the bottom of the cup. I have a permanent trap that I keep near my fruit for a preventative measure. 🙂
I always thought RWV was more expensive than ACV….Guess I was shopping in the wrong place???
I had this problem last year. I tried the vinegar traps, but found putting a piece of apple in the oven, leaving the door openovernight, wake up, close and burn worked amazingly well. Not too bad to clean up. Just a little swipe with a damp cloth.
I used a jar with holes poked in the lid, with a piece of rotten fruit and some ACV in it. The fruit flies crawled in and then drowned in the vinegar. My aunt also said that pouring ammonia down the drain will kill them because they breed in drains. I haven’t tried that, but I did see a reduction when I started using screen sink filters in the drains.
I’ve used the ACV and dish soap and it’s worked well. The trick is to put it in a bottle with a very small opening so they can’t get out. I used an antique inkwell bottle. Seems a soda bottle would work also.
Interesting. That’s not what I saw on other posts – maybe I’ll have to try that. But the saran wrap method is cheaper :).
with the vinegar and soap mix did you use RAW acv? i have been using that method and i will catch 30 or 40 overnight. the only difference i see is if you didn’t use raw. raw ferments so of course they would be attracted. cheap non-raw acv just smells like vinegar so it might be the problem. just a thought 🙂
I used Braggs, so yes. Not sure why it didn’t work.
hmm, weird. well, at least you found something that works for you 🙂
I use this method, too, and it works for me, but I don’t use just vinegar. I water it down quite a bit, about half a cup of vinegar and the rest water. I use a bowl and fill it mostly up, so when they land on it, they are near enough to be tempted and get in easily. Also, I keep it on the counter right about the compost, so when I throw something in the compost, the swarm flies up, looks for a place to land, and many land there (yes, we have swarms, too 🙂 ). I usually put about 4 drops of liquid soap in, I use Shaklee dish soap. My compost bucket is a bucket b/c I have a lot of scraps. But, yes, if your way works, why try something else. 🙂 I kept the same bowl there and just kept replenishing the water when it would evaporate. I just emptied it the other day after being there for about a month, and there was probably 100 in it. It seems to get rid of our fruit fly problem.
Just wanted to add that I use true Apple Cider Vinegar (not flavored apple cider vinegar) and not Braggs. I brew Kombucha Tea all year long, live in Florida and when the fruit flies hit, they are numerous. Have used a small ramekin open bowl (no saran wrap) with the A.C.V and 2 drops of liquid dish detergent and gotten 30+ in each dish. I set 2 out at a time. Catches so many, just change the solution, do it again and they are ALL gone.
I was just talking about this the other day. The idea of apple cider vinegar has always worked for me…but lately it just isn’t. Is’t like the fruit flies have gotten wise to our tricks. So, I’m going to have to try this one next!