To kill fruit flies effectively, you can use several proven DIY traps and methods:
DIY Fruit Fly Traps
1. Apple Cider Vinegar and Dish Soap Trap
- Pour about half an inch of apple cider vinegar into a small bowl or jar.
- Add a few drops of dish soap, which breaks the surface tension so flies sink and drown.
- Cover the container with plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band.
- Poke small holes in the plastic wrap large enough for flies to enter but small enough to prevent escape.
- Place the trap near areas with fruit fly activity like kitchens or trash bins.
This method is highly effective because fruit flies are strongly attracted to the vinegar scent and get trapped in the soapy liquid
2. Paper Cone and Fruit/Vinegar Trap
- Place a small amount of vinegar and a piece of very ripe or rotting fruit in a jar.
- Roll paper into a cone shape with a narrow opening facing down and insert it into the jar opening.
- The flies enter through the cone but have difficulty escaping.
This uses the smell of fermenting fruit to lure flies in
3. Old Wine or Beer Trap
- Leave an open bottle with a small amount of leftover wine or beer.
- The narrow neck traps the flies inside.
- Adding a few drops of dish soap increases effectiveness.
Fruit flies love the smell of alcohol and get trapped inside this way
Additional Tips
- Set multiple traps around your kitchen and replace the bait weekly for best results
- Clean up any overripe fruit, spills, and garbage regularly to remove breeding sites.
- For outdoor fruit flies, insecticides like Spinosad can be used on plants, but rinse fruits thoroughly before consumption
- Sticky fly catchers can complement traps indoors
Using these traps consistently will reduce and eventually eliminate fruit flies within a couple of weeks
