Homemade fruit fly traps are a dime a dozen, but most of them don’t actually work. It’s very frustrating!
So in this post, I’ll show you how to make a DIY fruit fly trap in a couple of minutes, using items you have at home. It’s easy, and it really works!
Fruit flies can be a major pest in the kitchen, especially during the gardening harvest season! If they’re driving you crazy, try this easy DIY trap that will not only catch them, but kill them too!
The best part is that it only takes a couple of minutes to make, and you can set it up the moment you see the first fruit fly hovering over your fresh produce.
It really does work like a charm, and get rid of those pesky bugs in no time. Follow these step-by-step instructions to get rid of fruit flies in your home for good!
What Attracts Fruit Flies?
There are lots of designs for DIY fruit fly traps out there. The basic principle is pretty much the same for all of them, and there are many options of things to use for bait.
The bait can be a piece of ripe fruit, vinegar, fruit juice… well, basically anything that attracts fruit flies.
I’ve tried several things to attract fruit flies to my homemade traps, and I have run into two major problems.
First, the bait you use has to be more enticing than anything else in the house; otherwise they won’t be attracted to it.
The second problem: simply using fruit, juice, or vinegar won’t kill the fruit flies… and it grosses me out to watch them flying and crawling around inside the trap. Plus, they can start breeding in it if they’re still alive. Yuck!
Bottom line, I want my trap to also kill the fruit flies, and I want it to kill them quickly.
By the way, if you have tiny bugs flying around your houseplants rather than in your kitchen, then those are a different type of bug. Learn the difference between fungus gnats vs fruit flies here.
A Homemade Fruit Fly Trap That Actually Works!
After much experimentation, I found that balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar mixed with alcohol works the best.
Fruit flies can’t resist the yummy vinegar, and that’s what attracts them to the trap (even when it’s sitting next to a pile of bananas!).
When the fruit flies feed on the mixture, the alcohol kills them. I don’t know if it kills them when they drink it, or if they get drunk and drown. I don’t really care, as long as it works!
DIY Fruit Fly Trap Ingredients
- Vinegar (to attract fruit flies) – It’s important that you use a good quality balsamic or apple cider vinegar to lure the fruit flies in. Don’t use a pre-mixed salad dressing, because that may not attract them. Stick with pure, fancy vinegars.
- Alcohol (to kill them) – I use vodka in my because we had some on hand, but I’m sure any kind of alcohol would work as long as it doesn’t have a strong scent to it.
My Homemade Fruit Fly Bait Recipe
My fruit fly lure recipe could not be easier, and it’s only two ingredients! Simply use a half and half mixture of vodka to vinegar.
You can either pour them directly into the trap, or mix them together ahead of time.
- 1 part vinegar (balsamic or apple cider)
- 1 part vodka
How To Make A DIY Trap For Fruit Flies
The great part about this easy DIY project is that you don’t need anything fancy to make it. You probably already have everything you need lying around the house.
Supplies Needed:
- Balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- Vodka (or experiment with other types of alcohol) or liquid soap
- Disposable container
- Plastic wrap
- Rubber band
- Knife or pin (to poke holes in the plastic)
Step by Step Instructions
This super simple DIY fruit fly trap only takes a few minutes to assemble. Heck, it’ll probably take you longer to collect the supplies and ingredients than it will to set it up.
Step 1: Choose a container – Be sure to use a disposable container, you don’t want dead bugs floating around in a dish you eat or drink out of.
I cut the top off of a plastic water bottle, and used the bottom to make mine.
Step 2: Add the liquid – Pour your alcohol and balsamic vinegar mixture into the trap.
You only need to add a small amount of liquid. Just enough to completely cover the bottom of the container, so there’s no place for the fruit flies to land.
If you want to use liquid soap instead of alcohol, then just add a few drops to the vinegar. You don’t need a 50/50 mix of soap to vinegar.
Step 3: Secure plastic wrap over the top – Stretch plastic wrap over the top of the container. Then simply use the rubber band to hold the plastic in place.
Step 4: Poke holes in plastic – Use the tip of a sharp knife or a pin to puncture a few tiny holes in the plastic. The tiny flies can get into the trap through the holes, but can’t find their way back out.
Alternative Options
If you don’t have the right ingredients at home, then you can try making a few modifications to my DIY fruit fly trap. Here are a few alternative options to try…
DIY Fruit Fly Trap Without Vinegar
Instead of vinegar, you could try using wine or fruit juice as the lure. Just keep in mind that not all types of wine or juice will attract fruit flies, so you may need to experiment a bit.
You could also use ripe fruit as your attractant, which is very common with other DIY traps. But it will not kill the fruit flies, so they will still fly around in there, and be able to lay eggs on the fruit, YUCK!
Without Plastic Wrap
No plastic wrap on hand? No problem! Simply upcycyle a piece of a sandwich baggie, part of a plastic produce or grocery bag, or some other similar type of plastic you would normally toss into the trash. It doesn’t have to be clear.
Fruit Fly Trap Without Alcohol
If you don’t have alcohol in the house, try adding a few drops of dish soap to the vinegar and stir it well. This will also kill the fruit flies, so you can give that a try.
How To Dispose Of Dead Fruit Flies
There’s nothing special you need to do to dispose of the dead fruit flies. You can simply dump the entire contents, dead bugs and all, right down the garbage disposal.
Then rinse out the container, and keep the plastic wrap and rubber band. You can reuse them over and over whenever you need to catch and kill even more fruit flies.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Making this simple DIY fruit fly trap is a no-brainer. But sometimes it may not work as you expect. So here are a few common problems you may have, and how to solve them.
Fruit Flies Won’t Go In The Trap
The reason the fruit flies won’t go in the trap is because there’s something in your house that’s more attractive to them.
It could be ripe fruit sitting on the counter, or rotting food in your disposal or garbage can, for example.
Make sure to thoroughly clean up everything in your kitchen that could be attracting them. Then they will go into the trap.
Trap Not Working To Kill Them
If the fruit flies go into the trap, but don’t die, try adding a little more alcohol or dish soap to the lure mix. The vinegar alone will not kill them.
Fruit Flies Sit On Edge Of Trap
Probably the most frustrating thing is when the fruit flies sit on the edge of the trap, but don’t want to go in.
It’s like they’re taunting you! If this is the case, just be patient. They will find the holes and go in eventually.
FAQs
In this section, I’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions I get about my DIY fruit fly trap. If you have a question you can’t find an answer to, then ask it in the comments below.
Can I make my fruit fly trap with white vinegar?
No. White vinegar does not attract fruit flies. They like the fancy stuff! Use either balsamic or apple cider vinegar. The stronger the smell, the better!
Does honey attract fruit flies?
No. Though the fruit flies could get stuck in the honey and die, honey alone will not attract them to the trap.
Do regular fly traps work on fruit flies?
Probably not. I have never tried this myself, so I can’t say for certain. But regular houseflies are not attracted to the same scents as fruit flies.
So, if you use a regular fly trap, you may get lucky and capture a few fruit flies. But they won’t flock to it.
How big should the holes be in a fruit fly trap?
The holes in the plastic don’t need to be very big at all, just large enough for the fruit flies to get in. I use a sharp knife to cut tiny slits in the plastic.
But you could use the tip of a pin if that’s what you have on hand. Just don’t make the holes too big, or the tiny flies may be able to find their way out of the trap.
What kind of vinegar kills fruit flies?
Actually, the vinegar is not what kills the fruit flies. Vinegars like balsamic or apple cider work as bait to attract them, but you have to add something like alcohol or soap to the bait solution to kill them.
This homemade fruit fly trap and bait mixture is the perfect solution to a common problem. Give it a try, and within a short time, you’ll have tons of dead fruit flies floating in your trap. It works like a charm.
Share your DIY fruit fly trap ideas or bait recipes in the comments below!
Safari Bob Grilli says
Okay. Someone gave us sliced watermelon. And there came the fruit fies. Just made your “trap” and fingers are crosse.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Hope the homemade trap works for you to get rid of the fruit flies in your kitchen!
Francine says
I have used cider vinegar & liquid dish soap for years. I found if I make the dish liquid foam & use a narrow neck bottle , it works better because it’s harder for the flies to get out.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Great, thanks for sharing your experience!
Judy says
I find that this system does attract and kill them, but am I attracting more fruit flies than I would have had by the mere fact that I’ve set out the vinegar for them?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I highly doubt you’re attracting more fruit flies by using a trap to capture them, but I guess it could be possible. Most likely you’re just getting rid of the ones that are already in your kitchen, and the problem will go away once they are all dead – that is, as long as you get rid of the source of whatever brought them into your kitchen in the first place.
Liz says
So, I have tried the vinegar and dishsoap many many times, and it never works for me. I know that these are fruit flies because I don’t have any indoor plants, and they always hover around my fruit and food. Today I found your article and have a bowl of balsamic vinegar and vodka right next to my fruit. But tonight I was getting dinner ready and was using franks hot sauce and I couldn’t believe how many flies came hovering around the bowl. So I have another bowl with franks hot sauce, a little more vinegar and vodka. Fingers crossed something works!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Haha, isn’t it funny how fruit flies can be attracted to weird things like that. My guess is that your hot sauce has some kind of a vinegar base, and that’s what they like. It’s always good to give them options, LOL!
Lorraine Forbes says
I just stumbled onto your site doing a Google search on getting rid of mealy bugs. Forty-five minutes later I’m still here looking up all sorts of hints, lol. I look at a lot of different sites for info, but honestly your’s is the best I’ve come across. I’ll bookmark it for sure…with asterisks to make sure I know it’s not just a run of the mill site. Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
LOL, I’m glad to hear you’ve found so much useful information here, that’s great! Thanks so much for the nice comment, I’m thrilled you love the site.
SandyMayes says
Hi, my name is sandy and I recently bought several houseplants from a department store with a small neglected garden center . I also brought in some potting soil. This was about a month ago.Now I have two dead plants and an apartment full of gnats. I’ve tried everything to get rid of them. I can’t wait to try your DIY method today!! By the way, one day I left a half full cup of coffee with creamer when I was in a hurry to go somewhere. Well, when I returned the the coffee was COVERED in dead gnats and they were so visible because of the creamer. GAG 😜
Good-bye coffee cup.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Actually, those are fungus gnats, not fruit flies, so they won’t be attracted to this DIY trap (you can read about the differences here). Instead, try these are natural methods for getting rid of them… How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats In Houseplants Soil.
Edrena says
Good ? Amy
I use the vinegar and dish soap think I’ll try the alcohol? you have some great information I just read over the ebook again on how to get rid of fungus gnats keep the info coming have a Bless day Amy
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome!
Kim says
I’m try both wine and apple cider vinegar. Let’s see which one works best. So tired of these fruit flys…
Amy Andrychowicz says
It’s hit or miss for me with the wine, some types work and some don’t. But both apple cider vinegar and balsamic vinegar work like a charm every time!! Hope you find the perfect bait for your DIY fruit fly trap!
Katelin says
I used tequila ans worked a treat! Thanks for the tip, will be doing it every time fruit flies invade my house.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Cool, good to know that tequila worked in your DIY fruit fly trap! Nice!
Gauci says
I did a thorough clean of the kitchen then used balsamic vinegar and dishwashing liquid just a couple of drops then put wrap over the top and put holes in the top with a toothpick and within hours the fruit flies were gone. They love light so I put one trap near kitchen window and the other near the bedroom window and turned the light on and hours later they were dead. They can’t get back out of the holes as there is no scent to guide them out. This was a brilliant solution and I had everything I needed to build the trap in my kitchen.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, so glad to hear that the soap in your fruit fly trap worked for you! Woohoo!!
Gauci says
Thanks Amy, it’s been three days and not a fruit fly left in the apartment. That was so great to see them gone and what started it was some old potatoes in a dark cupboard
Thanks again, Gabrielle.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Woohoo! So glad to hear you were able to get rid of them!
Toni Johnson says
could I use plain vinegar, or does it have to be balsamic, I don’t have any of that in the house
Amy Andrychowicz says
Fruit flies aren’t attracted to plain white vinegar. You could try using apple cider vinegar if you have some of that on hand, that works just as well as the balsamic vinegar.
Anonymous says
I also did the concoction you shared but I first poured liquid dish soap into the container then the mixture into that which attracts the fruit flies, they slip into the dish soap and cannot fly out, wings soaked, trapped!
Thanks!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I've heard dish soap works well, thanks for sharing.Amy
Cynthia says
I use apple cider vinegar (cheaper than vodka or balsamic vinegar) with a few drops of liquid dish soap added. The soap coats their wings when they land on the apple cider vinegar and can’t fly out. Been using this technique to catch fruit flies for a few years and it never fails.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, thanks for sharing your recipe to kill fruit flies Cynthia!
Sophia says
I’m using the apple cider vinegar and dish soap method. A few drowned and died, but still many flying around. How long does it take to drown all the fruit flies for you? And also how do people drain/rid of the disgusting solution with the dead fruit flies? Down the toilet or kitchen sink??
Amy Andrychowicz says
The fruit flies die right away in this trap, I’ve never seen any flying around in there (but lots of dead ones floating). If yours isn’t working to kill them, then add more soap to the mix, or try alcohol. I just dump it down my garbage disposal, but I would think it would be fine if you poured it down the kitchen sink.
Thomas Hardin says
I don’t know what im doing wrong I put apple cider vinegar into a bowl not a lot just enough for the base or a little higher then I put in two drops of dish soap and there not going for it I don’t think.
Lyn says
This really does work, I used a small canning jar, plastic wrap and the screw ring that comes with the jar. I put in some red wine put a few holes in the plastic wrap and presto – dead fruit flies.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome, thanks for sharing your experience. It's amazing how many dead fruit flies I get in mine. I didn't even realize there were so many in the house! 🙂
Capital Gardens says
Hehe would love to see drunk flies!I have a tip-to-open glass bottle of balsamic vinegar in my kitchen and I once forgot to close the lid down, then two days later when I came to use it it was disgusting, FILLED with tiny dead flies!!! So I'm not sure vodka is needed to be honest…
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh how weird, I wonder if it's the shape of the bottle that you had or something. I tried the balsamic vinegar by itself before, and the fruit flies didn't drown. You definitely need to add the alcohol or soap to kill them. Glad it worked for you, but not that you lost all of your vinegar! Yuck!
Cindy LABLUE says
I have used apple cider vinegar for years and without fail it has worked, in minutes. Might have to give the balsamic a shot but the apple vinegar is probably cheaper to use though. Couple drops of dish soap in the vinegar and voila! We have dead fruit flies within minutes!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Wonderful, thanks for sharing your homemade fruit fly mixture and experience!