Are tiny, buzzing pests taking over your kitchen? You might be dealing with fruit flies! Don’t worry, these common nuisances are easily managed without breaking the bank or needing harsh chemicals. You likely have everything you need to get rid of them right in your home.
Recently, we faced a fruit fly invasion ourselves – a rare occurrence in our home. This gave us the perfect opportunity to put various elimination methods to the test. We experimented with 7 different approaches, meticulously documenting each one (yes, even with a spreadsheet!). Now, we’re sharing the most effective fruit fly traps and simple instructions on how to make them.
These homemade traps are incredibly easy to assemble using natural, everyday ingredients you probably already have. This is a truly DIY and chemical-free solution! If you prefer a humane approach, you can even release the trapped fruit flies outdoors instead of eliminating them. We’ll also provide essential tips to prevent future fruit fly infestations in your home.
Understanding Fruit Flies
Fruit flies are small, winged insects that are drawn to ripe and fermenting fruits and vegetables – hence their name. They are also attracted to sugary substances like beer, wine, and juice. You’ll often find them congregating around fruit bowls, garbage disposals, trash cans, and even sink drains. They are about the size of a grain of rice, resembling small, tan or brownish houseflies with distinctive red eyes. Fruit flies are most prevalent during warmer months, particularly summer and late fall, when fruits are abundant.
Close Up Of Fruit Fly On Paper Funnel
Alt text: A close-up view of a fruit fly perched on the edge of a paper funnel trap, highlighting its small size and reddish eyes, a common household pest.
A fruit fly problem often starts with just a few insects brought into your home on fruits or vegetables. However, female fruit flies are prolific breeders, capable of laying hundreds of eggs in their short lifespan. These eggs can hatch in as little as 12 hours, and the flies can reach adulthood within days. This rapid reproduction cycle means a small initial presence can quickly escalate into a large infestation. Therefore, prompt action is crucial to eliminate fruit flies as soon as you spot them.
Identifying Fruit Flies: Fruit Flies vs. Fungus Gnats vs. Drain Flies
Fruit flies are frequently mistaken for other small household pests, especially fungus gnats and drain flies. While all three are tiny flying insects, accurate identification is key to choosing the most effective removal method. The easiest way to differentiate them is by observing where you find them and what larger insect they resemble.
- Fruit flies: Look like small flies. They are typically found near fruit bowls, garbage, or any sources of fermenting food.
- Drain flies: Look like small, fuzzy moths. They are commonly seen near sinks, drains, and damp areas.
- Fungus gnats: Look like small mosquitoes. They are usually found around houseplants, as they breed in moist potting soil.
If you’re uncertain about the type of pest you’re dealing with, try one of the traps described below. If it attracts the insects in your home, you likely have fruit flies.
Effective DIY Fruit Fly Traps: Simple and Quick Solutions
Getting rid of fruit flies doesn’t have to be a complicated or expensive endeavor. All you need are common household items and a bit of patience. Each of these traps operates on the same principle: attract the fruit flies and prevent their escape. We tested the following 4 DIY methods and found a clear winner. However, since each method utilizes items you probably already own, trying multiple approaches is easy and worthwhile. Consider it a fun science experiment in your own kitchen! Here are the first 4 methods we put to the test:
- Funnel Trap
- Plastic Wrap Trap
- Dish Soap Trap
- Rotting Fruit Trap
We’ll provide detailed instructions for each method below, along with our findings. Keep in mind that some traps work faster than others, and completely eliminating a fruit fly problem may take several days, regardless of the technique used.
1. DIY Funnel Fruit Fly Trap
This trap works by enticing fruit flies into a container through a small opening at the bottom of a homemade paper funnel. The flies are drawn inside but struggle to navigate back out through the narrow opening.
DIY Fruit Fly Trap With Paper Funnel
Alt text: A homemade funnel fruit fly trap, showcasing a paper funnel inserted into a glass jar, a simple and effective DIY solution.
Supplies:
- Small clear jar, cup, or container (preferably with a narrow opening)
- Piece of paper or cardstock
- Tape
- Scissors
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
Instructions:
- Choose your container. Select a small, clear container like a recycled food jar or plastic bottle. A narrow opening is beneficial for this trap design.
- Add apple cider vinegar. Pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar, old beer, or wine into the container. The enticing scent will attract the fruit flies.
- Make your funnel. Roll a piece of paper or cardstock into a cone shape with a very tiny opening at the tip. Secure the cone shape with tape. You can also cut the small opening at the tip after forming the cone if that’s easier. The opening should be about the size of a grain of rice.
- Set your funnel. Place the paper funnel into the opening of your container. You may need to adjust the funnel’s shape so it rests securely on the container’s opening without touching the apple cider vinegar. Ensure the funnel fits snugly against the edges of the opening, preventing flies from escaping through gaps.
- Humane Release (Optional). Carefully carry the entire trap outside, keeping the funnel in place to prevent escape. Once outside, remove the funnel to allow the trapped fruit flies to fly away.
While you can use a store-bought funnel, the opening at the bottom might be too wide, potentially allowing more fruit flies to escape the trap.
2. DIY Plastic Wrap Fruit Fly Trap
Similar to the funnel trap, this method uses the alluring scent of apple cider vinegar to attract fruit flies. They enter the trap through small holes poked in a plastic wrap covering but struggle to find their way back out.
Supplies:
- Small clear jar, cup, or container
- Rubber band
- Plastic wrap or plastic bag
- Toothpick
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
Instructions:
- Choose your container. Select a small, clear jar, cup, or any glass container. Almost any size container will work. Using a clear container makes it easier to observe the trapped flies, but even an old can will suffice.
- Add apple cider vinegar. Pour apple cider vinegar into your container. The sweet and fermented scent acts as a powerful attractant. Old beer or wine also work effectively, but avoid using regular white vinegar as it is less appealing to fruit flies.
- Cover with plastic wrap. Tightly stretch plastic wrap over the container opening and secure it firmly with a rubber band. Saran wrap is ideal, but you can also use scraps from a plastic bag.
- Poke small holes. Use a toothpick to carefully poke a few small holes in the plastic wrap. You don’t need many holes, but ensure they are large enough for a fruit fly to enter.
- Humane Release (Optional). Carefully take the trap outdoors without removing the plastic wrap to prevent escape. Once outside, remove the plastic wrap to release the trapped fruit flies.
Alternatively, you can adapt this trap using a metal jar lid. Use a mason jar or an old food jar with a metal lid. Carefully puncture a small hole in the metal lid using a hammer and nail.
3. DIY Dish Soap Fruit Fly Trap
This trap differs from the previous two as it doesn’t require a cover. Instead, it utilizes a soapy surface to trap the fruit flies. Note: This method is not designed for humane release as the soap will coat the flies.
Dripping Dish Soap Into Apple Cider Vinegar For DIY Fruit Fly Trap
Alt text: Dish soap being dripped into a bowl of apple cider vinegar to create a dish soap fruit fly trap, a simple and effective method without a cover.
Supplies:
- Small container, bowl, or dish
- Dish soap
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
Instructions:
- Pour apple cider vinegar. Pour apple cider vinegar into the bottom of a small container, bowl, or dish. The scent will attract the fruit flies.
- Add dish soap & mix. Add several drops of dish soap to the apple cider vinegar and gently mix to create a soapy solution. The dish soap reduces the surface tension of the vinegar, causing fruit flies to sink and become trapped when they land on the mixture.
You can also enhance the funnel or plastic wrap traps by adding a few drops of dish soap to the apple cider vinegar before covering the container. This provides an additional trapping mechanism.
4. DIY Rotting Fruit Fly Trap
We also tested traps that replaced apple cider vinegar with fruit, which is naturally highly attractive to fruit flies.
Supplies:
- Small glass jar, cup, or container
- Plastic wrap or paper funnel (depending on your chosen trap mechanism)
- Small piece of fruit, such as a banana peel or apple slice
To create a rotting fruit trap, simply substitute apple cider vinegar with a piece of ripe banana peel, apple slice, or peach in either the Plastic Wrap or Funnel trap designs. You can also combine fruit scraps with apple cider vinegar for added attraction. However, be sure to replace the fruit scrap every day or two to prevent unpleasant odors in your kitchen.
Determining the Best DIY Fruit Fly Trap
As shown in the photos, we set up 4 different DIY traps to compare their effectiveness. The four homemade traps we tested were variations of the techniques described above:
- Plastic Wrap Trap with banana peel
- Funnel Trap with ACV + banana peel
- Plastic Wrap Trap with ACV + dish soap
- Dish Soap Trap with ACV
4 DIY Fruit Fly Traps Close Up
Alt text: A lineup of four DIY fruit fly traps showcasing different methods including plastic wrap, funnel, dish soap, and banana peel lures for comparison.
Our results indicated that the lure was more critical than the trap design. Traps using banana peel performed significantly better than those with apple cider vinegar alone. The two Plastic Wrap Traps were almost identical in construction, yet the one baited with banana peel dramatically outperformed the ACV and soap trap. Perhaps apple cider vinegar is less appealing when real fruit is present?
Our recommendation is to include a piece of fruit scrap in any trap you set up. We slightly preferred the plastic wrap trap due to its ease of construction and stability. We accidentally knocked over the funnel trap once, releasing some flies back into the kitchen – oops!
What Attracts Fruit Flies the Most? Experimenting with Fruit Baits
Intrigued by the success of fruit scraps, we decided to further investigate which type of fruit bait is most effective. We tested three readily available fruits: banana peel, apple slices, and a strawberry. We placed each fruit in a separate Plastic Wrap Trap, side-by-side on our kitchen counter, for 24 hours.
While the banana peel initially seemed promising (being the ripest at the start), the fruit flies were ultimately most attracted to the strawberry. The banana peel still captured a good number of flies, but the strawberry became increasingly effective as it ripened further. Surprisingly, the apple slices didn’t attract a single fruit fly!
Store-Bought Fruit Fly Traps: A Convenient Alternative?
If DIY solutions aren’t working for you, or if you prefer a more convenient option, pre-made fruit fly traps are available for purchase. These traps generally have excellent customer reviews and are reasonably priced under $20. They might be worth considering if you want a trap that also targets other types of flying insects or if you prefer a more discreet appearance compared to DIY traps.
Collage of Storebought Fruit Fly Traps
Alt text: A collage of various store-bought fruit fly traps, showcasing commercially available options for fruit fly control.
During our experiment, we purchased a pack of Terro Fruit Fly Traps to compare their performance against our homemade traps. We placed a Terro trap alongside our banana and strawberry traps for 24 hours to see which performed best.
Again, our homemade strawberry trap was the most effective, followed closely by the banana peel trap. The store-bought trap only caught a single fruit fly in the initial 24-hour period. HOWEVER…
Terro Fruit Fly Trap With Dead Fruit Flies Visible
Alt text: A Terro fruit fly trap filled with dead fruit flies, demonstrating the effectiveness of store-bought traps over a longer period.
To ensure a fair comparison, we removed our DIY traps and left the store-bought Terro trap in place for another 24 hours. Over this extended period, the Terro trap effectively captured a significant number of fruit flies, as you can see above. So, store-bought traps do work, just not as rapidly as our homemade traps in our initial testing.
Our conclusion? Store-bought traps are a good option if you desire a more subtle appearance, especially for long-term placement. However, homemade traps are equally effective, often faster-acting, and utilize readily available household materials, making them the best choice for immediate fruit fly control!
Preventing Fruit Flies: Long-Term Strategies
While eliminating fruit flies is relatively straightforward, preventing an infestation in the first place is always the best approach. Here are simple preventative measures to keep fruit flies from establishing themselves in your home:
- Maintain Clean Kitchen Surfaces. Regularly wipe down kitchen counters, stovetops, tables, and any surfaces prone to food residue or spills. Fruit flies are highly attracted to fruit, sugary juices, and alcohol, so promptly clean up any spills.
- Regularly Empty Your Trash. Food scraps left in your garbage can quickly transform it into a breeding ground for fruit flies, especially in warmer weather.
- Promptly Dispose of Overripe Fruit. Monitor your fruit bowl for overripe or decaying fruits like browning bananas or apples. Discard them before they become a fruit fly attractant.
- Wash Produce Immediately After Bringing it Home. Washing fruits and vegetables as soon as you get them home from the store (except delicate berries, which can spoil faster when wet) can eliminate any fruit fly eggs or larvae that may be present on the surface.
- Store Produce in the Refrigerator When Possible. Fruit flies do not thrive in cold temperatures. Refrigerating fruits and vegetables, especially ripe ones, will deter them.
- Clean Your Sink Drain Regularly. Food particles accumulating in your sink drain can also attract fruit flies. Use your garbage disposal regularly and flush the drain with hot water or a drain cleaner periodically.
Finally, remember not to panic if you spot fruit flies in your home. While it’s important to act quickly to prevent the problem from worsening, the solutions provided in this guide are simple, effective, and fast-acting. You might even find yourself enjoying the process of becoming a fruit fly scientist, just like we did!
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
