Are tiny bugs buzzing around your kitchen driving you crazy? You might be dealing with fruit flies! Don’t worry, these common household pests are more of a nuisance than a major problem, and thankfully, getting rid of fruit flies doesn’t require expensive solutions or harsh chemicals. In fact, you probably have everything you need to create effective fruit fly traps right in your kitchen.
Like many, we recently experienced a fruit fly invasion at home – a rare occurrence for us. This gave me the perfect opportunity to put several popular fruit fly elimination methods to the test. Yes, I went full-on science mode, taking notes and even creating a spreadsheet! Today, I’m sharing the most effective homemade fruit fly traps and simple strategies to help you reclaim your kitchen.
These DIY traps are incredibly easy to assemble using common household items and natural ingredients. They are a budget-friendly and chemical-free way to tackle your fruit fly problem. For those who prefer a humane approach, some of these traps can even be used to release the captured fruit flies outdoors. We’ll also cover essential prevention tips to stop fruit fly infestations before they even start.
Understanding Fruit Flies
Fruit flies are small, winged insects that are strongly attracted to ripe and fermenting fruits and vegetables – their name is quite literal! They’re also drawn to sugary substances like spilled juice, beer, wine, and even garbage. You’ll often find them congregating around fruit bowls, trash cans, and even sink drains. They’re about the size of a sesame seed, 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 and ripening.
A fruit fly infestation can begin with just a few of these pests hitching a ride into your home on groceries, especially fruits. 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 in just a few days. This rapid life cycle means a small number of fruit flies can quickly explode into a large, bothersome swarm. That’s why swift action is key to getting rid of fruit flies effectively.
Fruit Flies vs. Fungus Gnats vs. Drain Flies: Know Your Pest
It’s easy to mistake fruit flies for other tiny flying insects commonly found indoors, particularly fungus gnats and drain flies. While all are small and annoying, correctly identifying the pest is crucial for choosing the most effective elimination method. The easiest way to differentiate them is by observing where you see them and what larger insect they resemble.
- Fruit Flies: Look like small flies. As mentioned, they are typically found near fruit bowls, garbage, overripe produce, or any source of fermenting food or sugary spills.
- Drain Flies: Look like small, fuzzy moths. These flies are usually spotted near sinks, drains, and damp areas, as they breed in the organic matter that accumulates in drains.
- Fungus Gnats: Look like small mosquitos. Fungus gnats are commonly found around houseplants, as their larvae feed on fungus in damp potting soil.
If you’re uncertain about which pest you’re dealing with, try setting up one of the fruit fly traps described below. If it attracts the insects, you’ll know you’re dealing with fruit flies and can proceed with targeted elimination strategies.
4 Simple DIY Fruit Fly Traps Using Household Items
Getting rid of fruit flies doesn’t have to be a complicated or expensive process. All you need are a few common household supplies and a little patience. The basic principle behind each of these traps is simple: attract the fruit flies with something irresistible and then prevent them from escaping. We tested the following 4 DIY methods and found a clear winner in terms of effectiveness. Since each method uses items you likely already have at home, it’s worth trying more than one to see what works best for you. Think of it as a mini science experiment in your kitchen! Here are the four homemade fruit fly traps I tested:
- Funnel Trap
- Plastic Wrap Trap
- Dish Soap Trap
- Rotting Fruit Trap
I’ll provide detailed instructions for each method below, along with our results and verdict on which trap proved most successful. Keep in mind that some traps work faster than others, and it may take several days of consistent trapping to completely eliminate your fruit fly problem.
#1: The Paper Funnel Fruit Fly Trap
This classic trap design lures fruit flies into a container through a small opening at the bottom of a paper funnel. Once inside, the flies struggle to navigate back out through the narrow opening and become trapped.
Supplies you’ll need:
- A small, clear jar, cup, or container – a narrow opening is preferable.
- A piece of paper or cardstock
- Tape
- Scissors
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV) – the primary attractant
Step-by-step instructions:
- Choose your container: Select a small, clear container like a mason jar, an old food jar, or a plastic soda bottle. Clear containers allow you to monitor your trapping progress. A narrow opening helps to minimize fruit fly escape.
- Add the bait (apple cider vinegar): Pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar, old beer, or wine into the bottom of your container. Apple cider vinegar is particularly effective due to its fermented fruit scent, which fruit flies find irresistible.
- Create the paper funnel: Take a piece of paper or cardstock and roll it into a cone shape. The key is to create a very small opening at the pointed tip of the cone – about the size of a grain of rice. Secure the cone shape with tape. You can trim the tip with scissors to achieve the desired opening size if needed.
- Set up the funnel trap: Place the paper funnel into the opening of your container, with the narrow tip pointing down towards the vinegar. You might need to adjust the funnel’s width so it sits securely on the container’s rim without touching the liquid. Ensure the funnel creates a tight seal against the container’s edges to prevent flies from escaping through gaps.
- Humane release (optional): If you prefer to release the fruit flies outdoors, carefully transport the entire trap outside without disturbing the funnel (or the flies will escape!). Once outside, remove the funnel and allow the trapped fruit flies to fly away.
While store-bought funnels could technically be used, the opening at the bottom is often too wide, making it easier for fruit flies to escape. Homemade paper funnels allow for a much smaller, more effective opening.
#2: The Plastic Wrap Fruit Fly Trap
Similar to the funnel trap, this method uses apple cider vinegar as an attractant. However, instead of a paper funnel, it uses plastic wrap stretched tightly over the container opening with tiny holes poked in the top. Fruit flies are drawn to the scent, enter through the holes, and then struggle to find their way back out.
Supplies you’ll need:
- A small, clear jar, cup, or container
- A rubber band
- Plastic wrap or a plastic bag
- A toothpick
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
Easy steps to assemble:
- Choose your container: Select a small, clear container – any jar, cup, or glass will work. Clarity helps you see how many flies you’re catching. While clear containers are ideal, you can also use opaque options like an old soda or beer can.
- Add the bait (apple cider vinegar): Pour apple cider vinegar into the container. Again, the scent is the key attractant. Old beer or wine can also work, but avoid regular white vinegar, as it’s less appealing to fruit flies.
- Cover the opening with plastic wrap: Stretch plastic wrap tightly over the opening of your container. Secure it firmly with a rubber band to create an airtight seal around the rim. Saran wrap works well, but you can also repurpose scraps from a plastic bag.
- Poke small entry holes: Use a toothpick to carefully poke a few small holes in the plastic wrap covering. You don’t need many holes, just a few that are large enough for a fruit fly to enter.
- Humane release (optional): To release the trapped flies outdoors, carefully carry the entire trap outside without removing the plastic wrap. Once outside, remove the plastic wrap covering and let the fruit flies escape.
Alternatively, you can create a similar trap using a metal jar lid. Simply puncture a small hole in the lid of a mason jar or old food jar using a hammer and nail, and then screw the lid onto the jar after adding the apple cider vinegar.
#3: The Dish Soap Fruit Fly Trap (Simplest Method)
Unlike the previous two traps, this method doesn’t require any covers or funnels. Instead, it relies on the principle of surface tension and dish soap to trap fruit flies. Important note: this method is not designed for humane release, as the flies will become coated in soap.
Minimal supplies needed:
- A small container, bowl, or dish
- Dish soap (any type will work)
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
Ridiculously easy steps:
- Pour in the apple cider vinegar: Similar to the other traps, pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar into the bottom of your chosen container, bowl, or dish. The scent will attract the fruit flies.
- Add dish soap and mix: Add several drops of dish soap to the apple cider vinegar. Gently swirl or mix to create a soapy solution. The dish soap breaks the surface tension of the vinegar. When fruit flies land on the mixture, they will become trapped and sink instead of being able to fly away.
This dish soap technique can also be combined with the plastic wrap or funnel traps for added effectiveness. Simply add a few drops of dish soap to the apple cider vinegar before covering the container with plastic wrap or inserting the funnel. This adds another trapping mechanism to your contraption.
#4: The Rotting Fruit Bait Trap
We also experimented with traps that use what fruit flies love most: actual fruit! This method swaps out apple cider vinegar for a piece of overripe fruit as the primary attractant.
Supplies you’ll need:
- A small glass jar, cup, or container
- Plastic wrap or paper funnel (depending on your chosen trap style)
- A small piece of ripe or rotting fruit, such as a banana peel or apple slice
To create a rotting fruit trap, simply replace the apple cider vinegar in either the Plastic Wrap Trap or Funnel Trap with a piece of banana peel, apple slice, peach, or other ripe fruit. You can also enhance the apple cider vinegar traps by adding a piece of fruit to them as well. Be mindful that you’ll need to replace the fruit scrap every day or two to prevent unpleasant odors and maintain its attractiveness to fruit flies.
Finding the Best Fruit Fly Trap: Our Experiment Results
As you can see in the photos, we set up 4 different DIY traps to compare their performance. 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
In our experiment, the clear winner wasn’t necessarily the trap type but rather the bait. Traps using banana peel as bait performed significantly better than those using only apple cider vinegar. Our two Plastic Wrap Traps were nearly identical in design, but the one baited with banana peel dramatically outperformed the one with ACV and dish soap. Perhaps apple cider vinegar becomes less appealing when there’s real, ripe fruit nearby?
Based on our findings, our top recommendation is this: regardless of the trap style you choose, add a piece of ripe fruit to it! We had a slight preference for the plastic wrap trap simply because it was easier to assemble and less prone to accidental disruption. I did knock over the funnel trap once, releasing a bunch of flies back into the kitchen – oops!
What Bait Attracts Fruit Flies the Most? Further Bait Testing
Our success with fruit scraps sparked another experiment! We wanted to determine which type of fruit served as the most effective bait. We tested three fruits we already had on hand: a banana peel, apple slices, and a strawberry. We placed each fruit in a separate Plastic Wrap Trap, side-by-side on our kitchen counter, and observed them for 24 hours.
While the banana peel seemed promising initially (it was the ripest at the start), the fruit flies ultimately showed the strongest attraction to the strawberry. The banana peel still caught a decent number of flies, but as the strawberry became more fermented, it attracted an increasing number. Interestingly, the apple slices didn’t catch a single fruit fly!
Store-Bought Fruit Fly Traps: Convenient Alternatives
If DIY traps aren’t working for you, or if you prefer a more hands-off approach, there are commercially available fruit fly traps you can purchase. Many of these traps have thousands of positive reviews and are relatively inexpensive (under $20). Store-bought traps might be a good option if you want something that can also catch other types of small flying insects, or if you prefer a more discreet-looking trap compared to homemade versions.
During our experiment, I also purchased a pack of Terro Fruit Fly Traps to compare their effectiveness against our homemade methods. I placed a Terro trap next to our banana and strawberry traps and left them for 24 hours to see which performed best.
Again, our homemade strawberry trap took the lead, closely followed by the homemade banana peel trap. The store-bought Terro trap only caught a single fruit fly in the first 24 hours. HOWEVER…
To get a complete picture, we discarded our DIY traps and left the store-bought Terro trap out for another 24 hours. That’s when it started to catch a significant number of fruit flies, as you can see in the photo above. So, store-bought traps definitely work, but they may not be as immediately effective or as rapid-acting as some homemade traps, particularly those baited with ripe fruit.
Our conclusion? Store-bought traps are a good choice if you want a more discreet option, especially if you plan to leave a trap out continuously for ongoing prevention. However, for quickly and effectively eliminating an existing fruit fly infestation, homemade traps, especially fruit-baited ones, are incredibly effective and often the best and fastest solution!
How to Prevent Fruit Flies: Stop Infestations Before They Start
While getting rid of fruit flies is relatively straightforward, the best approach is to prevent them from invading your home in the first place. Here are simple preventative measures you can take to minimize the risk of fruit fly infestations:
- Maintain clean kitchen surfaces: Regularly wipe down kitchen counters, stovetops, tables, and any other surfaces that might accumulate food residue or spilled liquids. Fruit flies are strongly attracted to fruit, sugary juices, and alcohol, so promptly clean up any spills.
- Take out your trash frequently: Food scraps left in your garbage can overnight can quickly become a breeding ground for fruit flies. Empty your trash cans regularly, especially those in the kitchen, to remove potential food sources.
- Dispose of overripe fruit promptly: Monitor your fruit bowl and refrigerator for overripe or rotting fruits like apples and bananas. Discard them promptly before they become a fruit fly magnet and breeding site.
- Wash fruits and vegetables immediately upon bringing them home: You can eliminate fruit fly eggs or larvae that may be present on produce from the grocery store by washing fruits and vegetables as soon as you get home (except for berries, which are best washed just before eating to prevent premature spoilage).
- Store produce in the refrigerator when possible: Fruit flies thrive in warmer temperatures and are less active in the cold. When practical, store your fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator to slow down ripening and reduce their attractiveness to fruit flies.
- Clean your sink drain regularly: Food particles and organic matter accumulating in your sink drain can also attract and sustain fruit flies. Regularly run your garbage disposal and flush your drains with hot water and a drain cleaner or baking soda and vinegar solution to eliminate these breeding sites.
Finally, don’t panic if you spot a few fruit flies in your home. While you should take action quickly to prevent the problem from escalating, remember that the solutions outlined in this guide are easy, effective, and fast-acting. You might even find yourself enjoying the process of becoming a fruit fly scientist, just like I 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.
