Homemade Fruit Fly Trap, Easy, Effective, and Chemical Free Solutions

Overview 

Fruit flies are tiny yet extremely bothersome insects which may cover your house within no time. Some are crawling all over your bananas, others are breeding around your trash bin, one thing is certain, eliminating them has got to be done sooner than later. It is also one of the natural methods and is quite affordable, especially when homemade fruit fly trap is done with ordinary household products. 

This article will take you through all you need to know including why the fruit flies are there and the best DIY traps or anti-fruit flies advice.

What Attracts Fruit Flies?

Fruit flies are primarily drawn to:

• eg. spoiled or overripe fruit and vegetables
• Fermented alcoholic drinks such as wine, vinegar or beer
• Compost boxes or dustbins
• Sewers and soiled sponges

They have an incredible sense of smell and can detect food sources from a considerable distance.

Why Use a Homemade Fruit Fly Trap?

There are several reasons to choose a DIY solution:

• Pets and kid friendly and safe Non-toxic
• Affordable cooks with supplies that are already stocked up at home
• Good to the environment there is no possibility of using chemical sprays
• An excellent method of reducing or eradicating fruit fly infestations

Best Homemade Fruit Fly Trap Methods

Here are some of the most reliable and proven DIY fruit fly traps:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar Trap

This is the most popular and effective homemade trap.

You’ll need:

• A small bowl or glass
• Apple cider vinegar
• Dish soap
• Plastic wrap
• A rubber band
• A toothpick

Instructions:

1. Add about half inch apple cider vinegar in the bowl.
2. break the surface tension by adding a few drops of dish soil.
3. Enclose the bowl with plastic film.
4. Fasten it up with a rubber band.
5. Cut some holes into the wrap with a toothpick.

How it works:

The fruit flies are attracted to the vinegar, crawl in through the holes, and drown due to the dish soap.

2. Wine or Beer Trap

Got leftover wine or stale beer? Use it to your advantage!

What you’ll need:

• A small glass
• Red wine or beer
• Dish soap
• Plastic wrap and toothpick (optional)

Steps:

1. Add a little wine, or beer to the glass.
2. Put a drop of dishwashing soap.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and poke holes on it or leave uncovered.

Why it works:

Fruit flies love fermented drinks. The dish soap ensures they can’t escape.

3. Fruit and Paper Cone Trap

This is a classic trap using overripe fruit.

Supplies:

• A mason jar or glass
• A piece of overripe fruit (banana, mango, etc.)
• Paper
• Tape

How to do it:

1. At the bottom of the jar place the fruit.
2. Fold the paper so that it makes a cone and place it inside the jar (narrowly downwards).
3. Put tape on the cone to keep it solid.

How it traps them:

The flies go in for the fruit but can’t figure out how to escape through the narrow paper cone.

4. Milk, Sugar, and Pepper Trap

This old-fashioned remedy works surprisingly well.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of milk
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan.
2. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Pour into a shallow dish and place it near the infestation.

How it works: 

Fruit flies are drawn to the smell and drown when they land.

5. Lemon and Boiling Water Trap (Drain Cleaner)

For flies that breed in the sink drain.

You’ll need:

• A lemon
• Boiling water

Steps:

1. Lemon down the drain after cutting.
2. Leave it to stand for a while.
3. Place a pot of hot water into the drain.

Purpose:

This kills larvae and eliminates the odor that attracts more fruit flies.

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Best Places to Set Fruit Fly Traps

• In close vicinity to fruit bowl
• The counter of the kitchen
• Next to the garbage bin
• Going round the sink or drain
• Anywhere around a compost bin

The best results are to put traps in areas where you have seen the greatest fly activity.

How to Prevent Fruit Flies from Returning

Traps are great, but prevention is better. Follow these tips to avoid future infestations:

• Put Fruit in the Refrigerator: Fruit flies are attracted to ripened produce. Store fruits such as bananas, tomatoes and peaches in the refrigerator.
• Clogged drain and open or messy kitchen sink Clean Your Sink and Drain: Clean your drain weekly using baking soda, vinegar and then boiling water. This eliminates harbours.
• Get the Trash Out on a Daily Basis: Do not leave garbage lying around especially when they have mixed fruit or veggie scraps. Wherever possible use sealed containers.
• Rinse Recyclables: Fly can be attracted to empty cans and bottles. Wash them and they are ready to go in the recycling bin.
• Do Not over-water Houseplants: Wet soil may warrant the fungus gnats and these are confused to be fruit flies.

What Is the Timeframe in Seeing the Results?

You usually find a result in 24 to 48 hours of placing your homemade trap. The use of traps may require you to continue setting them up constantly within a few days or a week depending on the intensity of the infestation.

Homemade fruit flies traps do not often kill the flies. Are Homemade Fruit Fly Traps Safe?

Absolutely! They are made of food-based ingredients which are not toxic. This implies that they are non-toxic to children and pets as compared to the commercially produced chemical sprays.

Why Aren’t My Traps Working?

If your homemade traps aren’t catching any flies, consider these possibilities:

• Your bait is not the right one. You should use apple cider vinegar or ripe fruit.
• Holes can be either too tiny or too large to adjust them to suit.
• Too many competing food sources Clean up any fruit, crumbs or spills around.
• Not a good location improves the position of the trap near the problem.

When to Use Store-Bought Options

If the infestation is out of control and your DIY traps aren’t cutting it, you might consider:

• Sticky fly traps
• Electric fruit fly zappers
• Commercial fruit fly sprays (read labels carefully)

Use these only as a last resort and combine with preventive cleaning habits.

Final Thoughts

Tackling fruit flies need not be complicated by use of chemicals or costly items. These fruit flies can be eliminated with the help of a homemade fruit fly trap in a manner safer, affordable, and natural. The important part is consistency in using vinegar, fruit or wine. These traps coupled with good hygiene and preventive measures and your fruit-flies will be extinct in your kitchen soon!