DIY Fruit Fly Trap: Homemade Trap That Actually Works

Got fruit flies? Try this simple homemade fruit fly trap. Two common pantry ingredients will help you get rid of these tiny pests quickly.

Fruit flies in the kitchen are a common, annoying problem—especially in warm months when fresh produce is abundant. This easy Homemade Fruit Fly Trap uses ingredients you likely already have, and it works in a day or two.

Homemade Fruit Fly Trap

Warm weather brings great produce, but it can also invite fruit flies. Even after washing fruit, tiny flies can appear a few days later. The trap below is fast, inexpensive, and non-toxic.

Peaches & plums in a crate. Homemade Fruit Fly Trapper

How to Make the Homemade Fruit Fly Trap

You only need two ingredients: apple cider vinegar and liquid dish soap, plus a small piece of plastic wrap. The vinegar attracts the flies with its scent; the dish soap breaks the surface tension so the flies sink and cannot escape.

Typical results appear within 24–48 hours, and the trap can be refreshed as needed until the infestation is gone.

Why This Method Works Well

This trap is convenient because it uses items commonly found in the kitchen, so you can set it up quickly at the first sign of fruit flies. It’s also preferable to chemical sprays when you want a simple, low-toxicity solution around food.

Below are clear ingredients and step-by-step instructions to make the trap.

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Peaches & plums in a crate. Homemade Fruit Fly Trapper

Homemade Fruit Fly Trap

The best and easiest way to reduce pesky fruit flies.
Course: Kitchen Tip
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Author: Lori @ AReinventedMom.com

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2–3 drops liquid dish soap
  • Small square of plastic wrap

Instructions

  1. Pour about 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar into a small bowl or ramekin.
  2. Add 2–3 drops of liquid dish soap and stir gently to combine.
  3. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap.
  4. Cut a small slit (around 1/2 inch) in the plastic wrap to allow flies to enter.
  5. Place the trap near the fruit bowl or where fruit flies are most active.

Check and replace the trap as needed until the flies are gone.

Setting a couple of these traps around the kitchen usually clears fruit flies in a day or two. If the problem persists, check for overripe or hidden produce, drains, or garbage that could be breeding sites.