Fruit flies seem to appear from nowhere. One day the fruit bowl is fine, the next there is a small cloud of tiny flies circling the bananas every time you walk into the kitchen. The good news is that working out how to make a fruit fly trap is one of the simplest kitchen problems to solve, and you can usually do it with things you already have in the cupboard.
This guide walks through two genuinely effective DIY methods for building a homemade fly trap, is honest about where DIY traps fall short, and explains when it makes more sense to buy a ready-made fruit fly trap instead. Whichever route you take, the aim is the same: fewer flies, less mess, and a kitchen that feels clean again.
Why fruit flies turn up in the first place
Fruit flies are drawn to ripening and fermenting fruit and vegetables, spilled juice, wine, empty bottles and cans, and drains that haven't been cleaned in a while. They can lay eggs in overripe produce within a day or two, which is why a small problem can turn into a much bigger one over a weekend if it's left alone. Removing overripe fruit, wiping down counters, and taking the bin out regularly all help, but once flies are established, a trap is usually needed to actually clear them out.
DIY method 1: the apple cider vinegar trap
This is the classic answer to how do you make a fruit fly trap, and it works because fruit flies are strongly attracted to the smell of apple cider vinegar, which mimics the fermenting fruit they're naturally drawn to. It's cheap, quick, and uses items most kitchens already have.
What you'll need:
- A small jar or bowl
- Apple cider vinegar (a splash of leftover wine works too)
- Cling film
- A rubber band
- A cocktail stick, fork, or skewer
How to make it:
- Pour around two to three centimetres of apple cider vinegar into the jar or bowl. A drop of washing-up liquid stirred in at this stage makes the trap even more effective, for the same reason explained in method two below.
- Stretch a piece of cling film tightly over the top of the jar and secure it with the rubber band, so it forms a drum-like seal.
- Use the cocktail stick or a fork to prick five or six small holes in the cling film. The holes need to be big enough for a fly to crawl in, but not so big that they can easily fly back out.
- Place the trap near the fruit bowl, the bin, or wherever you've noticed the most flies gathering.
- Leave it overnight and check the next morning. You should see flies trapped inside, unable to find their way back out through the small holes.
- Empty, rinse, and refresh the vinegar every few days, or as soon as it starts to look cloudy or full.
A paper cone works as an alternative to cling film if you'd rather not use plastic wrap. Roll a piece of paper into a funnel shape with a small opening at the narrow end, drop a piece of overripe fruit or a splash of vinegar into a jar, then rest the cone in the top of the jar with the narrow end pointing down. Flies follow the scent in through the gap but struggle to find their way back out.
DIY method 2: the washing-up liquid trap
If you don't have cling film to hand, or you want something even quicker, a washing-up liquid trap does the job with just two ingredients.
How to make it:
- Fill a shallow bowl with a couple of centimetres of apple cider vinegar, or water mixed with a little sugar if that's what you have.
- Add a few drops of washing-up liquid and give it a gentle stir. This is the key step: it breaks the surface tension of the liquid, so instead of landing on top and flying off again, fruit flies sink and can't escape.
- Leave the bowl uncovered, near the fruit bowl or bin.
- Check back after a few hours or overnight and empty as needed.
This version is faster to set up than the vinegar and cling film trap, though it tends to need topping up and emptying more often since there's nothing stopping evaporation or dust getting in.
The downsides of DIY traps
DIY fruit fly traps genuinely work, but it's worth being honest about their limitations before you commit to using one for more than a day or two.
- They need regular attention. Vinegar traps fill up, go cloudy, and need emptying and refreshing every few days, or the smell starts to compete with the flies you're trying to get rid of.
- They can smell. A jar of vinegar and dead flies sitting on the counter isn't pleasant, especially if it's forgotten about for a week.
- They don't look great left out. A jar wrapped in cling film with holes poked in it isn't something most people want sitting next to the fruit bowl when guests are round.
- They only catch flies that are already active. A homemade trap deals with the flies currently in your kitchen, but it isn't designed to run unattended for weeks at a time the way a purpose-built trap can.
None of this means a DIY trap isn't worth making. For a sudden, one-off problem, it's a genuinely useful first response. It's more that DIY traps suit short-term fixes better than they suit an ongoing or recurring fruit fly problem.
When a ready-made trap makes more sense
If fruit flies keep coming back, if you don't want a jar of vinegar sitting on the worktop, or if you'd simply rather not deal with refilling and emptying a homemade version every few days, a ready-made fruit fly trap is usually the better choice. These are built to run unattended for longer, sit discreetly on a counter without looking like a science experiment, and avoid the mess of a spilled vinegar jar.
The Zero In Fruit Fly Trap is a non-toxic, refillable option designed to attract and catch fruit flies without any spraying or handling of chemicals, and once the bait sachet is used up you can simply pop in a Zero In Fruit Fly Trap Refill rather than buying a whole new trap. If you'd prefer a plant-based, pesticide-free option, the Fly Clear Fruit Fly Trap is designed specifically for fruit flies and banana flies around fruit bowls, bins, and kitchen surfaces, and needs no assembly beyond opening the pack.
Both are a good fit for households that want something to just work in the background, particularly during summer months when fruit flies tend to be at their worst.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make a fruit fly trap at home?
The simplest way is to pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar into a jar, cover it tightly with cling film, and prick a few small holes in the top. Fruit flies are attracted in by the smell but can't easily find their way back out. Adding a drop of washing-up liquid to the vinegar makes it even more effective, since it stops flies escaping if they land on the surface before finding a hole.
What is the best homemade fly trap for fruit flies specifically?
Apple cider vinegar traps tend to work best for fruit flies because the smell closely mimics the fermenting fruit they're naturally attracted to. A washing-up liquid and vinegar bowl is a close second, and is quicker to set up if you don't have cling film to hand.
Why do fruit flies keep coming back after I've made a trap?
If flies keep returning, there's usually a food source somewhere in the kitchen that hasn't been dealt with, such as overripe fruit, a sticky drain, an empty bottle, or the bin. A trap will catch the flies that are already around, but removing the source is what stops new ones appearing. If the problem keeps recurring, a longer-running, ready-made trap will generally cope better than a homemade one that needs constant refreshing.
Conclusion
A homemade vinegar or washing-up liquid trap is a genuinely effective, low-cost way to deal with a sudden fruit fly problem, and both methods above can be set up in a few minutes with things most kitchens already have. They do need a bit of upkeep though, and if fruit flies are a recurring issue rather than a one-off, a ready-made trap from the fruit fly trap collection will usually save you the ongoing hassle of emptying, refilling, and living with a jar of vinegar on the counter. Either way, the flies don't have to win.
