Picture this: Just a few days after bringing home a bunch of bananas, you wake up to find your kitchen swarming with fruit flies. Once these annoying bugs make their way inside, it can feel nearly impossible to get rid of them, as they seem to multiply before your very eyes. But fear not — there’s…
Enclosed Trap:
• A short, clear glass container
Open Trap:
It’s a Trap!
One of the best ways to get rid of fruit flies is by making a simple DIY trap. The key ingredient is apple cider vinegar, as the fruit flies are naturally drawn to its powerful, fruity scent. Pour about 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar into a short, clear glass container, such as a wide-mouth Mason jar or a lowball tumbler. Cover the opening with clear plastic wrap (avoid anything opaque), and seal it shut with a rubber band.
Using a toothpick, poke three or four small holes into the plastic film, creating openings for the fruit flies to enter. The clear plastic wrap makes it difficult for the fruit flies to later find the exit, and its smooth texture provides very little grip. Once you’ve successfully trapped the flies, dispose of the glass’s contents outside. (This should be done every week or two, regardless of how many pests you’ve caught, as it’s important to keep the scent potent.)
There’s another method that skips the plastic wrap and rubber band entirely: Pour 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar into a short glass, add a few drops of liquid dish soap, and leave the mixture uncovered. The soap breaks the vinegar’s surface tension, causing the flies to sink and drown.
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If you’re not confident in your DIY abilities, you can buy a premade trap instead. For instance, this flying insect trap from Zevo plugs into any outlet and attracts bugs using a combination of blue and UV light. Inside, a powerful adhesive catches the flies, making them easy to dispose of.
Bonus Hack
To quote the great Homer Simpson, alcohol is “the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.” In this case, the solution to your fruit fly conundrum requires a bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol. Pour some isopropyl alcohol into an empty spray bottle and use it to mist any fly-infested areas or common culprits, such as drains and banana stems. Remember, alcohol is flammable, so avoid spraying it on anything that may come into contact with an open flame. It’s also toxic if ingested, so don’t spray it on food you intend to eat.
