This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This fruit fly trap (or gnat trap) literally takes 2 minutes to put together and works AWESOME! Say goodbye to fruit flies!
This gnat trap is a great DIY solution to your fruit fly problem. For more how-to posts check out How to Cut a Watermelon, How to Cook Pasta, or How to Ripen Bananas.
Homemade Fruit Fly Trap
I hate fruit flies.
They are such pests! They have to be one of the most annoying insects out there because they multiply like no other and can be hard to get rid of if you don’t know how.
Last week, we had left some ketchup out on the kitchen counter and by morning there were tons of fruit flies. I swear I don’t know how they just POP up! With this bout of pesky bugs, I immediately made a fruit fly trap, and within a few hours, they were all gone.
I figured I would share how I do it in case you are looking for quick, easy, and natural pest control.
Avoid Fruit Flies in the First Place
I know that fruit flies come around more when fruit is left out, and since there are tons of seasonal fruits, you may be seeing these little guys more often. The process of getting rid of them is SUPER simple. I find that they are more manageable when I have taken precautions.
- Throw out overripe fruit in the trash, or better yet compost it.
- Take out the garbage regularly.
- Keep your sink and garbage disposal clear.
- Store fruits and vegetables in the fridge instead of a fruit bowl.
- Fruit flies don’t like fresh basil so keep a fresh basil plant in the kitchen or place fresh basil leaves around the fruit basket.
Unfortunately, even with these precautions these pesky things tend to show up. It takes just one female fruit fly to lay dozens of eggs a day that hatch within 2-3 days.
Within a week, they breed even more, and without interference, you will have an infestation in the kitchen. They love warm environments and show up in the spring and summer months.
Houseplants that can help with pest management: Aside from basil there are other plants that you can keep in your kitchen that will help repel flies, gnats, and even mosquitoes such as rosemary, mint, sage, catnip, and lavender.
How the DIY Fruit Fly Trap Works
The jar contains a mixture of apple cider vinegar and dish soap.
- The apple cider vinegar attracts all of the fruit flies towards the scent.
- The dish soap’s purpose is actually to break the surface tension of the vinegar so the flies can’t just sit on top of the liquid.
- The inverted cone made out of paper is what really traps them, though.
- A wide top and small bottom make it easy for the flies to enter the jar, and harder for them to get back out once they’re in!
- Since they can’t get out, and they can’t sit on the surface of the liquid, it’s only a matter of time before they meet their end. (Unfortunate for them, but a victory for us and our fruit!)
How to Make a Fruit Fly Trap
It seriously takes just about 2 minutes to do. Talk about a quick fix! Here is what you’ll need to make your DIY gnat trap:
- 16 oz jar
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Liquid Dish Soap
- 8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper
- Tape
PAPER CONE. Begin by creating a cone with your piece of paper, making it smaller at the base and wider up top. You want to make sure it’s wide enough that the wide part of the cone sits on the rim and the smaller portion extends about halfway in the jar. Tape the paper so it stays in a cone shape.
VINEGAR MIXTURE. Remove the cone from the jar and add about ½ – 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to the jar. Squeeze a few drops of dish soap into the jar and stir to mix it a bit. Microwave the jar for about 20-30 seconds. This will make the smell of the mixture more potent, which draws the flies in quicker.
PLACEMENT. Add your cone and place it in a spot where the fruit flies have been.
And that’s it! It takes a little bit at first for the little critters to move from where they currently are, but before you know it you’ll see them all over the outside of your jar and then in your jar trying to get out.
How to Clean out the Jar
- Take the jar outdoors before removing the cone, that way any insects that may still be able to fly won’t escape back into your house.
- I usually pour the contents into the rocks I have outside and then spray the jar out with the hose. You can also pour the contents down the drain.
- Either way, rinse the empty jar with hot soapy water. You can also disinfect with a little bleach.
Variations
Lid. The paper cone method is my favorite and I have great results. I have also seen people successfully poke holes in the lid of the jar and screw the lid on. Another idea is to secure a piece of plastic wrap on the top of the jar with a rubber band, then poke a few holes in it.
Mason jars. I always have mason jars on hand, but you can use any similar-sized jar. An empty jam jar or spaghetti sauce jar works just as well.
Catch and release. Instead of using vinegar and dish soap, place overripe fruit in the jar and top with the paper cone. A few flies may be able to find their way back through the cone, but most will stay in the jar. You can then release them outside.
FAQ
For those who have tender hearts for even the smallest pests, you can place a banana peel into the jar and add the paper cone. Some flies will be able to escape, but many will be stuck inside. Empty the jar outside far away from the house.
If you can tell that the flies are attracted to the trap but aren’t getting stuck inside, try adjusting the size of the cone. If the tip is too small they may not go all the way down inside. If the tip is too large, they can more easily escape.
Keeping your home free of overripe fruit, emptying your trash frequently, and cleaning out your garbage disposal will all help. You can also grow some house plants that deter flies, gnats, and mosquitoes. (see above for a list)
For More Useful Tips, Be Sure to Check These Out:
DIY Fruit Fly Trap {Gnat Trap}
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz mason jar or any similar sized glass jar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 drops liquid dish soap
- 1 piece paper 8.5×11
- tape
Instructions
- Begin by creating a cone with your piece of paper, making it smaller at the base and wider up top. You want to make sure it's wide enough that the paper sits about halfway in the jar. Tape the paper so it stays in a cone shape.
- Remove the cone from the jar and add about 1/2 – 1 cup of apple cider vinegar to the jar. Squeeze a few drops of dish soap into the jar and stir to mix it a bit.
- Microwave the jar for about 20-30 seconds. This will make the smell of the mixture more potent, which draws the flies in quicker.
- Add your cone and place it in a spot where the fruit flies have been.
Video
Notes
To clean out the jar after you’ve caught fruit flies:
- Take the jar outside before removing the cone, that way any insects that may still be able to fly won’t escape back into your house.
- I usually pour the contents into the rocks I have outside and then spray it with the hose. You can also pour the contents down the drain.
- Either way, rinse the empty jar with hot soapy water.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Brilliant! I’ve tried traps without the cone and without the dish detergent, but this combination is the one that works. Heating the jar a little also seemed to draw them immediately. 12 hours later with three strategically placed traps, there are very few fruit flies left after a major infestation. I’ll keep the traps out for a while longer to make sure they’re all gone. Thanks for these directions!
You’re welcome! Glad to hear they helped!
This works!! I was able to rid my kitchen of these annoying pesks. Give it a try!
Yay! So glad to hear it worked for you.
This works every time!! It’s the only thing I do to trap fruit flies!! It’s the easiest thing to make & I am always amazed at how many flies are in the jar!
This fruit fly trap is the best! My kids are always leaving fruit out on the counter (especially the cutie oranges) and I’m not always home to put them away in the fridge so they’re out of the reach of the gnats. I wish my kids could just put away their food like I ask them to but this “trap” has been a lifesaver and takes care of that so I don’t come home to a swarming mess!