Is your fruit basket constantly being attacked by parasites? You know those tiny brown insects that you often mistake for mosquitoes. In fact, they are “fruit flies”. In absolute terms, these little creatures are harmless, they won’t bite you if that worries you. But in fact, they are extremely annoying because they can gather in masses around your fruit and transmit diseases. Enough to whet your appetite!
Trap #1: Apple cider vinegar and dishwashing liquid
To say goodbye to fruit flies, here is a first trap that is easy to make but still effective. As an added bonus, it won’t cost you much: you probably already have apple cider vinegar and dishwashing liquid at home.

Trap vinegar and dishwashing liquid to destroy flies
How to do it?

Take a glass, pour in some apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Mix the two ingredients well and cover the container with a piece of aluminum foil.
Then, using a needle, poke small holes in the sheet, just big enough for flies to pass through.
After that, secure the foil with the jar lid ring, but don’t screw it all the way. Using a rubber band, secure another piece of foil to that ring. Carefully poke holes in that part too (there should be a small gap between the 1st and 2nd layers of foil).
But be careful, don’t make extra holes in the inner part of the aluminum foil. You want to prevent the holes from lining up with each other, otherwise more fruit flies may come out.
FYI
Why is this method effective?

Quite simply because fruit flies are attracted by the smell of fermentation. And it turns out that they love the fermented scent of apple cider vinegar. So the idea is to lure them with this ingredient they love, and once they’re in the jar, they can’t get out that easily because of the layers of aluminum foil. Once they’re trapped inside, they have little chance of escaping unless you take the lid off. And dish soap will also help kill them faster.

Tip: If your trap isn’t working as you’d like, add more fruit-flavored soap.

Trap #2: Plastic Bottle
This other popular method involves making a trap out of a plastic bottle. You’ll see, it’s easy to DIY.

Plastic Bottle Trap to Kill Flies
How to Make?

Poke a few small holes in the top of a soda or mineral water bottle (2 liters).
Screw the top back on, cut off the top third of the bottle, and set it aside. Pour an attractive bait, for example apple cider vinegar, fruit juice, wine, or beer, into the bottom of the bottle.
Next, flip the top of the bottle over and place it upside down with the cap facing down, as if forming a funnel downward.
Seal the top of the bottle with tape to keep it secure.
All you have to do is place your trap near the place where fruit flies gather.
For information
Why is this method effective?

Using the same principle, these insects will follow their sense of smell directly towards this trap. Fruit flies are attracted to the sweet, vinegary liquid like a magnet and can therefore slip in without any problem, but the funnel shape prevents them from escaping. And there they are completely blocked here! The advantage of this method is that you don’t have to worry about cleaning it. You can throw away the bottle and make a new trap.

Trap No. 3: Paper bag and glass
Our latest technique is also not complicated to make. To catch these pests, all you need is a paper cone and a glass.

Trap with paper cone and glass to destroy flies
How to make ?

Form a paper cone with a small hole in the bottom. You have to insert it into the glass, but make sure that it does not completely touch the bottom. It doesn’t matter if the cone is much bigger than the container. In fact, the sides of the cone and the edge of the jar should form a kind of connection without gaps.
Tape the side of your paper bag with tape so that it keeps its shape and set it aside.
Next, take some leftover fruit and place it on the bottom of the jar. Even apple or banana peels will do.
Finally, put your paper bag on and tape it around the jar to seal it well.
For information
Why is this method effective?
The fruit peels and fruit scraps integrated into this trap are irresistibly attractive to small flies. Especially if they are very juicy, like the pineapple, for example.
apparently one of their favorite fruits. The combination of the size of the trap’s small entrance and the shape of the paper cone makes it difficult, if not impossible, for them to find their way back to the exit. Bet won!

Important: Be careful not to widen the hole in the paper cone too much, otherwise the flies will have no problem coming and going.

Note: If you find that these homemade traps do not work as well as you would have liked, there is always the option of buying commercial traps in stores. However, in terms of efficiency, they are all the same. But maybe you have a real home invasion. In this case, all options make sense!

Practical advice: measures to prevent an invasion of fruit flies

Now that you have the best traps to combat fruit flies in your hands, you will be very relieved to be able to eliminate this problem at home. At least temporarily. Because if the threat reappears, it would be good to also take certain precautions to prevent this invasion and stop it at the source.

Note that these DIY traps are only really effective if you develop good everyday habits. Here are a few :

Wash your food and refrigerate it when you bring it home (since fruit flies often hide in fruits and vegetables). Tell yourself that the longer you let it ripen at room temperature, the more it will attract these pests. Not to mention that fly eggs laid on the surface can hatch and quickly turn into adult flies.

If possible, avoid leaving your juice, wine or beer glasses outside. Also, remember to always rinse bottles well before recycling. If not cleaned properly, even the smallest residue could attract fruit flies.

Make sure there are no food scraps on the kitchen counter, in the sink or on the dining table. And if you have a compost bin, check that it is waterproof and empty it regularly.

Empty garbage cans more often to prevent garbage from building up. Make sure to always close them tightly with the lid. And clean them thoroughly so as not to attract pests.
Clean the kitchen drain and garbage disposal regularly to avoid the accumulation of rotting food scraps. Tell yourself that this is a favorable breeding ground for fruit flies.
To get rid of them, it is always wiser to find out the source of these fruit flies. However, not to be confused with common flies.
FAQs
What is the fastest method to get rid of fruit flies?
Keeping fruit flies away is not a given. You need to maximize your efforts: hygiene and sanitation are your watchwords. First of all, you need to identify and eliminate potential sources of fruit flies. Therefore, remove anything that could attract them and store your fruits properly. From then on, these unwanted people will disappear. Of course, traps can speed up the process by blocking any remaining flies.

What bait attracts fruit flies the most?
First of all, the good news is that they are not difficult to bait. They are irresistibly attracted to already ripe (or even rotten) fruit and anything that smells of fermentation. They also love apple cider vinegar, leftover juicy fruit and pineapple peels.

Why are there fruit flies in my bathroom?

Usually, fruit flies are most visible in the kitchen or any other place where fermented foods are lying around. If it’s near the bathroom, you might find some too. However, if you notice a persistent presence in that area of ​​the house, it’s probably “drain flies.” They can easily be confused with fruit flies. However, these insects are characterized by their powdery appearance, similar to that of a moth, with feather-shaped antennae.

Is baking soda a good remedy to get rid of fruit flies?

Of course, if your drains are regularly clean and hygienic, you’ll be able to control the problem better and will notice the presence of fruit and drain flies less. There is actually a practical remedy against parasites: 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of salt and 1 cup of vinegar. This is the ideal solution to clean your pipes frequently and at the same time kill the larvae of the drain flies. It is very simple to use: pour the mixture overnight and let it act slowly. The next day, pour boiling water into the drain. You will feel a clear difference! A little tip: if you clean your pipes regularly, the problem with the flies will become adistant memory.

Do these traps work on other pests?

These traps primarily target fruit flies, but they can also attract other insects such as mosquitoes. However, there are still many simple, all-natural solutions to repel other flying insects such as fungus gnats and drain flies. Since all pest species are different, pest control must be tailored to each one.