FRUIT FLIES! Ugh! How I hate the little buggers. We eat quite a bit of fresh produce which means these pests are a constant plague in my kitchen. I can’t imagine how bad it would be if I didn’t keep a Homemade Fruit Fly Trap on the counter at all times.
It seems that fruit flies are the biggest problem during the warm summer months when lots of yummy fresh fruit is in season and the temperatures are warmer. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re not around during the cooler months of winter. I’ve cleaned out my trap, only to have it filled up again in no time – IN DECEMBER.
It’s really easy to make your own Homemade Fruit Fly Trap. You just need a mason jar with lid, apple cider vinegar, dish soap and a ribbon.
When I first started making my own fruit fly traps, I used the inverted paper cone method and it did work, but having a jar with a big paper cone sitting on my counter just bugged me (pun intended).
Then I switched to the plastic wrap method with holes poked in the top and that was better. And then one day, I thought why not just use the mason jar lid and poke holes in that? Not only does it look better, but it makes the jar even more spill proof. Sometimes I’m brilliant like that.
So when I son-in-law came to visit, I put him to work with the drill. Not that I couldn’t do it myself, but that’s what son-in-laws are for, right?
How to Make a Homemade Fruit Fly Trap
What You’ll Need
- Canning Jar (any size)
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Dawn Dish Soap
- Ribbon (your choice)
- Drill (or something to poke holes with)
Instructions
- Pour in about a cup of apple cider vinegar.
- Add a few drops of Dawn dish detegent
- Tie the ribbon around the neck of the jar in a pretty bow.
- Set on your counter next to your fruit bowl (or anywhere you see fruit flies).
How It Works
The sweetness of the apple cider vinegar attracts the fruit flies. The dish detergent creates a film on the top of the liquid. When the little pests touch down on the surface, they can’t lift back off. Then they drown.
And I have to admit I feel such a sense of satisfaction when I see all those dead, brown bodies floating at the bottom. I enjoy it almost as much as I enjoy the fresh, delicious fruit.