Ingredients/Materials:
- Apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
- Dish soap
- Plastic wrap (or a jar lid with small holes)
- A jar or small bowl
- Toothpick or fork (if using plastic wrap)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Trap: Pour about ½ cup of apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar) into a jar or small bowl. Fruit flies are highly attracted to the smell of vinegar.
- Add Dish Soap: Add a few drops of dish soap to the vinegar. This will reduce the surface tension of the liquid, causing the flies to sink and drown once they land.
- Cover the Jar (Optional): If you prefer to use a cover, stretch plastic wrap tightly over the top of the jar or bowl. Use a toothpick or fork to poke small holes in the wrap—just big enough for the fruit flies to get through. Alternatively, you can use a jar lid with small holes if you have one.
- Place the Trap: Set the trap where you see the most fruit flies, like near fruit bowls, kitchen counters, or trash bins.
- Wait: The fruit flies will be attracted to the vinegar, crawl through the holes or land on the surface, and eventually drown in the vinegar and soap solution.
- Replace: If the trap becomes full of fruit flies or the liquid starts to evaporate, empty it and refill with fresh vinegar and soap.
Tips:
- Clean the area: Make sure to eliminate any food or ripened fruit that could attract more flies.
- Add variety: You can also use ripe fruit, like a piece of banana, instead of vinegar. Place it in a jar with the same plastic wrap cover, and it will attract the fruit flies just as effectively.
This simple trick will help you get rid of pesky fruit flies quickly!