Tis the season, no, not that season — fruit fly season! In this post I will show you how to make a fruit fly trap with vinegar that really works, with a few household items and in just minutes! With or without apple cider vinegar this solution easily traps those pesky gnats!
End of summer brings delicious, juicy, ripe summer fruits and veggies and with them a fruit fly family reunion! But who needs them, use this gnat trap recipe and be rid of them, easy and without any chemicals.
I love DIY’ing easy recipes that are much cheaper than store bought; you too? Try this Carrabba’s Grill Seasoning, or this healthy Lemon & Peppermint Antibacterial Hand Scrub.
Using everyday household items, you’ll learn how to make your own cheap and effective gnat trap recipe.
Equipment for a Gnat Trap Recipe
- Shallow Glass Ramekin
- Apple Cider Vinegar or White Vinegar
- Plastic Wrap
- Toothpick
If you are like me, you enjoy keeping a few produce items un-refrigerated; tomatoes especially are so much more flavorful, juicy and did I say flavorful when they hang out on the counter.
But do you find yourself seeing itsy-bitsy black insects flying around, flies and gnats dive bombing your face? You end up looking like one of those clapping monkey’s as you try to smack the darn things; looking like a fool? Just me?
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies with Vinegar
This fruit fly trap is so simple, I am sure you have the ingredients at home. So how do you make a fruit fly trap with vinegar?
Simply pour apple cider vinegar or white vinegar into a ramekin, leaving about 1/2 inch at the top.
Cover snugly with plastic wrap, pull tight, sealing tightly and taught, all the way around the ramekin.
Using a toothpick or an ice pick, puncture holes in the top of the plastic wrap, swirling slightly to enlarge the hole a bit larger than the toothpick makes by itself.
Set out as many gnat traps as you need, concentrating them especially near your fruit or where you have kept your fruit.
Pro Gnat Trap Recipe Tip
If the fruit flies (or gnats) are attracted to the trap, but not going in (walking all over the top of the plastic wrap), it typically means your holes aren’t big enough.
Without making the holes too big, use a toothpick to slighly swirl and enlarge your holes, remember you don’t want them flying back out, warning their fly friends. Make it easy for them to get in and never get out. 🙂
After a few days the vinegar loses it’s drawing power, toss out, wash the bowl and start over again. You’ll be surprised at how many you catch!
Our infestors visitors are not too prolific at the moment, but typically I’ve got 2-3 traps going and they each catch 15-20 flies a day! EW!
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies Without Apple Cider Vinegar
I personally like using Apple Cider Vinegar for my gnat traps, however; regular white vinegar will work too!
Still want to try it? You should know quickly if it works and if it doesn’t then move on to apple cider vinegar, balsamic, red wine, anything that is naturally a bit sweeter.
More DIY Recipes and How To’s
Easy DIY Recipes
DIY Strawberry Lip Scrub
Strawberry DIY Lip Scrub made with all natural ingredients like all-natural cane sugar, coconut oil and Vitamin E and real strawberries! Exfoliate, moisturize and remove dead skin with this homemade lip scrub making dry, chapped lips look and feel better!
DIY Strawberry Sugar Scrub
All natural, DIY Strawberry Sugar Scrub gives you a luxury spa experience at home, for pennies. Simple ingredients; coconut oil, jojoba oil, all natural cane sugar, freeze dried strawberries and essential oil . These make beautiful homemade gifts, perfect for face & body exfoliating scrub in your bath and shower.
Antibacterial Hand Scrub
Make your own DIY antibacterial hand scrub that promotes healthy, clean, soft skin.
Homemade Chai Tea Latte
Using everyday ingredients, save money by creating your own all natural Chai Tea Latte, superior to a fancy coffee shop.
DIY Fresh Mini Christmas Trees
DIY Fresh Mini Christmas Trees this holiday season. Perfect to add texture, height, color to your mantle, vignette, Christmas Village scene or tablescape!
Homemade Bourbon Vanilla Extract
Homemade bourbon vanilla extract is deliciously smooth and so easy to make. Two ingredients and some time is all you need! Great for gift giving.
Instant Pot Homemade Elderberry Syrup (+ Stovetop Instructions)
A spoonful of Homemade Elderberry Syrup every day will help boost your immune system, preventing and treating flu and colds. Instant Pot or Stovetop
Homemade Golden Milk Spice Mix with Printable Tags
Healthy, delicious, Golden Milk Latte Spice Mix is perfect for those enjoying Golden Milk or Turmeric Tea daily. Also great for a gift.
Homemade DIY Vanilla Extract
This Homemade Vanilla Extract is so stinkin' easy to make and is so much richer and better than store bought, economical and makes a great gift!
Fall Simmering Spices
The delicious smells of fall, apples, cinnamon, citrus and fresh herbs make up this super simple Fall Simmering Spice.
Eucalyptus Shower Salt Scrub
A deliciously easy salt scrub; filled with sense awakening eucalyptus oil, silky sweet almond oil and the power of salt to scrub away dead skin.
Like this recipe?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️star rating in the recipe below!
Homemade Fruit Fly Trap (that really works!)
How to DIY your own Homemade Fruit Fly Trap (or gnat trap) using apple cider vinegar and a few household items.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pour vinegar into small shallow bowl or ramekin, leaving about 1/2 inch space at top.
- Stretch a piece of plastic wrap tightly across the top, making sure there are no gaps.
- Insert toothpick (or icepick) through plastic wrap and swirl slightly to enlarge the hole abit.
- Set on counter and watch the fruit flies gather for a pool party.
Notes
The vinegar loses its efficacy after a few days. Simple wash out the container, and repeat the above steps.
If the flies are attracted to your trap, but aren't going it, chances are your holes are too small (or too large), increase the size of the holes. Or if too large, replace the plastic wrap and try again. Happy catching!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 235Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 344mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 6g
The nutritional information is estimated and may not be entirely accurate.
Miz Helen
Monday 9th of September 2019
Your Homemade Fruit Fly Trap is a great idea. The last part of July every year here at the lake we have to put out the little traps. I like the way you set your traps up, mine are not as pretty as yours. I also love your gift ideas! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,448 and hope you will come back soon! Miz Helen
Kathleen
Monday 9th of September 2019
Thank you Miz Helen! Appreciate your kind words.