If you’ve ever battled fruit flies, you know how quickly they can turn from a minor annoyance into a full-blown infestation. They hover around your bananas, swarm the trash, and seem impossible to get rid of once they’ve moved in. While they don’t bite or sting, fruit flies can carry bacteria and contaminate food—making them more than just a nuisance.
Luckily, my nana has a trick she’s used for years that wipes out fruit flies fast. With just a bowl, vinegar, and dish soap, she keeps her kitchen completely free of these pesky invaders.
Why Fruit Flies Are Such a Problem
Fruit flies love sugary, ripening produce like bananas, apples, and peaches. Once they find a food source, they reproduce at lightning speed—a single female can lay up to 500 eggs that hatch in just 24 hours. That’s why an infestation can get out of hand so quickly if you don’t act fast.
Why Common Fixes Fall Short
Swatting them only offers temporary relief. Sprays can be dangerous to use around food and pets. Store-bought traps work but can be pricey and need constant replacing. The key is finding something safe, simple, and effective—and that’s where Nana’s hack shines.
The Two-Ingredient Fruit Fly Trap
All you need is:
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar (the fruity smell mimics fermenting fruit)
- A few drops of dish soap (breaks surface tension so the flies drown instead of floating)
How to Set It Up
- Pour about half a cup of vinegar into a wide, shallow bowl.
- Add two or three drops of dish soap and stir gently.
- Place the bowl near your fruit bowl, sink, or trash can—wherever flies gather.
- Leave it out overnight and check the results. Within a day or two, you’ll see a noticeable drop in fruit flies.
Why It Works So Well
Fruit flies are irresistibly drawn to the vinegar’s scent, mistaking it for fermenting fruit. But once they land, the dish soap prevents them from staying on the surface, trapping them instantly. It’s cheap, non-toxic, and safe to use anywhere in the house.
Pro Tips for Better Results
- Set out multiple traps if you’re dealing with a big infestation.
- For extra control, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and poke a few small holes—flies can get in but struggle to get back out.
- Keep your kitchen clean: toss overripe produce, wipe down counters, and take the trash out regularly.
Why This Beats Other Methods
Sure, you could try red wine, beer, or commercial traps—but vinegar and dish soap are cheaper, safer, and more effective. No harsh chemicals, no constant refills, just a simple DIY solution that actually works.
Long-Term Prevention
Once you’ve cleared the flies, stop them from coming back by:
- Storing fruits and veggies in the fridge when possible.
- Cleaning food scraps from counters and sinks daily.
- Make sure your trash can has a tight lid.
With just two household ingredients and a couple of minutes, you can win the fight against fruit flies—for good.
