How to Make a Homemade Fly Trap (with Expert Tips)

Are houseflies driving you nuts? Sick of fruit flies invading your kitchen or vegetable garden? If so, a homemade fly trap can be the perfect solution. A well-designed fly trap draws flies like moths to a nightlight, trapping them one by one until your home is finally fly-free. This guide will teach you how to make 5 simple fly traps using items you already have in your home, including bottles and plastic wrap, as well as the best bait to catch flies. Keep reading to learn how to get rid of those buzzing pests once and for all, with exclusive insights from cleaning and pest control specialists.

How to Make a DIY Fly Trap

Cleaning specialist Elias Weston recommends making an apple cider vinegar trap to get rid of flies. Pour apple cider vinegar into a jar, then add a few drops of dish soap. Cover the jar's opening with plastic wrap, then poke a few small holes in it. Wait for the flies to enter through the holes and drown in the bait.

Section 1 of 7:

Making a Bottle Fly Trap

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Turn an empty bottle into a cheap and effective fly trap. Remove the bottle cap and label from a soda or water bottle, then use scissors to cut the bottle in half, roughly 2 inches (5 cm) from the top, where the curved “funnel” becomes straight. Put ripe fruit, sugar water, apple cider vinegar, old beer, or wine in the bottom half of the bottle, then place the cut-off funnel part upside down inside the bottom half. Leave the trap in a sunny spot for 2-3 days and let flies accumulate in the bottle.^{[1]
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- Why does this method work? Flies will smell the bait and fly into the bottle to get it. Once they’re inside, they won’t be able to fly up the narrow opening and will eventually die.
- Once you’re happy with the number of flies you’ve caught, seal it inside a thick plastic bag to avoid leaks and odor. Discard it with your outdoor trash right before pick up day.
- When making the trap, the sides of the funnel should line up with the rest of the bottle, leaving no space. Push it in slightly so that it does not pop out. If needed, add 3-4 staples or tape around the circumference of the bottle to secure it.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Elias Weston is a cleaning specialist and the founder of Seatown Cleaners in Seattle, Washington.

Joshua Bloom is a pest control specialist and the Vice President of Operations of Standard Pest Management, a pest control company based in New York City.

Paragon Pest Control is a pest control company based in Grand Prairie, Texas. They prevent pest issues caused by rodents and various insects.

Wilson Christner is a pest management professional and the co-owner of Whitmore Pest & Wildlife Control, with over 14 years of experience.

Kevin Carrillo is a pest control specialist and the senior project manager for MMPC, a pest control service based in the NYC area.

Section 2 of 7:

Making a Plastic Wrap Fly Trap

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Catch fruit flies with apple cider vinegar and dish soap. Weston says to “pour a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a glass and cover [it] with plastic wrap, securing it with a rubber band. Then, poke a few holes in the plastic wrap for the [flies] to enter.”^{[2]
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Elias Weston
Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview} Pest control company Paragon Pest Control recommends adding a “dash of [dish] soap” so the flies get stuck in the mixture.^{[3]
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Paragon Pest Control
Pest Control Company

Expert Interview} Empty the jar and replace the bait every 2–3 days until your fruit fly infestation clears up.
- Why does this method work? Fruit flies are attracted to the odor of rotting fruit, which is similar to the scent of apple cider vinegar. They’ll fly into the trap and drown when they come into contact with the soapy surface. The plastic wrap will also prevent them from escaping once they crawl inside.

Section 3 of 7:

Making a Paper Cone Fly Trap

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Create a funnel from paper and place it in a jar containing bait. Pour apple cider vinegar into a large mason jar, and add chunks of ripe fruit. Pest control specialist Joshua Bloom recommends adding a banana if you’re dealing with fruit flies.^{[4]
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Joshua Bloom
Pest Control Specialist

Expert Interview} Then, roll a piece of printer paper into a cone so the opening at the point is less than 1/4 inch (0.64 cm). Tape the paper to keep its shape, and set the narrow point of the cone into the jar so it’s just above the fruit-vinegar bait. After a few days, toss out the trap and replace it with fresh bait.
- Why does this method work? The flies will go down the funnel toward the bait, but they won’t be able to fly back up and get stuck. Paper funnel traps are especially effective for house flies, notes Paragon Pest Control.^{[5]
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- Stick the trap in your freezer overnight to kill the flies, then throw away the old bait. That way, they won’t fly away or stay alive in your trash. Try to throw the trap out within 7 days to prevent new fruit fly larvae from hatching in your home.

Section 4 of 7:

Making a Mason Jar Fly Trap

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Fill a mason jar with bait and puncture holes in the lid. Add one inch (2.5 cm) of apple cider vinegar to a mason jar, along with 2-3 drops of dish soap. Use a nail and hammer to gently poke 3-4 holes into the flat part of the mason jar lid, then twist the lid onto the mason jar. Place the mason jar trap near the area where you have your fly problem for 2-3 days. Once you’re ready to dispose of the trap, remove the lid and bang the container against the inside of a trash can until all the dead flies fall out.^{[6]
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- Why does this method work? Flies are attracted to apple cider vinegar, so they’ll fly through the small holes in the lid. They won’t be able to fly back out, or they’ll drown in the soapy vinegar mixture.

Section 5 of 7:

Making Sticky Flypaper Traps

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Attract different types of flies with these sticky adhesive traps. Cut a brown paper bag into 2-inch strips, and poke a small hole at the end of each strip. Feed a small piece of string through each hole, then tie a knot so you can hang it later. In a saucepan, stir one cup (240 mL) of sugar, one cup (240 mL) of honey, and one cup (240 mL) of water over medium-high heat until it’s well combined. Let it cool for 30 minutes, then fully soak each paper strip in the mixture. Place each strip on a baking sheet for an hour to dry, then hang the strips wherever you frequently see flies.^{[7]
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- Why does this method work? Flies will get stuck on the paper and slowly die since they’re unable to move or eat.
- Where’s the best place to hang flypaper? Pest management professional Wilson Christner recommends hanging flypaper near doors, windows, or any other entry points where flies may enter your home. He also advises hanging them in or around your kitchen and dining areas, especially near food preparation areas, dining tables, or where fruits and vegetables are stored.^{[8]
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Section 6 of 7:

Best Bait for Homemade Traps

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Generally, stinky, fermented-scented bait is the best for catching flies. According to Bloom, the best bait depends on the type of fly. He recommends a banana for fruit flies, a raw potato for fungus gnats, and anything odiferous (stinky) for house flies.^{[9]
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Joshua Bloom
Pest Control Specialist

Expert Interview} If you’re indoors, you can’t go wrong with ripe fruit, apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap—the fruit and vinegar will attract the flies, while the soap will drown them. If you're outdoors, you can try mixing scraps of raw meat, such as fish or chicken, with honey or sugar.
- Want more tips for getting rid of fruit flies? Check out what wikiHow users are saying on our How do I get rid of these ANNOYING fruit flies? forum.

Section 7 of 7:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why are flies attracted to my home? “Flies are pretty much attracted to anything that we determine is a horrible smell,” notes pest control specialist Kevin Carrillo. If you have garbage that's not properly contained anywhere near your home, you will have flies, he continues. “Flies don't have a very long lifespan. So if you get rid of the food source, a fly problem will fix itself within a couple of weeks.”^{[10]
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Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist

Expert Interview}
- “Flies are commonly attracted to food sources,” agrees Christner. So, “targeting these areas can be effective.”^{[11]
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What’s the best way to prevent flies in my home? The best way to keep flies away is to eliminate their food and breeding sources via sealing trash, cleaning up pet waste, and removing sources of standing water. According to pest management expert Luke Lewis, flies will breed in pet droppings, decomposing trash, and in rodent carcasses. “If you can find and remove the source(s) the flies are breeding in, you can quickly achieve total fly control and potentially never see a fly in your kitchen again.”^{[12]
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Luke Lewis
Pest Management Expert

Expert Interview}
- For a natural solution, spray a water-and-lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, or peppermint oil mixture around your house.
- Carillo also recommends using a UV light trap, which attracts flies with light and then traps them on a glue board.^{[13]
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How do I get rid of flies in minutes? Fill a spray bottle with any rubbing alcohol, then spray it directly onto flies to kill them instantly. Alternatively, spray them with a bleach-and-water mixture, or simply use a fly swatter to kill them on the spot.

How Do You Catch Fruit Flies?

Join the Discussion...

How do I get rid of these ANNOYING fruit flies?

WikiWombatReader561

Over the past couple weeks my house has become infested with fruit flies and I don't know how to get rid of them! I've tried keeping my kitchen as clean as I can and put out a vinegar trap, but it's not working super well. These flies bother me so much and I feel like I can't live in peace with them around. Please help!

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Question

How do you stop flies from coming into the house?

Joshua Bloom
Pest Control Specialist
Joshua Bloom is a Pest Control Specialist and the Vice President of Operations of Standard Pest Management, a pest control company based in New York City. He has over 20 years of experience in the pest control industry and specializes in commercial and large facility pest control management. Standard Pest Control also specializes in ant, bed bug, cockroach, fly, and rodent control. Joshua is licensed by the NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) for termite control.

Joshua Bloom

Pest Control Specialist

Expert Answer

Start by removing anything that could attract them. Clean your home often and put food up right away. Additionally, make sure your window screens are in good repair.

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What are some easy baits I can use to put into a fly trap?

Joshua Bloom
Pest Control Specialist
Joshua Bloom is a Pest Control Specialist and the Vice President of Operations of Standard Pest Management, a pest control company based in New York City. He has over 20 years of experience in the pest control industry and specializes in commercial and large facility pest control management. Standard Pest Control also specializes in ant, bed bug, cockroach, fly, and rodent control. Joshua is licensed by the NYSDEC (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) for termite control.

Joshua Bloom

Pest Control Specialist

Expert Answer

That depends on the type of fly you're trying to catch. For instance, if you're catching fruit flies, you might use banana, or raw potato to catch fungus gnats. For house flies, though, you can use anything odiferous.

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Tips

Use bug spray to kill trapped flies if you do not want to drown them in your sink.

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Identify what type of flies you're dealing with, if possible. House flies come from outside or from standing garbage, while fruit flies are attracted to overripe fruit.

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Get rid of flies permanently by removing whatever they're attracted to. Keep your home clean, and seal up any windows or screens with holes in them.

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Warnings

Fly traps can act as fly attractants. Place the trap a reasonable distance from where you will be eating.

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If your traps lure dangerous insects like hornets, use bug spray to kill them before you go near the traps.

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