Flies can become a frustrating problem, especially during warmer months when they seem to appear out of nowhere. Fortunately, you don’t always need expensive sprays or complicated products to deal with a few unwanted flies around the kitchen or home.

A simple homemade fly trap can be prepared in just a few minutes using common household ingredients. The basic idea is to create an attractive scent that draws flies into a container while making it difficult for them to escape.

What You’ll Need

• 1 small bowl, jar, or plastic container
• ½ cup of apple cider vinegar
• 1–2 teaspoons of sugar
• A few drops of dish soap
• Plastic wrap
• A toothpick or fork

You can adjust the quantities depending on the size of your container.

How to Make the Trap

1. Add the Vinegar

Pour about half a cup of apple cider vinegar into your container.

Apple cider vinegar has a strong fermented smell that can attract certain types of flies, particularly fruit flies.

2. Add a Little Sugar

Mix in one or two teaspoons of sugar. Stir gently until most of the sugar dissolves.

The sweet scent can make the mixture more attractive to flies.

3. Add Dish Soap

Add a few drops of ordinary liquid dish soap and gently stir.

The soap helps reduce the surface tension of the liquid. When flies land on the mixture, they are less able to remain safely on the surface and may become trapped in the liquid.

4. Cover the Container

Stretch a piece of plastic wrap tightly over the top of the container.

Use a toothpick or fork to make several small holes in the plastic wrap. The openings should be large enough for small flies to enter but not so large that the trap becomes ineffective.

5. Place the Trap

Put the trap near the area where you have noticed flies, such as close to a fruit bowl, garbage bin, compost container, or kitchen sink.

Leave it undisturbed and check it periodically.

Why This Simple Trap Can Work