Making a trap is absurdly simple, and that’s part of the fun. Grab a small bowl or a glass jar. Pour in about half an inch of apple cider vinegar.
Now, add a single drop of liquid dish soap. The soap breaks the surface tension of the vinegar. When our little fly friend lands for a sip, it sinks like a stone.
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Poke a few small holes with a toothpick. The flies can smell the vinegar but struggle to find the way out.
Place your trap near the fruit bowl or the compost bin. Within an hour, you’ll see them gathering. It’s oddly satisfying, like watching a tiny, buzzy doom parade.
Why This Works (And Wine Doesn’t)
You might think red wine would be a fancier bait. It isn’t. Apple cider vinegar has a higher acidity and a sharper, more distinct aroma that screams rotten fruit to a fly’s antennae.
Wine just doesn’t pack the same punch. Plus, using a fancy bottle of Cabernet to kill bugs feels like a crime against humanity. Save the wine for you.
Here’s a fun fact: fruit flies have been a part of human civilization for thousands of years. They were likely buzzing around ancient Roman kitchens, happy with the same spoiling grapes that gave us wine.
