Flies are more than just an annoying nuisance—they can carry bacteria and contaminate surfaces, especially in kitchens and dining areas. Whether you’re battling a few stray flies or a full-blown infestation, finding an effective and affordable solution is key. Fortunately, there are several DIY fly trap methods that can help you manage the problem on your own before turning to professional help.
In this article, we’ll explore the most effective homemade fly traps, the best baits to use, and daily habits you can adopt to keep flies from invading your space. We’ll also help you recognize when a fly problem requires more than a DIY solution—and how to hire a pest control service you can trust if that time comes.
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Table of Contents
- Most effective fly trap methods
- Best baits for fly traps
- Habits to practice to keep flies out of your home
- What to do when your fly issue is persistent
- When to hire pest control
- How to hire pest control
- Conclusion
Most Effective Fly Trap Methods
Step 1: The Container
First, you’re going to want to find a container. I usually recommend a clear container, so you can see the flies that get caught, but any color will do.
The container can be deep or shallow, though shallow has worked best for me.
Step 2: The Ingredients
Next, you’re going to want to add apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap.
Apple cider vinegar is pungent enough to attract fruit flies and flies to the fly trap.
The dish soap keeps them stuck inside and they will drown. If you have a clear container, you can keep track of the success of the trap.
There are also some alterations one can make to the trap. One can add sugar to sweeten the bait. One can add some warm water to help the sugar dissolve.
Step 3: Sealing It Up
As is, you might attract some flies. But I’ve found that if you can cover the opening with cling wrap and then poke holes into it, the trap will seem more inviting to the flies and fruit flies.
If you are setting the trap for fruit flies, the holes can be small; if you are setting the trap for house flies or black flies, the holes will need to be about as big as that fly variety.
Step 4: Wait
Wait a few days to see what the results are. You can move the physical fly traps around the house to the rooms you are experiencing the flies.
Step 5: Re-evaluate
Finally, you’ll want to re-evaluate the trap’s efficacy. If the trap has caught the flies, simply throw out the trap, or dispose of the contents and wash the container for the next use.
If the trap did not work to the required standards, you might want to contact a local pest control company, (like us!) for a quote for service. 651-342-9489.
3. Pro Tip: Garbage Disposal Maintenance
If you have a garbage disposal, a fun tip I’ve learned and have used is to grind up some slices of fresh lemon. The acid kills off the breeding site/makes it more inhabitable. And your kitchen will smell lemony fresh for a while with no chemicals.
Architectural Digest weighs in on the best DIY fly traps!
Best Baits for Fly Traps
You’re going to want to use something pungent, which is why I recommend apple cider vinegar, thought white vinegar or distilled vinegar may work as well.
I have seen some folks use ripe fruit as an attractant as it will age and decompose in the trap, and flies and fruit flies would love that. I have not personally tried that method, however.
Habits to Practice to Keep Flies Out of Your Home
Flies and fruit flies can be common, seasonal pests, sometimes. If you have cyclical fly issues, we would recommend a routine pest control service or annual pest control service. But if you just have them every few years, you may be able to take care of them on your own!
Here are 3 habits to practice to keep flies out of your home:
1. Routine Clean
Routine cleaning is always a good idea: putting away leftovers in air tight containers in the fridge (not leaving them on the stove); wiping up any spilled food, drink, water quickly; and consuming fruit before it gets too ripe, or if you like smoothies and can’t eat up those bananas quick enough — peel them, put them in a Ziplock bag or other container and store them in the freezer.
2. Clean Drains
Drains are a breeding site for flies and fruit flies, so cleaning your drain monthly or quarterly is a must.
You can use a commercial cleaner, like bleach, but I’d recommend white vinegar. Simply pour some white vinegar down the drain of your sinks. It will sit in the drain catch/drain trap and kill off breeding sites/harborage sites of flies and fruit flies.
3. Pro Tip: Garbage Disposal Maintenance
If you have a garbage disposal, a fun tip I’ve learned and have used is to grind up some slices of fresh lemon. The acid kills off the breeding site/makes it more inhabitable. And your kitchen will smell lemony fresh for a while with no chemicals.
So it is a good idea to walk around your house regularly and make sure you can’t see anything contributing on the outside to what is going on in the inside.
What to Do When Your Fly Issue is Persistent
Sometimes fly issues can persist depending on the area in which you live. Sometimes they are simply a summer pest or a fall pest.
But, I’d also take a look at other preventative measures you could do, especially if you have black flies or those green flies called blow flies.
There could be contributing factors to these flies in your home. I’ve seen cases where one of our techs found a bunny or squirrel that had died right next to the house. As it decomposed, flies found it, laid eggs, and then as the maggots (hatched flies in a juvenile state) ate the rotting carcass, they crawled in a crack or crevice in the foundation. Once they pupated or turned into flies, they came into the home’s living space and confused the home owner.
I’ve seen the same thing happen with dog poop, if the dog pooped too close to the house, the same thing can happen.
So it is a good idea to walk around your house regularly and make sure you can’t see anything contributing on the outside to what is going on in the inside.
When to Hire Pest Control
Here are the top 3 reasons to tell when to hire pest control
1. If the issue has persisted past a few weeks — flies life cycle is pretty short, so there might be something you’re missing if it’s been a while with them.
2. If the amount of flies is overwhelming — most people can handle a few of anything, but once you get dozens or hundreds, it becomes unlivable.
3. If you want an expert opinion on anything. A lot of pest control technicians have been at their craft for years or decades. They see a lot of things going into people’s homes, and they pick up on things that should be there if they aren’t there, or shouldn’t be there if they are there.
For example, once a technician saw some vinyl siding on the exterior of the home that was slightly warping, one could hardly tell. This was the cause of an interior leak somewhere that the homeowner didn’t know about.
Water damage can cause all kinds of pests, so a pro tip would be that if your home has had water damage in the past, it might be a good idea to be on an annual or seasonal pest control program, like our Peak Seasons Plan.
1. Call us. Simply dial 651-342-9489 and speak to one of our pest experts today! Get your questions answered over the phone, get quotes on service options, and get on our schedule!
How to Hire Pest Control
There are 6 main ways folks contact us to hire us for pest control service. We will explain them in order of most common to least common.
1. Call us. Simply dial 651-342-9489 and speak to one of our pest experts today! Get your questions answered over the phone, get quotes on service options, and get on our schedule!
2. Text us. Texting us on our office line listed in item 1 is a great way to start the conversation. This is particularly helpful if you have photos of the pest issue going on and you’d like more immediate identification and input.
3. Web chat us. In the bottom right-hand corner of your screen you can tap or click on “Text Us” and start the conversation here. This is a phone number attached to the back-end of our website and it is monitored during business hours. You can also text photos here, so this is a popular option.
4. Email us. Many still email, as it is a great way to get quite a bit of information across. We often email quotes as well, as then we can detail service information, pricing, and list multiple options for one to consider. Feel free to start the conversation here at donerightpestsolutions@gmail.com.
5. Fill out one of our forms. We have two forms from which you can choose to get in touch with us. We have a simple Contact Us Form, that will get sent to our email and we will either call, text, or email you back based on your preference. Or we have a Quick Estimate Form, that will have you enter your address, and then that will get sent to our email and we will either call, text, or email you back quotes based on the pest issue you’ve got going on and your home.
6. Contact us on an alternate site. We message through sites like Yelp, Facebook, and Instagram, for example. These sites aren’t monitored on a daily basis, but are monitored regularly. If you prefer, you can contact us through here, but since you’re already here, why not call, text, web chat, or email us first!
Conclusion
We hope you’ve learned a lot regarding effective fly trap methods and the best baits for fly traps. When it comes to anything pest-wise, a few bugs here and there is completely normal, but when you’re getting overrun with insects, it is best to call the pros, learn if there is anything you can do to eliminate the problem on your own, or if you need to hire an expert.
Be careful who you call, not everyone is going to be open and honest, like us. Many companies will try to sell you on something right away, or upsell you on an annual contract and lock you in for a couple of years, and require a cancellation fee if you want out.
We are different. We strive to be a breath of fresh air.
We will tell you things that you can do to eliminate your pest issues, and if you need, we’d be happy to come out to help with a simple one-time service, no contract, no hassle. Maybe that’s why our annual services are so popular: because they are hassle free and contract free. We believe pest control should sell itself, so we don’t have a sales team.
We’re simply: here when you need us,
Done Right Team