How Do You Make a Fly Trap Without Using Vinegar?

Most homes aren't entirely immune from fly and gnat invasions, and even if there are only a few, the buzzing can drive you crazy. Vinegar is a known deterrent but smells strong, so are there any good home remedies to get rid of gnats and flies that don't smell like that? There certainly are, and you won't have to worry about them making your eyes water.

It happens to everyone: You bring home fresh produce, but some unwelcome visitors (such as fruit flies) come along for the trip. You can't slap them with fly swatters since they're so tiny, and it can seem like they are everywhere once they arrive. Instead of worrying about using vinegar, you can make a trap using an ordinary banana. Cut up a ripened one, put it into a cup or bowl, cover the top with plastic wrap and tighten the outside edges with a rubber band.

Then, you should poke a few small holes in the top with a pointy knife or a sharp pencil. The gnats and fruit flies will go inside to get at the fruit but won't be able to get out. If you're feeling generous, you can take the trap outside when it's filled and let the flies go free. Another option is to get a carnivorous sundew plant and place it in your kitchen. These fabulous little plants have sticky leaves that trap fruit flies, which the plant then eats.

Another way to get rid of gnats in kitchens is to make a homemade spray to kill fruit flies (and it smells kind of nice). Add 2 ounces of hot water to a spray bottle and immediately put in 10 drops of lemongrass essential oil. Spray this wherever you see the fruit flies but not directly onto anything you plan to eat.

Another option is to swap out the banana pieces for other overripe fruit or a cup of red wine. With these traps, you can toss the contents somewhere outdoors and reuse them as needed. They can take several days to work, especially if you have a lot of fruit flies or gnats. If the flies are hanging out in and around sink drains, you'll want to use another method because they might actually be drain flies. To eradicate these pests, add 1/2 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of hot water and pour it down the drain.

Dawn dish soap is also great for killing gnats and fruit flies, but you'll have to use some apple cider vinegar as bait. You needn't use a large amount, though. Combine 1/2 cup of warm water, a tablespoon of sugar, just 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and six drops of Dawn in a shallow bowl. You don't have to cover this with plastic wrap since the dish soap will trap the flies.

You might not even need to add the sugar since the apple cider vinegar often does the job on its own. Try the trap first without the extra sweetener and see if it works. Leave it out for 12 hours and check the results. If you don't see a good number of dead flies, dump out the contents and try the recipe with the sugar. Two-liter soda bottles work well for catching regular house flies since it's hard for them to get out of the narrow opening. Use the same recipes; you can also swap out the sugar for honey.