If you’ve ever escaped for a long weekend and left fresh fruit on your counter (or forgot to take out the garbage), you’ve likely come home to find some unwanted guests buzzing around your kitchen.

Fruit fly invasions are pretty much inevitable in the summer months (especially if you’re forgetful like me), but there’s a simple way to get rid of these harmless pests. Just follow the steps below and you’ll be fruit-fly free in no time.

How to get rid of fruit flies

  • Grab a piece of paper, some tape, a mason jar or a tall drinking glass, vinegar (any will do, but apple cider is best) and, if you want, a piece of fruit, like an apple slice
  • Roll your piece of paper into a funnel and make sure the narrow end fits snugly into your glass before taping it together
  • Drop your fruit (if using) into your glass and pour in a few tablespoons of vinegar
  • Place your paper cone into the jar and leave your DIY trap on your kitchen counter (or wherever you need it!)

The fruit flies will be attracted to the vinegar and fruit, but once they fly into the cone, they won’t be able to get out. A former associate food editor at Chatelaine used the cone to battle a particularly nasty infestation and claims it works better than all other methods, including the popular plastic-wrap-over-a-glass technique. So the next time you find yourself swatting away one fruit fly too many, pick up a piece of paper and get rolling.

Filed under: diy, Fruit Flies, hacks