Flying Pests in Kitchen
A simple vinegar, olive oil, and shampoo trap that lures and catches fruit flies, gnats, and other small flying kitchen pests.
Fruit flies and fungus gnats seem to appear out of nowhere in warm weather and can be frustrating to eliminate with conventional methods. This simple liquid trap lures flying insects with the scent of vinegar and olive oil, and the shampoo breaks the surface tension of the liquid so that insects that land on it sink rather than escaping.
Vinegar — particularly apple cider vinegar, though white vinegar also works — mimics the scent of fermenting fruit that attracts fruit flies. Olive oil adds a fatty layer that enhances the trapping effect. The dish soap or shampoo is the critical component: without it, insects can land on the liquid surface and fly away. With it, they sink on contact.
Place the bowl near the source of the infestation — typically near fruit bowls, compost bins, or houseplants (for fungus gnats). Multiple bowls placed around the kitchen produce faster results. Replace the mixture every few days as it becomes saturated with insects.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup shampoo or dish soap
How to Use
- 1Mix vinegar, olive oil, and shampoo together in a small bowl.
- 2Place the bowl in the kitchen near the area of pest activity.
- 3Leave out for a couple of hours or until insects have been caught.
- 4The shampoo breaks the surface tension so insects that land in the mixture cannot escape.
- 5Discard and replace when the mixture becomes saturated or loses effectiveness.
- 6Repeat as needed until the infestation is resolved.