Fruit flies can be a real nuisance in the home, but one common cooking ingredient may help to get rid of them for good - and it's not vinegar. A Reddit user has shared a DIY trap method using soy sauce, which costs around £1.50 per bottle, as a more powerful alternative to apple cider vinegar.
The minuscule insects are notoriously difficult to eliminate as they're frequently too small for fly sprays or conventional traps to work effectively, and they can breed rapidly, particularly if their eggs were already present on your fruit at purchase.
Why soy sauce works
According to the Reddit user, fruit flies "love fermented stuff," so they suggested replacing vinegar with soy sauce. The contributor offered their advice on a thread seeking assistance with fruit flies, responding to another user who reported moderate success using an apple cider vinegar trap. Despite this, they mentioned numerous flies remained throughout their property, so they wanted something more powerful.
They stated: "The best thing I've ever used is soy sauce. They love fermented stuff. I put soy sauce in a shallow dish, cover it with [cling film], and poke pencil-sized holes [in the film]. Works a treat."
Additional tips and trap variations
The same contributor also suggested "pouring bleach down all of your drains" during evening hours to combat an infestation of the minuscule insects, while emphasising the necessity of "keeping a clean house" without fruit, wine, beer, or juice remaining on worktops.
Further contributors advised the original poster to maintain their traps even once the flies appear to have vanished, as they "breed so fast" that staying ahead of potential recurrence proves more effective. One individual stated: "I always have these traps out, they breed so fast that it's better to get out ahead of it."
Another contributed: "Use cider vinegar and a bit of dish detergent. If it's definitely fruit flies, a small piece of fruit in there will help. Cover the container with plastic wrap and poke a few good-sized holes in the wrap."
While a third commented: "I've found using those six-by-eight sticky trap fly sheets stuck to the side of a disposable cup with ACV and a drop of dish soap works wonders. Literally caught dozens in a matter of hours."
How to make a fruit fly trap
If you're dealing with lots of fruit flies, you can make a traditional fruit fly trap that will lure the insects in and then kill them. All you need is a few everyday kitchen items.
You will need:
- A small jar, cup, or glass
- Cling film
- An elastic band
- Apple cider vinegar (or ripe fruit, wine, or soy sauce)
- A toothpick or fork
Instructions:
- Add Attractant: Pour about 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar into the jar. If you don't have vinegar, you can use a piece of ripe fruit or a bit of wine or beer.
- Cover: Stretch a piece of cling film over the mouth of the jar.
- Secure: Use an elastic band to hold the plastic wrap tightly in place.
- Poke Holes: Use a toothpick or fork to poke several small holes in the plastic wrap. The holes should be big enough for fruit flies to enter, but not so large that they can easily escape.
- Set Trap: Place the trap near where you've seen fruit flies (like near fruit bowls, trash cans, or sinks).
