Banana flies aren’t just a summer nuisance — they can invade your home all year long, especially during the winter when they seek warmth and food indoors.
Luckily, a quick and cost-effective solution requires just two common kitchen ingredients: white vinegar and either olive oil or dish soap.
The TikTok Hack That Works
TikTok user Em recently shared her method for trapping banana flies without expensive store-bought solutions.
Here’s how it works:
Fill a clean glass halfway with white vinegar.
Add a splash of olive oil or dish soap.
Place the glass near areas where flies gather, such as the fruit bowl or trash can.
The vinegar attracts the flies, while the soap or oil traps them by breaking the surface tension, preventing escape. Em reported catching 30 flies in less than 48 hours using this technique.
Variations and Tips
Apple Cider Vinegar: Many users suggest substituting white vinegar with apple cider vinegar for its sweeter scent, which can be even more effective.
Dilution with Water: To stretch your ingredients, mix the vinegar with a little water without losing its effectiveness.
Preventing Banana Flies for Good
TikTok expert Ann Russell emphasizes that a clean kitchen is key to keeping banana flies at bay. Even small scraps, like a drop of fruit juice behind the trash bin, can attract these pests.
Here’s how to prevent their return:
Clean the kitchen thoroughly with hot, soapy water.
Flush drains daily with boiling water for two weeks.
Empty and clean trash and compost bins regularly.
By combining these preventive measures with the vinegar-and-soap trick, you can quickly eliminate banana flies and keep them from coming back.
