5 Homemade Fly Traps That Always Work

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Some of my favorite things about summer include grilling on the patio, going on a camping trip, or just relaxing in the backyard with a cold drink. It’s the season for picnics, bonfires, gardening, and soaking up the sunshine. But one thing that can ruin it is the buzzing and biting of flies.

Flies are more than just a nuisance. If you have livestock, chickens, compost piles, or even just outdoor pets, you already know how quickly they can become overwhelming. And once they show up, they multiply fast. That’s why it’s so important to get ahead of the problem and keep the population under control.

Luckily, there are lots of clever and effective homemade fly traps. I've found 5 such traps on Youtube, all from people who’ve tested them and proven they work. I shared each of the fly trap videos below along with simple, step-by-step instructions for anyone who wants to try them out. They're inexpensive, easy to make, and work incredibly well.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar & Sugar Jar Trap

How it Works:

Flies and fruit flies are strongly attracted to the smell of apple cider vinegar and sugar. Once inside the jar, the dish soap disrupts the surface tension, causing the flies to sink and drown. The plastic wrap with holes prevents escape and keeps things tidy.

Instructions:

1. Use a mason jar or an empty plastic bottle.
2. Pour in 1 cup of apple cider vinegar.
3. Add ½ cup of water.
4. Stir in ¼ cup of sugar.
5. Add just a couple of drops of dish soap. This breaks the surface tension so flies can’t land and escape.
6. Cover the top with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap or Glad Wrap).
7. Secure the wrap with a jar ring or a rubber band so it’s tight like a drum.
8. Poke small holes in the plastic wrap, just big enough for flies and fruit flies to crawl through.
9. Set the trap in a fly-prone area, such as your kitchen, dining room, or patio.

Flies will be lured by the scent, enter through the holes, and get trapped in the liquid. A tidy and effective solution for indoor or covered outdoor use.

2. Hot Dog and Syrup Jar Trap

How it Works:

This ultra-budget fly trap relies on the scent of meat and sweet syrup to draw flies in. Once inside the jar, flies land in the sticky mixture and become trapped or drown. It’s low-maintenance, doesn’t smell foul, and doesn’t produce maggots because the flies die quickly.

Instructions:

1. Grab a clean, empty jar with a lid or use an open-top jar.
2. Poke pencil-sized holes (or slightly smaller) in the lid so flies can easily enter. If using no lid, place a paper or foil cover with holes or leave it open and place the jar in a protected area.
3. Chop 1 hot dog into small pieces and drop them into the jar.
4. Add pancake syrup (or any cheap syrup) until it covers the hot dog pieces.
5. Swirl the jar gently to coat everything.
6. Set the jar outside in a fly-heavy area near trash bins, compost, or seating areas.

Within a day or two, flies will be visibly accumulating inside the jar. The trap is odor-controlled and can remain effective for up to a week or two before needing to be refreshed.

3. Liver & Blood Bottle Fly Trap (Light-Lure Design)

How it Works:

This trap uses the strong smell of decomposing meat and the visual lure of light through a black cap to attract flies. Once inside, they can’t escape and drown in the liquid.

Instructions:

1. Use a clear 2-liter soda bottle and cut off the top third.
2. Trim the top piece so it fits snugly upside down in the bottle base.
3. Drill an 8 mm hole in the center of a black plastic bottle cap.
4. Heat a paperclip or nail and pierce three evenly spaced holes near the top of the bottle for hanging.
5. Place pieces of raw liver and other organ meat (like rabbit head) into the bottom of the bottle.
6. Add blood if available and pour in water to fill about halfway.
7. Insert the top portion of the bottle upside down into the base.
8. Screw the black cap onto the top of the inverted funnel.
9. Thread string through each of the three holes and tie them together to create a hanging loop.
10. Hang the trap outdoors near sunny, warm surfaces but away from doorways.
11. Wait 2–3 days for the bait to begin attracting flies.
12. Replace the contents when the trap becomes full or overly foul.

4. Rotten Egg Fermentation Trap (Peanut Butter Jar Fly Trap)

How it Works:

Flies are powerfully attracted to the smell of decaying organic matter — and few things smell more enticing to them than fermented eggs. This trap combines that with a jar designed to trap flies inside once they enter through small holes.

Instructions:

1. Crack 1–2 eggs into a container. Add a little water and stir.
2. Let the mixture ferment for 1–2 weeks in a warm, sunny spot with the lid on to accelerate the rotting process.
3. Use a clean plastic peanut butter jar or similar container with a screw-on lid.
4. Drill or poke six holes into the lid, each roughly 15/64 inches wide, just large enough for flies to enter but small enough to keep them from escaping.
5. Pour the fermented egg mixture into the jar until it reaches about 500 grams total weight (or fill roughly ¾ full).
6. Screw on the lid with holes securely.
7. Tie twine or string around the jar to make a hanging loop.
8. Hang the trap outside near sunny siding or warm surfaces, where flies tend to breed.

Avoid placing it near doors or windows since the smell can attract flies toward entry points. Within a few hours, the trap will begin catching flies.

The longer the bait ferments, the stronger it gets and the more effective the trap becomes. You can even make multiple batches and rotate them for continuous control.

This is one of the most potent outdoor traps for mass fly infestations. It's great for farms, barns, or heavily fly-trafficked zones.

5. Sugar-Vinegar Dish Soap Solution

How it Works:

This homemade liquid lure combines sugar and vinegar to attract flies with a sweet-sour scent. The dish soap breaks the surface tension of the liquid so that when flies land, they sink and drown instead of escaping.

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl or jar, pour 1 cup of warm or boiling water.
2. Add ¼ cup of granulated sugar and stir until fully dissolved.
3. Pour in ¼ cup of vinegar (white or apple cider both work).
4. Add 1 tablespoon of dish soap.
5. Gently stir to mix without creating foam or bubbles.
6. Pour the mixture into your fly trap container. This can be a jar, bowl, or recycled bottle with an entry funnel.
7. Place the trap in fly-prone areas, either indoors or outdoors.

This solution works well in traps designed with narrow openings or funnels, ensuring flies enter but can’t get out.

Bonus Trap: Yeast and Sugar Trap (for Fruit Flies)

How it Works:

This trap mimics the fermentation process, attracting fruit flies with the smell of yeast and sugar. Once inside the bottle, the flies have difficulty escaping.

Instructions:

1. Cut the top third off another plastic bottle.
2. Heat water to 110°F (warm, not boiling).
3. Pour the warm water into the bottle.
4. Add active dry yeast (around ¼ teaspoon).
5. Stir in 4 tablespoons of sugar to activate the yeast.
6. Place the cut-off bottle top inverted into the bottom to form a funnel.
7. Position the trap near fruit bowls, compost bins, drains, or anywhere fruit flies are active.

After a couple of days, the trap should be visibly catching fruit flies.

You May Also Like:

• 15 Natural Fly Traps and Repellents That Actually Work
• 2 DIY Mosquito Traps That Are Easy To Make
• 3 Homemade Pest Traps for Your Garden
• The Easiest Way To Kill Flies
• 7 DIY Mosquito Traps and Repellents

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