Carolyn J. Braden • 4 Minute Read
Best Gnat & Fruit Fly Traps for a Bug-Free Home: Smart Solutions That Actually Work
We live in SWFL Florida and battling bugs is a year-round task for us, but within the last 5 years, we have tested many solutions and found some that work! In this guide, we’re covering the best gnat and fruit fly traps that actually work, including store-bought solutions, homemade trap recipes, and long-term prevention tips for a bug-free home.
Gnats hang out around over watered plants
Gnat vs. Fruit Fly: What’s the Difference?
Before you trap them, you need to know what you’re trapping.
Pest: Fruit Flies
Appearance: Tan body, red eyes
Where They Breed: Rotting produce, sugary residue
Attracted To: Fruit, juice, wine, vinegar
Pest: Fungus Gnats
Appearance: Thin black bodies, mosquito-like
Where They Breed: Soil, damp houseplants
Attracted To:Moist dirt, organic matter
If you see bugs swarming your fruit bowl, you likely have fruit flies. If they’re hovering near houseplants? Fungus gnats are the culprit. Either way — we’re taking them down.
Why You Need Traps (Not Just Cleaning)
Good sanitation in your home is essential, but cleaning alone rarely eliminates an infestation. A single female fruit fly can lay up to 500 eggs, and gnats reproduce just as fast — so even one missed breeding site can restart the whole cycle.
Traps help by:
✔ Capturing adults
✔ Interrupting breeding
✔ Reducing population quickly
✔ Preventing re-infestation
Good to note: Cleaning prevents them. Traps eliminate them.
Our Safer Home brand light trap works!
Best Store-Bought Traps (Fast + Effective)
If you want quick, low-effort results, these store-bought traps are your best bet:
1. Sticky Gnat Traps
StickyBoard attract gnats like magnets. Place near houseplants, trash, windows, or drains.
Our Zevo trap is very effective too!
2. Plug-In UV Light Traps
These attract gnats using light, then trap them with suction or adhesive. Great for kitchens and bathrooms at night. We tested Zevo and they work! We also tested a budget friendly similar sticky light traps from Safter Home from Amazon and they work great too.
We were happy that the off-brand version allowed us to turn the plug so we could fit it in many areas. The Zevo did not offer that, but its slim design is helpful in the kitchen when trying to fit it in behind a coffee maker.
Vinegar catches gnats and fruit flies well
3. Vinegar-Based Fruit Fly Traps
Ready-to-use lures made with apple cider vinegar draw flies instantly. Just open and set — no mixing required. We use apple cider vinegar and these cute little apple shaped containers from Amazon and they work! We used the Terro brand that comes with a solution, but in our testing, apple cider vinegar tested better IF you refill it every couple of days.
4. Automatic Indoor Insect Traps
Small tabletop devices that pull insects inside with a quiet fan. Perfect for heavy infestations.
Tip: Use more than one type at the same time for fastest results.
We use a UV light for cleaning too. See how we use it in our 1-minute video below or via our YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
DIY Gnat & Fruit Fly Traps That Actually Work
If you prefer natural or budget-friendly options, these homemade traps work just as well.
🍎 1. Apple Cider Vinegar + Dish Soap Trap
The internet favorite — because it works.
You’ll Need:
Small bowl or jar
Apple cider vinegar
A few drops of dish soap
How to Use:
Fill a jar with ACV, add dish soap, and leave uncovered. Flies dive in and can’t escape.
🍯 2. Overripe Fruit Trap
Fruit flies love fermentation — use it against them.
Place a piece of ripe or rotting fruit in a jar, cover with plastic wrap, poke tiny holes. They enter but can't escape.
Wine can lure bugs easily
🍷 3. Wine Trap
If you’ve got a leftover glass from last night, don’t pour it out—use it to catch fruit flies. They’re drawn to the sugars and yeasts, and the alcohol lures them inside. The Kitchn has a full tutorial here.
🍞 4. Yeast + Sugar Gnat Trap
This works best for fungus gnats.
Mix warm water, a teaspoon of sugar, and a sprinkle of yeast. Cover the jar with plastic wrap and poke holes. Gnats crawl in and stay trapped.
Natural Repellents That Keep Bugs Away
Pair traps with natural deterrents for double the power.
Lemongrass, peppermint, or eucalyptus essential oils
Herbal plants like basil + mint (I keep a sprig on our window sill in a vase, and it will root, making it plantable in the spring!)
Vinegar + dish soap surface spray
Diatomaceous earth for plant soil
Good to note: Traps kill. Repellent prevents.
Fruit attracts bugs
Best Places to Set Traps
For fastest results, place traps where bugs originate:
📍 Next to sinks and drains
📍 Beside fruit bowls or compost bins
📍 Around trash and recycling
📍 On soil of houseplants
📍 Under kitchen cabinets
📍 Near windows and light sources
Do this: Set multiple traps for 24–48 hours and watch populations drop fast.
How to Keep Gnats + Fruit Flies from Coming Back
Prevention is everything. Here’s the routine that keeps them away long-term:
Wash fruit after bringing it home
Keep sink drains free of debris
Store produce in the fridge when possible
Take out trash daily (this has proven to be VERY effective for us!)
Rinse recycling containers
Don’t overwater houseplants — moist soil breeds gnats
Clean counters + crumbs nightly
Good to note: A few small habits make a big difference.
The Zevo slimly fits behind a coffee maker in our kitchen
Final Thoughts
Gnats and fruit flies might be annoying, but you don’t have to live with them. With the right traps — homemade or store-bought — you can eliminate them quickly and keep your home fresh, clean, and completely bug-free. Start with vinegar traps, add a sticky card or UV device for backup, and pair everything with good prevention habits. You’ll reclaim your space in no time.
Take Action
I encourage you to try our ideas with your own creative twists and share them on your social accounts! If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
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Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.