My grandma used to do this, and I thought she was just being weird. She’d take a small bowl, pour in some apple cider vinegar, add a squirt of dish soap, and cover it with plastic wrap. Then she’d poke a few holes in the top.
The first time I tried it, I was skeptical. But within an hour, I had four flies floating in the bowl, looking like they’d given up on life. The vinegar lures them in, the soap breaks the surface tension, and they sink like little rocks. It’s oddly satisfying, like watching a tiny jail cell fill up.
What Does Apple Cider Vinegar Do To Fruit Flies at Jean Begaye blog
But What About Repelling, Not Trapping?
Okay, so what if you don’t want to kill flies—you just want them to leave you alone? That’s where white vinegar comes in. While apple cider vinegar attracts, white vinegar has a sharper, more acidic smell that many flies find unpleasant.
You can mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray it on your window sills, door frames, and near your fruit bowl. It won’t last forever, so you’ll need to reapply every day or two. But it’s way better than letting flies use your house as their personal gym.
