The Best Traps to Get Ri.d of Fruit Flies for Good

Written by Shaunice Lewis
Updated: March 11, 2023
© iStock.com/Whitepointer

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Dealing with fruit flies can be a nightmare. It seems like they come out of nowhere, attracted to the fruit bowl on your kitchen counter—and they can be difficult to get rid of without the right tools. Using the right traps to get rid of fruit flies can help you enjoy having fresh fruit on the counters again without worrying about creating a fruit fly mess.

We’ve taken a look at some of the best fruit fly traps you can buy and compared them all to find the best ones to get rid of fruit flies for good.

  1. TERRO Ready-to-Use Fruit Fly Trap
    • Works fast
    • Long-lasting
    • Window to Monitor Catches
    • Discreet design
    Check Amazon
  2. BEAPCO Prefilled Fruit Fly Traps
    • 6 Pre-filled traps per pack
    • Non-toxic, safe around food, pets, and children
    • Easy to use
    • Each trap lasts for 30 days
    Check Amazon
  3. RSVP Endurance Ceramic Fruit Fly Trap
    • Made of high-quality ceramic and stainless steel
    • Fill with your own apple cider vinegar or other DIY mixture
    • Attractive, clean design
    • Dishwasher safe
    Check Amazon
  4. MaxGuard Window Fly Traps
    • Easy to apply
    • Traps are transparent
    • Chemical-free and unscented
    • Long-lasting
    Check Amazon

A-Z-Animals Top Picks for Fruit Fly Traps

#1 Best Overall: TERRO Ready-to-Use Fruit Fly Trap

The best overall fruit fly trap in our opinion is the TERRO Ready-to-Use Fruit Fly Trap.

These traps work fast and are great if you’re dealing with a fruit fly infestation. The pack comes with two fruit fly traps and each one can last up to 45 days, meaning you get up to 90 days of fruit fly protection before you’d need another one (if you do). The traps come in a neat apple-shaped design, which fits many kitchen designs very well. Inside the traps is a pre-blended solution that’s designed to draw in the fruit flies and keep them trapped inside. Another benefit of this brand is that the lure is non-staining, so if you happen to spill some it won’t ruin your surfaces! Plus, it’s non-toxic which means it’s safe around pets and animals.

However, customers have reported that the hole on the top is too big and allows flies to simply fly back out.

Pros and Cons of the TERRO Ready-to-Use Fruit Fly Trap

ProsCons
There are two fly traps in each packet.The hole on the top is too big and flies can fly back out.
Each trap lasts for up to 45 days.
They are pre-filled with a ready-to use solution.
It has a non-staining lure so it will not ruin surfaces if it is accidentally spilt.
The ingredients are non-toxic and safe to use around pets and animals.
Best Overall
TERRO Ready-to-Use Fruit Fly Trap
  • Works fast
  • Long-lasting
  • Window to Monitor Catches
  • Discreet design
Check Amazon

2. Best Value: BEAPCO Prefilled Fruit Fly Traps

If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck then check out the BEAPCO Prefilled Fruit Fly Traps.

Each package comes with six fruit fly traps that are all pre-filled with a ready-made solution. Each fruit fly trap will last for 30 days, giving you a long-term supply. These traps are easy to use—all you need to do is pierce the top with a pen and then set it out wherever you’ve seen the fruit flies. There is no maintenance involved with these traps, and when you’re done with them you simply dispose of the entire trap—no need to worry about emptying it or refilling it. The solution used on the inside is also non-toxic, so it’s safe for use around pets and children.

Unfortunately, customers have reported that some flies ignore these traps completely.

Pros and Cons of the BEAPCO Prefilled Fruit Fly Traps

ProsCons
There are six traps in each packet.Some flies ignore these traps completely.
They are pre-filled with a ready-made solution.
They are easy to use and require no maintenance.
The solution is non-toxic and safe for use around pets and animals.
Best Value
BEAPCO Prefilled Fruit Fly Traps
  • 6 Pre-filled traps per pack
  • Non-toxic, safe around food, pets, and children
  • Easy to use
  • Each trap lasts for 30 days
Check Amazon

3. Most Customizable: RSVP Endurance Ceramic Fruit Fly Trap

The most customizable option is the RSVP Endurance Ceramic Fruit Fly Trap.

This fruit fly trap would fit with any kitchen decor. It has the cleanest design of any of the fruit fly traps we’ve mentioned and is made of high-quality ceramic and stainless steel which is dishwasher safe. With this trap, you must add the solution yourself, but it can be as simple as adding a bit of apple cider vinegar. You can also try adding some of the other DIY fruit fly trap solutions we’ve mentioned before as well. Hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar also work great. Either way, you are in full control of what ingredients you choose to put in it.

Pros and Cons of the RSVP Endurance Ceramic Fruit Fly Trap

ProsCons
This trap is made from high-quality ceramic and stainless steel.You need to make and add the solution yourself.
It is dishwasher safe.
You are in full control of what ingredients you use.
Most Customizable
RSVP Endurance Ceramic Fruit Fly Trap
  • Made of high-quality ceramic and stainless steel
  • Fill with your own apple cider vinegar or other DIY mixture
  • Attractive, clean design
  • Dishwasher safe
Check Amazon

4. Best for Windows: MaxGuard Window Fly Traps

In our opinion, the best fruit fly traps for windows are the MaxGuard Window Fly Traps.

These traps are easy to apply to your window — peel off and stick onto a clean window surface. Once they’re stuck, they won’t be able to escape, and you can dispose of the trap when it’s full. Its transparency helps make the traps discreet; you don’t have to worry about them being an eyesore in your home. They are non-toxic because they are chemical-free and unscented for those who like to avoid strong smells. A window fruit fly trap is an excellent option if you’re looking for a subtle trap to eliminate fruit flies.

Unfortunately, some customers have reported that the fruit flies were able to simply walk off the surface of the traps.

Pros and Cons of the MaxGuard Window Fly Traps

ProsCons
These traps are non-toxic, chemical-free, and unscented.Some customers reported that the flies were able to walk off the surface of the trap.
You can dispose of the trap when it’s full.
They are easy to apply to the window surface.
They are transparent to make them discreet.
Best for Windows
MaxGuard Window Fly Traps
  • Easy to apply
  • Traps are transparent
  • Chemical-free and unscented
  • Long-lasting
Check Amazon

Choosing the Best: What to Look For

When choosing the best fruit fly trap there are three important things to keep in mind: quality, ingredients, and use. Making sure you choose a product based on these factors will help ensure that you pick the best option when it comes to getting rid of fruit flies for good. Being sure to keep a clean environment and promptly removing overly ripe fruit from your home will also help cut back on fruit flies in the long run.

Quality

Choose a product that is made out of good quality materials so that your fruit fly traps work as intended and you don’t wind up with chemicals that have spilled from it or a product that is too fragile and breaks. These traps are meant to last for up to 30 days at least and therefore should be made of good quality materials—that way they can stand up to the task for a whole month.

Ingredients

You want to make sure that you’re getting a high-quality product that has strong enough ingredients so that it actually works at attracting the fruit flies to it. If you choose a product that’s too weak or doesn’t use high-quality ingredients, you minimize the effectiveness and lower your chances of capturing all of the fruit flies. This prolongs the situation and can even allow it to spiral out of control since fruit flies reproduce so quickly. If you don’t catch all of the fruit flies fast, you may wind up with an infestation.

Use

You also want to make sure that you’re choosing a fruit fly trap that works for you and your specific needs. If you have children or pets for example, you may want to take extra precautions in making sure that you choose a fruit fly trap that is safe for use around them. This means you might have to check the ingredients and make sure they’re non-toxic so that if there are any accidents, you know your loved ones will be safe.

The Different Types of Fruit Fly Traps: Pros and Cons Compared

There are many different types of fruit fly traps and ways to kill fruit flies, but we’ll just go over a few of the types that we’ve mentioned here in this review. This comparison should help make it a bit easier to narrow down the type of fruit fly trap you’re looking for and which type will best suit your needs.

  • Pre-filled: Pre-filled fruit fly traps are pretty common and contain a solution that is designed to lure in fruit flies based on what they are naturally drawn to, which is the smell of rotting or fermented fruit. These are simple, easy traps to use and come filled with the solution for you.
  • Sticky traps: Some traps are made with a sticky pad that’s designed to catch the fruit flies mid-air, when they’re flying around the fruit fly trap. This makes the fruit fly trap even more effective since you’re utilizing two methods to catch the flies versus simply waiting for them to go inside of the trap.
  • DIY self-fill traps: One of the traps we mentioned is designed as a high-quality container for you to fill with your own solution. This type of fruit fly trap is great for those that want to use their own specific fruit fly bait, but want to have a container that looks nice sitting on their countertop versus using a plain jar or bowl.

Now, let’s go over the pros and cons of each of these types:

Pre-Filled

ProsCons
They are convenient and easy to use.You can’t choose your own solution
They are low maintenance.They may contain harsh or toxic ingredients.

Sticky Traps

ProsCons
They don’t use harsh chemicals.They’re not easy to dispose of.
You can catch fruit flies out of the air.They are an unsightly catch method.

DIY Traps

ProsCons
They offer a clean, modern design.They are not as convenient as you need to make your own solution.
You can fill it with your preferred solution.You need to wash it before you can reuse it.
They are dishwasher safe.They are high maintenance.

About the Author

Freelance writer specializing in natural health and wellness.

The Best Traps to Get Ri.d of Fruit Flies for Good FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What are the main types of fruit fly traps?

There are several types of fruit fly traps including pre-filled, self-fill, and sticky traps.

What is the most effective type of trap?

All of these types have their own pros and cons as we’ve outlined above.  However, it comes down to preference and your own personal situation as to which one you choose to use.  For example, if you have children and pets then you may prefer to use only sticky pad traps, or to create your own non-toxic mixture to use as a self-fill trap.  You don’t have to pick just one type though — you could use two types in different areas of your home if you prefer.

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