How to Make a Fly Trap From an Empty Soda Bottle

Flies can be a nuisance, buzzing around your home and landing on your food. An easy way to trap flies is by making a simple fly trap from an empty soda bottle. This homemade trap is inexpensive, easy to make, and effective at catching flies.

What You’ll Need

To make a homemade fly trap from a soda bottle, you’ll need:

• An empty 2-liter plastic soda bottle
• Scissors
• Tape (duct tape, masking tape, or packing tape)
• String or wire
• Bait – sugary liquid works best (syrup, juice, soda)

How to Make the Fly Trap

Making a homemade fly trap is simple and takes just a few minutes. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Cut the Soda Bottle

Take the empty 2-liter soda bottle and use scissors to cut off the top one-third of the bottle. This will leave you with a bottle “base” and a funnel-shaped “top” portion.

Step 2: Invert the Top Portion

Take the funnel-shaped top portion and turn it upside down. Insert it into the base of the bottle, forming a funnel that will guide flies into the trap.

The inverted top needs to fit snugly into the base. If it’s too loose, use tape to seal any gaps. You want the flies to be able to enter but not escape.

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Step 3: Add Bait

Pour approximately 2-3 inches of bait liquid into the bottle. Sugary liquids like juice, soda, syrup, or fruit juice work best to attract flies.

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Step 4: Hang the Trap

Use string or wire to hang your fly trap in an area where you’ve seen flies congregating. Hang it 2-4 feet off the ground.

Flies will be drawn to the bait. Once inside, they’ll become trapped in the inverted funnel, unable to find their way out.

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That’s it! Your homemade fly trap made from a soda bottle is complete.

Tips for an Effective Fly Trap

Follow these tips to make your homemade soda bottle fly trap as effective as possible:

• Use old bait: The bait loses its sweet sugary scent after a day or two. Old stinky bait works better to lure flies into the trap.
• Use yeasty bait: Flies are attracted to the smell of yeast and fermentation. Adding some yeast or beer to your bait can make it more enticing.
• Hang trap in sunny spots: Flies gravitate toward light and warmth. Hanging your trap in sunny outdoor spots will attract more flies.
• Cover openings with tape: Seal any small gaps in the inverted funnel’s fitting with tape so flies cannot escape once inside.
• Clean trap regularly: Empty decaying flies and refresh bait every 2-3 days to keep trap working efficiently.
• Use multiple traps: For heavy fly infestations, hang traps in several problem areas around your home.

How Does a Soda Bottle Fly Trap Work?

Fly traps made from empty soda bottles work in a simple yet clever way. Here’s a step-by-step explanation:

1. The bait inside the bottle emits an aroma that attracts flies. They smell the sweetness and are drawn to investigate it.
2. Flies enter the bottle through the inverted funnel top, landing on the bait.
3. With the angled funnel pointing downward, flies are unable to locate the small exit opening again.
4. The smooth plastic walls make it impossible for flies to land and crawl back out the funnel.
5. Trapped inside, flies eventually drown and die in the liquid bait.
6. Dead flies and bait produce further odors that continue attracting more flies into the trap.

Where to Place a Homemade Fly Trap

Ideal locations to hang your homemade soda bottle fly trap include:

• Near garbage cans and compost piles where flies gather
• Inside or just outside barns and stables
• On porches or patios
• In garages or carports
• Near pet areas and litter boxes
• On fences or posts in yards and gardens
• Around the perimeter of houses and sheds

Anywhere you notice flies buzzing about and landing is a prime candidate for trap placement. Hang traps 2-4 feet off the ground in areas protected from wind and rain. And use multiple traps around large properties to cover more ground.

Bait Ideas for Fly Traps

The bait you use in your homemade fly trap is key to its success. Flies seek out sugary and fermented substances. Here are some effective bait options:

• Fruit juice (particularly citrus, apple, or grape juice)
• Soda pop or sweetened iced tea
• Maple syrup, corn syrup, or honey
• Spoiled wine or vinegar
• Yeast dissolved in warm water
• Chopped fruit like melon or banana
• A mixture of sugar and water
• Old soda from a previously used fly trap

For the best results, let juice or prepared bait sit out uncovered for a day or two. The fermentation process makes the bait more pungent and attractive to flies.

Avoid using thick bait like jam or preserves—flies could get stuck and die in the bait rather than drowning in the liquid.

Troubleshooting a Homemade Fly Trap

Here are some common problems and solutions for troubleshooting a homemade soda bottle fly trap:

Problem: Flies do not seem attracted to the trap.

Solution: Old, fermented bait works better than fresh bait. Let it sit out uncovered for 1-2 days before using. Also move the trap closer to problem areas where you’ve observed flies gathering.

Problem: Flies are in the trap but quickly escape.

Solution: Seal any gaps in the inverted funnel’s fitting with tape so flies cannot find their way out.

Problem: The trap catches just a few flies but doesn’t control the problem.

Solution: Try using more traps. Space traps every 6-10 feet in heavily infested areas. Replace bait every 2-3 days when it starts smelling rank.

Problem: Flies are drowning in the bait rather than the container.

Solution: Avoid thick bait like jam. Use a liquid bait instead so flies drown in the container rather than getting stuck in a thick bait.

Problem: The trap gets filled with other bugs and pests.

Solution: Make the opening slit smaller to exclude larger insects. Or try a different bait that is less appealing to non-fly insects.

With some strategic troubleshooting, you can fine-tune your homemade fly trap to become maximally effective at controlling pesky fly infestations.

Using a Homemade Trap as Part of an Integrated Pest Management Strategy

While homemade soda bottle fly traps can help reduce flies around your home, they work best when used as one part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy.

Some other tactics to include in your fly management plan:

• Install window and door screens to keep flies outdoors
• Use range hoods and fans to disrupt indoor fly zones
• Store food in sealed containers and promptly remove trash
• Use natural repellents like lemongrass, basil, and mint
• Apply commercial fly baits and traps
• Keep areas clean and dry to discourage fly breeding
• Use a fly swatter or electric bug zapper for quick control

A comprehensive IPM plan that combines homemade traps, environmental controls, and targeted chemical treatments will provide the best defense against flies. The soda bottle trap offers a kid-friendly, earth-friendly boost to your efforts.

Safety Tips When Making and Using Homemade Fly Traps

Building and using your homemade soda bottle fly trap involves a few safety considerations:

• Supervise children: Monitor young kids closely and don’t let them assemble traps unsupervised.
• Use caution when cutting: The plastic bottle can create sharp edges when cut. Adults should handle cutting responsibilities.
• Avoid touching bait: Sugary, fermented bait can grow bacteria and mold. Limit hand contact and wash up after handling.
• Hang traps securely: Use fishing line or wire to suspend traps out of pets’ and kids’ reach.
• Keep traps away from food areas: Don’t place fly traps directly above countertops or dining tables.
• Wash hands after maintenance: Emptying decaying flies and old bait can expose you to potential contaminants. Clean hands thoroughly afterwards.
• Discard traps responsibly: Seal used traps in plastic bags before placing in main trash containers to contain odors and fluids.

Exercising prudent care when making and maintaining homemade fly traps will keep the project safe as well as effective!

FAQs About Homemade Fly Traps

What is the best bait for a homemade fly trap?

The most effective baits are sweet, fruity, fermented liquids like apple cider, grape juice, sugar water mixed with yeast, etc. Letting the bait sit out uncovered for 1-2 days makes it more pungent and attractive to flies.

Where is the best place to hang a homemade fly trap?

Ideal spots are on fences, posts, or tree branches 2-4 feet off the ground near areas where you notice lots of flies, like compost piles, barns, kennels, patios, and garbage cans.

How often do you need to change the bait in a fly trap?

Replace the bait every 2-3 days. The bait starts to lose its scent after a day or two. Replacing with fresh bait keeps the trap working optimally.

Should I use hot or cold water for making bait?

Warm water helps dissolve sugary baits like syrups. But room temperature or cold water will work too. The key is letting the mixed bait sit out long enough to ferment and get stinky.

Is it okay to touch the dead flies or bait in the trap?

It’s best not to handle the trap contents. Decaying flies and bait can harbor bacteria. Empty traps carefully without contact. Always wash hands after maintaining traps.

Can you use a homemade fly trap indoors?

Outdoor use is best. Indoors, the decaying bait will create unpleasant odors. However, you can use traps right inside entryways or screened porches with some ventilation.

Design Variations for Homemade Fly Traps

While a soda bottle is the quintessential vessel for DIY fly traps, you can get creative with different containers and bait delivery methods.

Alternative vessels:

• Glass jars or bottles
• Milk jugs or cartons
• 5-gallon buckets
• Aluminum roasting pans
• Baby food jars
• Plastic food containers
• Paint cans with rope wick

Different bait holders:

• Soaked rags or paper towels
• Cotton balls
• Crumpled paper
• Shallow plastic containers
• Aluminum pie tins
• Sponges
• Plastic netting or mesh bags

Unique bait delivery:

• Cotton rope as wicking system
• Plastic straws inserted through lid
• Small holes poked in sides
• Slits cut into sides instead of inverted top
• Mesh screened funnel instead of solid top

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different containers and baiting methods. The basic principles remain the same. And you’re likely to find a design that’s ideally suited to your setting.

Final Thoughts

Homemade fly traps crafted from empty soda bottles provide an ingenious, ecologically friendly way to control pesky flies without using insecticides.

While incredibly simple to make, these traps rely on clever designs that lure flies in but prevent their escape. Placed strategically around your home and property, they can significantly reduce fly populations.

But for best results integrate homemade traps into a multifaceted pest management plan that includes sanitation, exclusion, and nontoxic treatments.

Done right, deploying DIY soda bottle fly traps will have you saying “so long” to annoying flies around your home sweet home. Give it a try and outsmart these winged pests!