Behind this promise lies a simple household trick that can be used in two different ways: as a mechanical trap for fruit flies or as a scent barrier against mosquitoes.
- The Fruit Fly Trap with a Paper Funnel
The paper towel is used here to create an escape barrier.
Instructions:
Fill a glass two-thirds full with apple cider vinegar, a little fruit juice, and a drop of dish soap.
Roll a sheet of kitchen paper (or regular paper) into a funnel with a small opening (about 2–3 mm) at the bottom.
Place the funnel in the glass with the tip pointing downwards and secure the edges tightly to the glass with tape.
Effect: The fruit flies are attracted by the scent of vinegar and fly down through the funnel. Once inside the glass, they can’t find their way back up. The dish soap breaks the surface tension of the liquid, causing any flies that land to sink immediately.
- Paper Towels as Scent Distributors Against Mosquitoes and Flies
Mosquitoes and fruit flies are strongly guided by smell. A paper towel soaked in a scent acts as a passive diffuser for repellents.
Instructions:
Drizzle a paper towel with a few drops of essential oil (peppermint, eucalyptus, eucalyptus citriodora, or clove oil are particularly effective) or white vinegar.
Place the towel on the windowsill, next to the fruit bowl, or near the trash can.
Effect: Mosquitoes avoid the strong aromas of certain essential oils. For fruit flies, the smell of vinegar or oil masks the scents of ripening fruit, preventing them from even approaching the bowl.
Instructions: What the trick actually achieves
The paper towel trick is an inexpensive and chemical-free quick fix, but it doesn’t address the root causes:
Fruit flies: They only disappear permanently when overripe fruit is stored covered in the refrigerator, organic waste is emptied daily, and kitchen drains are cleaned regularly (where flies often lay their eggs).
Mosquitoes: While they can be kept at bay with scents, the most reliable barriers remain fly screens on windows and removing standing water from rain barrels or plant saucers where the larvae nest.