The Unexpected Kitchen Ingredient That Will Work Wonders In Your Homemade Fly Trap

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Sometimes, in the hotter months, seeing flies in your kitchen can be enough to send you on a bomb-buying spree in a matter of minutes. The warmer temperatures, the flow of door traffic, and the smell of freshly cooked food are enough to convince the common house or fruit fly that your spot is the right place to dwell. And unfortunately, you can't charge flies rent, but you can evict them without notice. Enter hot dogs and ham. It's true — meat is a very useful, albeit unexpected, kitchen ingredient that you can add to your homemade fly trap.

Syrup and other sweet foods, such as fruit or brown sugar, placed inside a closed jar, are a common snare used for luring flies. However, the inclusion of meat products, such as hot dogs, ham, turkey, or beef, can draw the flies in even more, making the traps more effective. Flies have a very sharp sense of smell, which is the main sense that leads them to your home. Not only are they attracted to the decaying smell of the gases released from the spoiling meat, but they're attracted to its heat. 

In addition to this, they also have excellent eyesight and are attracted to high-contrast or brightly colored foods that may be displayed in your dining areas — such as a piece of bright pink meat. The alluring nature of the meat, combined with the escapeless factor of a trap, makes this duo one of the best ways to get rid of flies. 

This is an easy, effective solution to catch flies in your home without a hassle, so you won't have to spend money at the home improvement store. You will need a jar with a lid. But if you don't have one available, you can buy a set of Yingerhuan mason jars online for $14. Also, grab a utility knife or a pair of scissors for this project. Start by using your knife to place about six to eight 1/8-inch holes in the top of the lid.

Next, pour some maple syrup and about five to seven pieces of meat, such as cut-up hot dogs or sliced deli meat, into the jar and close the lid. Afterward, place your trap in a location commonly frequented by flies, but away from unopened food. Once you're satisfied with the number of flies stuck in your trap, clear it out and prepare it again if needed.

There are ways to naturally keep flies out of your house, including sanitizing and eliminating their feeding and breeding locations. Your average housefly is drawn to almost any type of decaying or organic matter, which is why you often find them hovering around pet feces, spoiling food, and compost piles. Using disinfectant spray and keeping your home free of these factors is the first step of prevention. Also, always cover food that's lying on the counter or in the pantry, such as fruits and bread. Lastly, be sure to keep your drains as clean as possible and dump dirty mop water immediately, as both spots can easily become a haven for drain flies.