To make a basic fruit-fly trap, pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar into a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Make several tiny holes in the covering. The flies can enter through the openings and may have difficulty getting back out. Replacing the vinegar regularly and keeping nearby surfaces, drains, fruit bowls, and garbage areas clean can make the approach more effective.

Another reason some homeowners keep vinegar nearby is odor control. Vinegar contains acetic acid and may help neutralize certain odor-causing compounds. It isn’t an air purifier and won’t eliminate every unpleasant smell, but some people use a small bowl of white vinegar in areas affected by cooking, garbage, or other household odors.

The method requires very little effort. Apple cider vinegar is generally preferred when attracting fruit flies, while ordinary white vinegar can be used when the main goal is addressing odors. However, vinegar should always be handled safely. Never mix vinegar with chlorine bleach, because the combination can release dangerous chlorine gas. Bowls should also be kept where children and pets cannot easily reach or spill them.

Of course, vinegar isn’t a replacement for proper cleaning and prevention. Storing fruit correctly, removing food waste, cleaning spills, keeping garbage containers closed, and maintaining window screens remain important. Ultimately, a bowl of vinegar beside a window isn’t a mysterious secret—it’s simply an inexpensive household trick that may help with fruit flies or certain unwanted odors during warmer months.