How To Get Rid Of Drain Flies: 7 Simple Solutions
If you’ve started to notice small fuzzy flies shooting up from your kitchen sink, you may have a pest problem. Any sort of fly buzzing around your home can drive you crazy, as it seems they make it their whole life’s mission to bug you. Whether you turn, there is a fly. That’s why it’s best to deal with the issue as soon as possible. Drain flies may measure only an eight of an inch, but they like to gather in large numbers around all your drains. This makes them quite the nuisance. After all who wants to deal with flies while they are showering or doing the dishes? That’s why today we are going to tell you how to get rid of drain flies easily and permanently.
Drain flies are quite the nuisance
In this article
What Are Drain Flies?
Drain flies, also known as sink flies or moth flies, are tiny little pests no bigger than 5 mm. They have moth-like wings and round fuzzy bodies. Drain flies come in a variety of colors but usually range from pale gray to black. While their name may suggest they can fly, these little creatures actually can’t. Rather they take large hops to get around your home. They have a short lifespan but reproduce quick, so it’s best to deal with them as fast as possible. These pests like to hang around water sources, so you will find them congregating around your sinks, shower or bathtub drains, storm drains, wet mops, compost pile, sewer, and so on. They survive on the organic material found that builds up in standing water, which includes sewage and other contaminated waters. That’s why your drains are the perfect place for them to thrive and reproduce.
Drain flies have moth-like wings and round fuzzy bodies
How To Get Rid Of Drain Flies
While these pests aren’t necessarily harmful to humans, when in greater masses they can carry bacteria. The main problem with them is their fast reproductive qualities, as a few flies today can turn into hundreds in a matter of a couple of days. On the bright side, there are plenty of effective methods to get rid of them. Depending on your infestations degree, you can either take the natural route or the chemical route. Either way, the drain flies don’t stand a chance.
There are plenty of effective methods to get rid of these flies
#Boiling water
This may be one of the cheapest and easiest methods you can try. If you are dealing with a couple of flies, some boiling water will get the job done. All you have to do is boil some water and pour it down the drain. Do this once or twice every day for a week, until there are no more flies. In general, this method is also great at preventing them in the long run. For prevention, you can do it once or twice every week.
This may be one of the cheapest and easiest methods you can try
#Vinegar, salt, and baking soda
It’s time to rummage through our pantry for this amazing DIY natural cleaning solution for drains. Combine half a cup of salt with half a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar. Mix everything and pour it down the drain. Leave the mixture to work it’s magic overnight. Then the next day, pour boiling water down the drain to clear out the mixture. This method is a bit more effective than the just using boiling water as the baking soda expands with the vinegar, which means it reaches more areas.
Mix everything and pour it down the drain
#Drain cleaner
Store bought drain cleaners, like Bio-Clean, are a great choice if you need something more heavy duty. The chemicals in them are created to unclog your drains while clearing out all the debris and organic material build-up that may be making your drains the perfect breeding ground for these pesky flies. By clearing everything out, the cleaners not only get rid of the flies but also from any eggs they may have laid.
Store bought drain cleaners are a great choice if you need something more heavy duty
#DIY trap
Much like fruit flies, these pests are also a sucker for a good sugary temptation. But in reality, who isn’t? Take out a bowl and fill it with some water, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of dish soaps. A weird combination, but trust us, the flies will love it. Place the bowl near the drain and wait. The sweetness of this mix will attract the flies and they will jump straight into the trap. Thanks to the thickness of the dish soap, once the flies are in the bowl, they won’t be able to get out. This method is great if you have a smaller infestation, but it may not be as effective if you are dealing with a lot of flies. For best results, use it in combination with some of the other methods.
The sweetness of this mix will attract the flies
@The Spruce
#Chemical spray
If you need something hard hitting, a chemical bug spray can help get the job done. Many common pest killers, such as those for gnats, are also very effective for drain flies. But to be sure they will work may sure to see if this type of pest is listed on their label. It’s also important to check if they contain caustic chemicals, as some sprays it is best to keep out of your kitchen. You also need to take into account what type of drain you have and what materials it is made of, as not all chemical sprays are suitable for every type of pipe.
A chemical bug spray can help get the job done
#Apple cider vinegar trap
This is another super easy DIY trap you can make in combination with other methods. All you will need is a bowl, some apple cider vinegar, and plastic wrap. Just pour some vinegar into your dish and cover it with the plastic wrap. Then with a toothpick make some holes in the wrap. The flies will be lured in by the smell of vinegar but will get trapped inside thanks to the wrap.
This is another super easy DIY trap you can make
#Call the professionals
If your drain fly infestation is getting out of hand and you feel like no method is doing its job, it may be time to let the professionals take over. Give your local pest control providers a call and tell them about your situation. They can help get the infestation under control in no time, no matter how bad it has gotten.
Give your local pest control providers a call
How To Prevent Drain Flies
The easiest way to prevent these pesky flies from taking over your drains is to regularly clean your pipes. This will prevent the build-up of organic materials, which means the flies won’t have a good food source. You can also close up drains that you don’t use on the regular with a stopper to make sure these flies won’t make it their home in it. It’s also important to keep an eye out for any other types of standing water in your home, such as dirty mop buckets. These should also be cleaned and taken care if you want to avoid a drain fly infestation.
Make sure to regularly clean your pipes
These were the most effective ways on how to get rid of drain flies. We hope you found this article useful. Now you won’t have to worry about any more of these pesky flies shooting up from your drain.
These were the most effective ways on how to get rid of drain flies
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