Drain lies are never a welcome guest in any house. They hover around our food and clothes, contaminating everything they land on. And, if you have noticed these tiny, hairy insects hovering around your drains, you are probably panicking a little.
But fret not, for we have compiled a list of some effective ways to banish them from your home. We will cover everything from understanding why they love your drains to eliminating their breeding grounds and targeting adult flies.
Drain flies are a type of fly that is less than a quarter-inch with gray to black bodies. They appear fuzzy with hairy bodies and wings, like a moth.
They are caused by clogged pipes containing moisture and organic debris. They breed in damp, humid areas like sinks, showers, bathtubs, floor drains, and laundry rooms.
Drain flies are never a welcome guest in any house. They hover around our food and clothes, contaminating everything they land on. And, if you have noticed these tiny, hairy insects hovering around your drains, you are probably panicking a little.
But fret not, for we have compiled a list of some effective ways to banish them from your home. We will cover everything from understanding why they love your drains to eliminating their breeding grounds and targeting adult flies.
Now that you have confirmed that the pesky insects in your homes are indeed drain flies, how do you get rid of them?
Well, the good news is drain flies can be wiped out in simple steps within about a week if you are devoted to the cause. Plus, all you need are ingredients like vinegar or some store-bought products.
The first step in getting rid of drain flies is removing the main cause, the dirty sinks. Drain flies feed on bacteria and sewage on the kitchen and bathroom sinks, shower and bathtub drains, and basement sinks.
They will also find something to feed on in unused sinks, so do not neglect those. For a clean sink, wet it first and coat it with baking soda and dish soap.
Then, add a little hot water to the cleaning sponge and start scrubbing. Start from the top and work your way down to push the grime directly into the drain. Once you are satisfied, rinse with clean water.
Boiling water is often recommended when cleaning sinks and drains, but this is not a wise decision. Most drain pipes are made of PVC.
This material cannot withstand 212 degrees boiling water and will crack. You will have to repair it and be surprised at how much pipe leak repair cost.
You can use various mixtures for this step, but your choice will depend on what you have at home.
Drain flies are attracted to drains because they know there is food. But how do they know there is food? The substances they feed on, like bacteria, grease, and organic materials, release a foul odor that lures the flies right to the drain.
Therefore, you need to use a baking soda-vinegar mixture. This mixture breaks down the substances and eliminates the odor.
For the mixture, combine 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar. Then, pour the mixture down the drain and leave it overnight. Finish by pouring water down the drain the next morning.
You can try a salt-borax-vinegar mixture if you need a stronger DIY cleaning solution for your drain. These cleaning staples cause a chemical reaction that could remove the most stubborn drain grease and dirt.
If the DIY cleaners are ineffective, use store-bought drain cleaners like Bio-Clean to clear the gunk in your drain. These cleaners contain natural bacteria and enzymes that feed on organic waste (like grease and food particles) that the drain flies eat.
However, do not that these cleaners do not directly target the flies, their eggs, and larvae. On the bright side, they help remove and dissolve the organic matter that attracts the flies. And if there are no tasty treats, those flies will likely find another hang-out spot.
In your battle with drain flies, you need something that targets their egg and larvae. One reliable weapon is mothballs. Mothballs are small cakes of chemical pesticide solid at room temperature. They slowly change to gas and become toxic fumes that kill moths and larvae of pests like drain flies.
Even if you do not know where flies lay their eggs, placing them around dark corners of your house or, in this case, on the drain opening will help repel these pests. After placing the mothball on the drain, cover it with a clear container for at least two weeks to effectively target the egg and larvae within the drain.
Lastly, make an apple cider vinegar trap if there are still a few drain flies buzzing around.
They aren’t smart. They’ll drown in the vinegar. Another way to make an organic trap is to seal off the drain with duct tape for several consecutive nights. The drain flies will stick to the tape and die.
As cliche as it sounds, prevention is better than cure with drain flies. A few female flies can lay up to 300 eggs in a day. It takes a few days for the eggs to become an adult, so if you do the math correctly, 4 to 6 flies can turn into hundreds quickly.
You might be able to get rid of a few flies, but at the rate with which flies reproduce, your efforts would be in vain. Therefore, it is always better to take precautionary steps to prevent them in the first place.
Drain flies thrive in damp environments, and leaky pipes or faucets create the perfect breeding ground for them. Even a tiny drip can sustain a population of these flies.
Leaks can occur behind walls, under sinks, or even underground. These hidden leaks can go unnoticed, allowing drain flies to multiply in secret.
So, addressing leaks promptly prevents further moisture buildup and eliminates the ideal habitat for drain flies. Plus, fixing leaks can save you money on water bills and potential repairs.
After cooking and showering, you should remove the food residues, soap scum, and hair, among other things, left behind on the drain. Light, temperature, and humidity cause these substances to decay and introduce bacteria.
These bacteria, especially in the kitchen, will contaminate other fresh produce and attract drain flies. Additionally, use a strainer to catch debris before it enters the pipes when these drains are in use. After cleaning, cover them if you are using them anymore.
Most of us clean the sink or the outside of the drain regularly. However, the substances inside are what attract the drain flies. Therefore, you should deep clean inside the drain with a bio-enzyme cleaner every once in a while.
These drain cleaners effectively break down organic blockages, such as fats, oils, and food scraps in your drains. This process reduces odors and prevents future clogs and drain flies.
Trash is one of the most common things that attract flies, like drain flies. If your trash can is overflowing with decaying materials and the lid is half open, the flies will see this as the perfect opportunity to lay eggs.
Therefore, the most important thing you can do is keep your garbage cans clean.
Do note that if you live in a densely populated city with high humidity, even a little decayed matter in the trash can is enough to attract flies. So, clean your garbage cans thoroughly and ensure the lid is shut tightly.
Having drain flies can kill your excitement of being in your kitchen. So, to remove them from your sink area, always maintain the cleanliness.
But if your idea of cleaning a kitchen is pouring greasy liquids or food scraps directly down the drain, you should change your tactics.
These greasy materials can build up in your pipes, creating a breeding ground for drain flies and contributing to clogs. Instead, scrape leftover food particles from your plates and utensils into the trash can. Not everything belongs in the garbage disposal!
Most insects enter homes through windows and doors like humans. The only difference is their size. They can fit through the tiniest cracks.
This means that even if you have protected your doors and windows with screens, they are useless if damaged. So, check all the screens and fix them if they are damaged if you cannot stand those flies anymore.
Some smell flies hate, which you cannot get enough of, can be sprayed around your home to repel them and keep your home smelling fresh. They hate the smell of citrus and certain spices and herbs like basil, cloves, peppermint, cinnamon, sage, and many more.
You can also have these plants near the infestation. For example, you can keep a small pot of basil near the kitchen sink to chase away the flies.
Drain flies are attracted to moisture. To reduce their attraction to your drains, ensure proper ventilation in bathrooms by using exhaust fans or opening windows after showering.
Repair any leaks in plumbing fixtures promptly to eliminate excess moisture.
When all else fails, you might need professional help from drain cleaners. We recommend drain cleaners and not pest control companies.
Pest control companies might be able to eradicate drain flies and their eggs and larvae with targeted treatments in your home. However, they cannot get rid of every egg and larvae especially ones that thrive in the the drain pipes. The flies will return as long as the eggs and larvae are in there, the flies will return.
Drain cleaners are better suited for this job. They will take care of the root of the problem to ensure that these pests never enter your home again. Besides getting rid of the eggs and larvae, drain cleaners also help prevent clogs and keep your pipes running smoothly.
