4. Now you have to prevent them from coming back Prevent drain worms by keeping humidity low, unclogging drains and sealing crevices in the shower. Heres how to get rid of drain flies with vinegar and baking soda: Pour cup of baking soda into your drain. The Terminix team offers extensive pest control services in all states except for Alaska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Repeat several nights in a row to fully assess the issue. 4. Their wings and bodies are covered with hairs and when crushed, they leave a powdery smudge. Poke small holes in the plastic wrap or cling film to lure flies in but prevent them from escaping. If any of your drains are backed up, chances are that those are the root of the problem. With regular scrubbing most drain fly problems clear up in a week. If you see some hanging around your kitchen or bathroom, follow these steps to identify the source of drain flies and eliminate them. Fill a jar, mug, or dish with an inch of apple cider vinegar. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,478,921 times. Thanks for the help. Drain flies can come from many different places, so often its hard to find all breeding sites, especially if theres an extensive infestation. Thanks & Welcome to the Forbes Home Improvement Community! Published 28 February 23. Here are the most common places where drain flies can come from: Pro Tip: Check out this article where I explain how you can find all breeding places using some awesome (and simple!) While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Home does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. This will trap the flies. Keep reading to learn about what attracts these pests and find out how to get rid of drain flies. Adult Drain Flies Keep Getting Inside From Outside, + 1: Make Sure You Dont Confuse Drain Flies with Other Flying Insects, Parts of a Door: All You Need to Know [With Diagram], 9 Simple Ways to Unlock a Door With a Hole, How to Lock a Door With a Chair: 3 Methods That Work, These Are the Strongest and Most Secure Hinges. Is there anything more pestering than discovering unwanted visitors in your home? All rights reserved. Drain flies can lay eggs in the film that forms on the inside of pipes and drains when water pools and collects sewage. To ensure infestations dont occur its important to keep drains as clean and dry as possible. Drain flies tend to lay eggs in areas that make perfect environments such as wet matter and build up in clogged and greasy drains, sewage, compost piles, storm drains and septic tanks. WebGenerally, the best control for these flies is to remove the breeding site, which is the organic material that collected in the drain. A few hours later, pour boiling water down the drain. Since getting on the property market with her first apartment and then more recently a house, her passion for interior design and gardening has taken on a new lease of life. Overall, they cause no proven harm to your health, even if they are a serious nuisance in your home. WebHeres some simple steps you can take: Window Screens: Repair any holes or tears and ensure that the screen is attached tightly to the window frame to eliminate entry points. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. While not harmful, having drain flies or their eggs in your home can certainly be a nuisance. Make sure you remove all built-up dirt and debris. If you're already an avid sink cleaner, you might just need to concentrate your efforts on clearing those drains to combat the issue. Killing adult drain flies is a temporary solution but wont get rid of them for good. You may also add a cup of white vinegar to kill insect larvae and slow evaporation. Baking soda: A budget bicarb will do (opens in new tab) If you find flies stuck to the underside of the tape after a period of time, the drain is likely a Orkin has been remediating pest control issues for homeowners across the country for more than a century, available in all states except for Alaska, Wyoming, and South Dakota. We contact every pest control company via phone and online chat (if available), talking to representatives. Take the trash out immediately. Read more to learn how to eradicate this pesky pest. Drain fly infestations typically last up to 20 days, but drain flies can quickly reproduce and restart the life cycle, keeping these buggers a constant nuisance in your home. Drain flies also differ in color compared to other small house flies, typically ranging between pale gray to black. Outside of your drains, keep an eye out for standing water in other areas in and around your home. Now lets see the reasons why drain flies keep showing up in your home. Drain flies dont have to be a problem in your home. If a drain fly infestation lasts longer than 20 days despite different approaches to get rid of them, then its time to call a professional exterminator. Hang the strips up outside on branches or railings. Often mistaken for fruit flies, drain flies tend to hover around sinks, bathtubs, showers, refrigerator drain pans or anywhere there is stagnant, standing water. Preventing drain fly infestations requires clean pipes that are frequently flushed out either with water, or in more extreme cases, cleaning solutions on a regular basis. Then pour a kettle full of boiling water down the sink to get rid of the soda crystals and dislodge any fat, oil, or grime in your pipes. If you neglect cleaning the toilet, drain gnats can use the buildup of organic debris inside the bowl to lay their eggs. Try these 26 tips for controlling pests in and around your home. Drain flies enjoy stagnant water that collects even small amounts of bacteria and sewage, so they are often found congregating around: One common denominator among all of these places is low, stagnant water. You can use baking soda and vinegar, Drano (when applicable), or an enzyme drain cleaner. To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com. Last Updated: December 29, 2022 Pour in 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda plus a cup of white vinegar. You can also light a citronella candle, which flies hate the smell of. Nobody wants to live with bugs, especially gross little gnats, so naturally, people are looking for different remedieswhether they be natural, at-home remedies or the most efficient kinds of spray or foggers (for outdoor Bath Compare ratings & reviews on Angi. Their body lengths are between 2 and 5 millimeters. If these flies become a constant and persistent nuisance, youll need the expertise and knowledge of professional pest controllers to effectively eradicate the fly infestation.'. She previously edited home repair and design content at The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. Thankfully, getting rid of drain flies is dead easy. First, create a mixture of one cup vinegar, half cup baking soda, and half cup salt. They can spread bacteria from your garbage can and old rotting fruits and vegetables. While there are thousands of species of flies, Musca domestica is the variety most likely to bug you both inside and outside of your home, found as they are on every continent inhabited by humans, in climates from the arctic cold to the tropical heat. You will be amazed! ', Always keep an eye out for early signs of an infestation, even if you just spot a few drain flies. Why Trust Us? Your first port of call is to tackle the source of the issue: your sinks. We get quotes, ask questions, and fully understand each companys pest control plans. Drain cleaner will not fix the situation. WebStep 8. The length of the life cycle of a drain fly varies depending on the climate and temperature of the drain, but it can last anywhere from eight to 24 days. This compensation comes from two main sources. Thanks a million. Boiling Water. Their body lengths are between 2 and 5 millimeters. When using larvicides, always follow label instructions. They usually come from floor drains, but can also find their way into other infrequently used drains.Fortunately, there are several effective ways of getting rid of drain flies. They often favor areas that are not used frequently, like a basement or workshop sink, and are also spotted after a long time away from home, like a vacation. Cleaning any spilled juices, sodas, wines, or other liquids. They can lay between 30 to 100 eggs and their larvae and pupae exist inside the slime layer in your drain. Now I have very good ideas to get rid of them, plus ways to get them, "Outside cooking on the grill. Get rid of gnats with this step-by-step guide. 3 The Spruce / Cristina Tudor What Causes Fruit Flies? If you dont spot any here but are certain you have an infestation, this could be a sign that the eggs are being laid deeper within your pipes. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0b\/Get-Rid-of-Flies-Outside-Step-1-Version-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-Rid-of-Flies-Outside-Step-1-Version-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0b\/Get-Rid-of-Flies-Outside-Step-1-Version-9.jpg\/aid2441405-v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Flies-Outside-Step-1-Version-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"