If your drains have not been maintained in a while, the first step would be to clean them out with a commercial drain cleaning solution, or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This will not only remove the organic material build up on the inside of the pipes, but can quickly kill any drain worms in the pipes as well.
Baking Soda and Vinegar: Mix equal parts baking soda and vinegar and pour the mixture down the drain. Allow it to sit for about 30 minutes before flushing with hot water. This can help break down organic matter and eliminate drain worms.
For Minor Clogs
Now if hot water won't solve the problem, you may also use the popular duo, baking soda and vinegar. Pour a box of baking soda into the washing machine drain pipe. After that, follow through with 2 to 3 cups of vinegar. Plug the drain pipe immediately and let the fizzing reaction take place.
Combine equal parts dish soap and warm water in a spray bottle. Spray the drain flies with this solution when you see them; the soap acts as an insecticide and kills the drain flies (but won't put your family in harm's way). Pour about 1⁄4 cup of apple cider vinegar into a glass and cover it with plastic wrap.
Drain worms can look sinister but they are not known to bite or transmit blood-borne diseases to humans like other insects do. The health risk they carry lies in where they come from. They can spread bacteria where they go and if they're coming up from the sink drain, they can potentially contaminate food.
If your drain fly issue persists, consider using commercial drain cleaners such as Drano. These solutions are formulated to clear out the drains and pipes effectively, removing any debris that might serve as a breeding spot for drain flies. Using these products can aid in preventing new eggs from hatching.
The simple answer is yes but with a caveat. While bleach can kill drain flies and their larvae on contact, it's not the most effective method for long-term control. Bleach's caustic nature allows it to clean the drain pipes and kill some of the larvae.
HydroScrub® Jetting is one of the most effective professional cleaning services available today. This system uses highly pressurized water—we're talking around 3,500 PSI—to blast all debris within your pipes into the city's main sewer line.
Peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree oils are especially beneficial. Pour a few drops of the chosen oil with water down the toilet. The oils' pungent aroma repels drain flies and disturbs their breeding cycle. To keep the solution effective, reapply it every few days.
The fizzing reaction and gas created may help loosen some small blockages. However, it is not typically strong enough to break down larger clogs or remove hard-to-reach debris. As a result of the above facts, if you have a serious drain clog, using baking soda and vinegar is unlikely to be effective.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
First, make sure your machine is unplugged and turned off. Mix 1/3 cup baking soda with 1/3 cup vinegar (1:1 ratio), locate your drain pipe and pour the cleaner product into the drain. Let it sit for half an hour before flushing the pipe with water.
The short answer is no. And the long answer goes like this: When used together, baking soda and vinegar will neutralize each other, effectively canceling out the benefits of low pH for vinegar and high pH for baking soda.
Drain flies thrive in stagnant and standing water. Common sources include slow or clogged drains, rarely used and unused toilets, refrigerator drain pans, and standing water created by leaking pipes. They typically enter buildings through basements, windows, and drains.
Size and Shape: Drain fly larvae are elongated and worm-like in shape. They are typically smaller than adult drain flies, measuring about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) in length. Their bodies are cylindrical and somewhat translucent. Color: Drain fly larvae are usually a pale, creamy white or gray color.
Boil a pot of water and pour it down the drain where you suspect the drain flies are breeding. Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. Slowly pour a 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain. Cover the drain with a drain plug, and let it sit for at least 5 to 10 minutes.
Sink and floor drains in restaurants are the most common source of the drain fly larvae, but do not overlook drain pans under the refrigerator, around or inside of garbage containers, wet sewers or leaky toilets, condensate lines for ice makers, and even under a leaking washing machine.
If your drains have not been maintained in a while, the first step would be to clean them out with a commercial drain cleaning solution, or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. This will not only remove the organic material build up on the inside of the pipes, but can quickly kill any drain worms in the pipes as well.
Pour Vinegar and Baking Soda Down the Drain
This will clear out the buildup in your drains, eliminating drain fly habitats.
Drain Line Material
Chlorine bleach can quickly eat away at not only the line but the glue and cement joining the line to the fittings and the condensation pan. If your drain line is PVC, stick to white distilled vinegar for clearing clogs and debris, particularly during winter.
Combing, boiling water, vinegar and baking soda will kill drain flies, but will also help remove all the flies breeding ground which includes hair, grime and grease. It will create a chemical reaction and an clear the blockages caused by organic matter in the drainpipe.
Furthermore, there are essential oils that have insect-repellent properties, which can help deter drain flies, including peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender oils. To use these oils as a deterrent, just dilute a few drops in water and use a spray bottle to wash down the areas that are infested.
Clean the Drain with Vinegar and Baking Soda- This is a natural way clean out the drain and kill off any fruit flies hanging out in there.