Mix together 1/2 cup of salt, 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar. Pour the mixture down the drain. Let sit overnight, then flush the drain with hot water in the morning. This should kill all flies and the organic material they've been feeding on.
One common remedy for killing drain flies is using household bleach. This is a very useful and cost-effective manner for getting rid of these little pests with an item you already have around the house.
For effective drain fly treatment, use three products: Forid Drain Gel Cleaner, Gentrol IGR Aerosol, and Pyrid. Forid is an organic microbial grease degrader that breaks down organic material and waste, which will eliminate their food sources and their breeding grounds.
Pour one-quarter to one-half cup of apple cider vinegar into a bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap, then use a fork to poke holes in the wrap. Set the dish next to your sink. The drain flies will not be able to escape and will drown in the vinegar.
What Causes Drain Flies? 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.
It's more of a maintenance remedy. However, it could be effective in killing sewer flies if you don't have a very clogged drain.) Another solution is hydrogen peroxide. Just like peroxide kills out bacteria and germs from a wound, it can kill the bacteria that sewer flies are feeding off of.
Pest Control
One of the reasons that these types of critters — drain flies, in particular — are so difficult to get rid of is that they have water-repellant hair all over their bodies.
Drain flies gather, mate, and lay eggs in moisture or standing water. The slimy film that forms in sewers and drains is a favorite breeding spot. Putting off regular cleaning and maintenance of these areas may attract the pests and offer them a place to feed and develop.
They do not bite, sting, or spread diseases, but their decaying bodies may cause allergic reactions. They can also spread bacteria from trash, decaying vegetables and fruits. Drain flies breed in areas that are moist and have a lot of organic remains, including: Sinks.
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.
I had a French fry in the drain in my sink and tons of fruit flies were on it. I sprayed it with Lysol and they immediately stopped moving and died.
Dish Soap contains borax, which has insecticidal properties. You could add 7 drops of dish soap with 2 cups of warm water and spray it directly over the drain flies to kill them instantly. Set up a Sugar and White Vinegar Trap for Drain Flies.
Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass, and citronella are just a few of the scents that insects despise (with lavender probably being the most effective). Pouring half or an entire cup of such essential oil onto a sponge or rag, then storing it in a small can, helps keep flies at bay.
Adult drain flies usually live up to two weeks as long as a liquid food source, such as nectar, is available. A large amount of flies in the home typically indicates a problem with poor sewage drainage or overflows, which can become a continuous breeding ground.
During the day, adults rest in shaded areas or on walls near plumbing fixtures and on the sides of showers and tubs. Most activity occurs during the evening when these flies are seen hovering about drains and sinks.
A super simple fix is to pour boiling water down the drain to eliminate drain flies. Boil a medium-size pot of water once or twice per week, and pour down and around the drain. Another easy option uses baking soda: Combine 1/2 cup salt with 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar, and pour down the drain.
If the flies aren't only hanging out around your drain, then you will need to take additional steps to get rid of them. Remove all fruit and vegetables from your counters. Wash the surfaces they were on using soap and water. To kill flies instantly, spritz them with rubbing alcohol.
These flies will breed in any moist area that they can find. So if you are facing a drain fly infestation that you cannot figure it out, you may want to look deeper for the cause. The problem could be from a leaking pipe or drain under the sink or even a leaking pipe inside of your walls.
Drain worms are essentially fly larvae. These species are also known as sewer flies, filter flies, or sink flies. They lay eggs, which hatch into larvae within 32 – 48 hours.
Do Drain Flies Die in Winter. Most fly species cannot survive outside temperatures below 32°F (0°C). They die unless they find a warm and conducive place to overwinter, such as your home. Drain flies are one of the few insects that can tolerate cold weather conditions.
Does Vinegar, Dish Soap, Essential Oils Repel Flies? Vinegar attracts, not repels flies; however, a container with vinegar and dish soap will function as an attractant trap as the vinegar lures flies to enter the trap and the dish soap will cause the flies to sink and die.
It kills flies (such as houseflies, bottle flies, drain flies, fruit flies), gnats, mosquitoes, moths, wasps and hornets in one easy spray. This Raid® flying insect spray is part of a complete line of products to target specific insects inside and outside.