To make an all-natural drain fly trap, fill a bowl with apple cider vinegar and cover it with plastic wrap. Punch small holes in the wrapping. The vinegar's smell will attract the drain flies, and the wrap will trap them inside the bowl. Another option is to mix a few drops of dish soap with a cup of vinegar.
Drain flies are attracted to small amounts of stagnant water they find in plumbing pipes, sinks or other drainage areas. The flies feed on tiny amounts of bacteria, algae and sewage, so you can find them gathering around kitchen and outdoor sinks, shower and bathtub drains, basement sinks, sewers and septic tanks.
Eliminate Standing Water
Any areas where moisture or water is allowed to grow stagnant is an attractive location for drain flies, especially if there is organic material nearby.
Bleach will absolutely kill drain flies. However, using bleach comes with certain risks. It's better to try other methods first and use bleach as a last resort.
A cup of household bleach is generally more than sufficient to kill most drain flies, and all you need to do is pour it down the affected drain.
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.
The vinegar's smell will attract the drain flies, and the wrap will trap them inside the bowl. Another option is to mix a few drops of dish soap with a cup of vinegar. The vinegar attracts the flies, and the dish soap makes it impossible for them to stand on the surface, so they drown.
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. Furthermore, the drain fly larvae are difficult to drown since “they are able to trap air bubbles and remain submerged for a day or more.”
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.
Drain flies are very common and can breed anywhere with stagnant or dirty water. They are usually only a temporary problem and happen most often when your household is inactive, like when you're away on vacation. When household activity picks up again, and water starts moving, the drain flies usually disappear.
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.
The larval stage of drain flies lasts up to 24 days, while the pupal stage lasts between 1 and 2 days at most. The larvae feed on bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that develop in the breeding medium in drains, standing water, and even sewage treatment beds.
Fact: Fruit flies are attracted to and feed on decaying fruits and vegetables, drinks (including beer and wine), spills, coffee grounds, drains, trash cans, dirty mops, towels, damp clothing, moist pet food and indoor houseplants.
Any clog or buildup is attractive to drain flies. Some of the common things found in drains they particularly enjoy are: Hair: Hair can clog your drains and cause bacterial buildup, which attracts drain flies find quite appealing.
Trap flies by setting a bowl of equal parts sugar, water and white vinegar with a 5-10 drops of liquid dish soap on the counter next to the sink overnight. Flies will be attracted to the fragrant liquid and drown. Boil a pot of water and pour it down the drain 1-2 times daily for a week.
Sanitize your drain with baking soda, salt, and vinegar.
This natural cleansing mixture will remove organic buildup from your pipes and kill any larvae or flies that get caught in it. Combine 1 part baking soda, 1 part salt, and 2 parts vinegar and pour it down the drain.
If you notice a big amount of drain flies in your home then you likely have issues with poor sewage drainage or overflows, which make a happy breeding ground for these pests. Make sure to contact a pest control professional to handle a potential infestation.
Life Cycle of the Drain Fly
Three weeks. That is all the time the drain fly has to live, and yet they make good use of that time in terms of reproduction. In a typical drain fly litter there are between 30 and 100 eggs, each of which are laid in shallow water and can hatch in as little as three days.
No, drain flies (Psychodinae) do not lay eggs in humans. They are not parasitic, and the human body is an inhospitable environment for them. Their close relatives, sand flies, are not as friendly, but these are not going to be invading your home in most regions.
Vinegar, baking soda and boiling water
The combination of vinegar, baking soda and boiling water will not only kill the flies, it can also help remove the organic matter from the pipes. Combining bicarb and vinegar creates an acid based reaction, where the two substances fizzle and expand.
Preventative Maintenance
Pouring bleach into the drain when the unit is not operating can leave residual bleach, which will damage the drain pan and line. Using vinegar for preventative maintenance throughout the year will keep your drain clean and clear and will not damage your line.
Many people associate the control of drain flies and bleach. The idea that pouring bleach down the drain gets rid of drain flies is actually a common misconception since doing so rarely helps get rid of these insects.
One possible sign of an undetected mold problem in your home or office could be the presence of Phorid flies, sewer flies or some other gnats or bugs.