How To Get Rid Of Drain Flies With Natural Products

Out of the more than 16,000 species of flies on this planet, there are more than a few common variations that can find their way into your home, prompting you to look for the best ways to get rid of flies. But before you choose your method, it's important to know which species you're trying to battle. While you may be familiar with tiny fruit flies multiplying around your garbage, overripe fruit, or disposals, there is another species you might mistake for these annoying pests because of their small size — drain flies (Clogmia albipunctata). These pests measure between 1/16 and 3/16 of an inch and are gray or tan, with fuzzy bodies and spotted wings with vein stripes. Instead of ovular wings that come to a point, drain fly wings are broader and more rounded, making them easy to identify. You'll likely find these pests in, you guessed it, your drains. Getting rid of drain flies can be challenging because they multiply quickly, but there are several natural ways to address the issue and remove them from your home. Some of those easy solutions include using hot water, vinegar and baking soda solution, and setting an apple cider vinegar trap.

One point of these methods is to remove the drain flies' food source. These pests feed on organic matter and sewage, making dirty drains a perfect place for them to feed and breed. They also love standing water, so sluggish drains can attract them as well. But before you can address the issue, you need to identify where the drain flies are living.

If you witness the flies coming out of the drain, the source of your problem is obvious. However, those having trouble finding the right one can try this trick. Take a small see-through container and slather the inside with petroleum jelly. Place the container over the suspected drain and check periodically to see if you capture any drain flies. If so, you've found the culprit and can proceed with ridding your house of them.

The most effective and natural way to eliminate them is by pouring boiling water down the drain. Doing this every day for several consecutive days will not only flush the adults down the drain but the larvae as well. If you suspect a small clog is gumming up your drain, making it hospitable to drain flies, pour a half cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar down the drain, cover the opening, and let it sit. After some time, pour boiling water down the drain to flush it, eliminating both the clog and the flies. Apple cider vinegar traps can also be effective at luring and killing adult drain flies, but you'll still have the larvae to deal with. In addition to boiling water or the baking soda and vinegar method, set out a small dish of apple cider vinegar mixed with a few drops of dish soap to capture adult flies remaining outside the drain.

Once you've eliminated your drain fly problem, it's essential to know how often you should clean your drains to keep them from returning. Clean them all weekly by pouring hot water down the drain. Once a month, pour one cup each of vinegar and baking soda down the drain, leaving it to sit for 30 minutes before rinsing with boiling water.