How do you get rid of sink/drain flies?

Question

I would like to know how to get rid those pesty little sink/drain flies. I've tried baking soda and vinegar, drain cleaners and put plastic over the drains.

Gail · Answer

Our pest control guys that comes out for ants, mentioned just using a cup of bleach every night and covering it with a wash cloth or something to keep them trapped. It has worked for us!

Kat · Answer

we had a ton of them last year and they're already beginning now.  I've done the trap thingy with soap/vinegar/sugar - worked for a bit for some but didnt take them away!  tried putting bleach down the drain, nope. they are aggravating - they get in your face, your food/drink - I keep petfoods, regular food, everything spotlessly clean, wash cans, meat styrofoam, any food goes directly to the outside can and then way out in the woods.  havent found anything to work!!! even the pest control cant get rid of!!! sad.....

Deisenhart2010 · Answer

I keep a mixture of dish soap and vinegar in a  shot glass size container anywhere I have a problem. The vinegar attracts them and the soap catches them

Kim · Answer

Same problem here!  Thanks all for the suggestions!

Fred · Answer

Pour vinegar down the drain and cover the opening. After a few minutes uncover the drain and run hot tap water down until steam is coming out of the drain.  If the problem comes back it's okay to repeat.

Jorja Love · Answer

I have had this problem every spring for years and have tried all the above homemade and store bought suggestions and nothing seemed to work for me.  I've especially noticed that these flies are really, really attracted to my coffee after I sweeten it (I drink a lot of coffee and I now keep my cups covered), so I started  keeping a little warm sweet-smelling soapy dish water in the wash tub - I use one of those cheap, fruit scented, bubbly detergents and the flies get attracted to the scent, go to it, get stuck in the bubbles or water and drown.  In the evening, I empty and rinse the tub, then cover the drain.

Susan Walsh Harrington · Answer

This one works for me!  Pour 1/2 to 1 cup of cider vinegar in an open container.  Put in 1-2 drops dishwashing liquid and leave it on the countertop.  It attracts the fruit flies and they drown.

Ginger Trigg · Answer

I've used Clorox in mine, let it set covered for 30 mins then flush with hot water.

MadameRã · Answer

•As a Believer in plants for medicines, & many other positive 'things', this problem is common all over the world, however i keep an average size spray botle, using distilled water fill to the line indicated on most good bottles, now the expence is initially high but over a long period of time it actually is cheaper...collect some good aroma therapy oils, being clove & orange, place 8-10 drops of each, additionally black pepper oil adding 5-6 drops, then shake really well then use everywhere needed, you can even wipe frequently with a sponge to clean the bathroom(do remember to always shake before use, this activates the ingredients)... All critters hate it..& yes i always keep my bottle & cloths in my bathroom.. Oh, the smell is quite lovely as its different & feels earthy. Use frequently & you will discover how less the problem becomes,& Mother Earth will thank you to.
Happy creating smartness:)) Madame Ra

Shells · Answer

Those are not fruit flies....they are sewer flies.  That normally mean you have a breach in your sewer lines that are allowing the flies to come into your home.  See when the last time you had your septic tank checked or cleaned out.  If it's city hook up....you may want to give them a call.  Beware the breach could be on your side of the line if it's city sewer.  Peace!

Jpe6277611 · Answer

I poor boiling down the drain.

Job7956378 · Answer

For the drain flies (sewer flies) we poured vegetable oil down the drains in the public restrooms in commercial buildings that we used to manage.  Where I work now management pours linseed oil down the drains.  Either works.

Kay Forbes-Smith · Answer

Boiling water worked for us.  Just for good measure we let the hot water from the faucet run for about 10 mins after that.

Melody · Answer

You have to get rid of the food source, hair, soap or food scraps.  Try using a wire coat hanger to grab on to glob.  Once removed, use baking soda and vinegar to foam-scour pipes.

Mary Beth Carrier · Answer

We had this problem several years ago and a friend who owns a restaurant told her exactly what to do and it was great. In the plumbing department of most big box stores you can find main line drain cleaners. You follow the directions on the bottle which include covering every drain in your home with a damp rag before bedtime.
We woke up the next morning and flushed the drains with hot water and never saw another pesky drain fly again! It was like a $8 bottle of magic!

GBear · Answer

It's best if you can remove the p trap and clean it out.  If not, use a foaming drain cleanser or vinegar & baking soda. Rinse for several minutes with hot water.  Let dry a little bit and treat with linseed oil. Do this once a month (Linseed oil) until problem is gone.

Kat6587025 · Answer

A  exterminater told us to pour 1/2 cup bleach down each drain for 7 nights in a row. Pour the bleach at night so it remains in the drain while you sleep.  Pour down every drain, kitchen and bathroom sinks, tubs, showers, washer drain.

Spr4270109 · Answer

Take one half cup of baking soda pour down drain than take a cup of white vinegar , pour the vinegar  down the drain... Let sizzle for about ten minutes ... Take boiling hot water about 6 cups n pour down drain... How do this to all your drains at the turn of each season..

861650 · Answer

I researched this last year and I finally found the best option.   For each drain in your home, buy one gallon of  bleach.  Slowly pour the entire gallon in  the first drain. Let set overnight. In the morning, run hot water down drain for a couple of minutes.  Remember, only do one drain each night till you have treated them all.  I did place a post-it-note at each drain to remind me not to run any water.  It is helpful to do this at bedtime...

Kathy Bitzan · Answer

On a garbage disposal pull out the rubber ring and give it a good washing and soak in vinegar or bleach.

Carolyn Jean Ross · Answer

I agree with both the bleach and bicarb/vinegar remedies (unless you have a septic tank, in which case the bleach would be a very bad idea) - and to keep them from coming back, make a point of flushing the drain every time you use it.  These flies thrive on decomposing organic material stuck in your drain - keeping the drain as clean as possible will help combat them.  (The bleach will kill flies and bacteria but not necessarily the eggs - when they hatch, if there's anything in the drain for them to eat you'll have to start over.

Pat Bradfield · Answer

Pour boiling water down drains once weekly. This will clear the slime out of the drain and therefore get rid of those nasty drain flies

Janie · Answer

I use a small pickle jar and put a mixture of apple cider vinegar and maple syrup in it. I poke a few holes in the lid with an ice pick.  I put this on the side of my sink and catch both drain flies and the tiny fruit flies. Hope this helps.

Susie Rufener · Answer

I use apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap in a small jar with holes in it. Or even a small disposable plastic container with holes in lid. Keep on counter and it will attract fruit flies and gnats.

Rosel Kynast · Answer

I agree with Kathy, clean the rubber insert. 
Cut a lemon in 4th and put it down the disposal, I do that ones a month. It will clean  and freshen the disposal.

Chanwoo KIM · Answer

Pour hot water into your sink drain...

Charly · Answer

First of all, take all food off the counters.  Fruit flies reproduce in the drain so  you should pour Apple cider vinegar down the drain, wait about fifteen minutes and then pour boiling water down the drain to flush out the drain.  You may have to do this again but it's relatively simple and inexpensive with no harsh chemicals to worry about.

Melody Stern · Answer

Those are sludge knats! The sludge is created because there is a deteriation of the drain pipe below your house where water is seeping through the pipe creating a pool of sludge! The knats are coming up through the opening in the pipe! You should have this fixed right away! If the problem is not too bad, you may find a plumber to fix it, however, if it has grown to a large area, over a long period,most plumbers will insist you call a specialist to remove or cover the sludge! Sludge can become dangerous as eventually, it will begin to emit gasses! Check w/your local hardware store to obtain bags of the proper cover and spread over the area to soak up the sludge,once you have the broken pipe fixed, you will no longer have those pesky knats!!!

Barbara C · Answer

The Fruit Flies are coming from the drain because they live and breed where it is dark and damp.Never heard of sludge gnats.,The Fruit Flies are attracted to and eat rotten and spoiled fruit and veggies.Get rid of all spoiled edibles in the kitchen.Keep drains rinsed out after every use.

Dee B · Answer

Never heard of sludge gnats ( knats), but I got rid of gnats in my drain by spraying a solution of 50/50 H2O and bleach after I clean the kitchen each night.

How do you get rid of sink/drain flies?

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How do you get rid of sink/drain flies?

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