Fruit fly infestations have to start somewhere. They move into kitchens, bathrooms and basements if they sense a food source. But how do you get rid of them? We’re here to discuss how fruit fly infestations continue to thrive today, and how to prevent them from invading your home. At Mr. Plumber we want to help with all of your plumbing and drain needs – even flushing out pests!
Why Fruit Flies Breed in Drains
Often, fruit flies come into your home through direct contact while at a grocery store. You may have picked up produce that was overly ripe or fermented. Fruit flies like to lay up to 500 eggs on overly ripe or fermented produce, leaving you with an annoying task of getting rid of them once hatched.
If these fruit flies hatch inside your home, chances of reproducing are high, even if you don’t have any produce inside of your home. Fruit flies, also known as drain flies or gnats, are attracted to stagnant pools of water, particularly in pipes and other drainage areas. They feed on and breed in the sewage left by consumers in uncleaned pipes. Organic material can build up along the sides of drains quickly, allowing drain flies to continue being a nuisance to your home.
Getting Rid of Fruit Flies
It is highly possible that you have all the common items needed in your kitchen or under your sink to make a DIY fruit fly trap.
Just by flushing out your drains, you may be able to remove both the drain fly larvae and any temptation for the drain flies to return. Use these methods weekly as a preventative for your infestation. Listed below are a few natural ways to get rid of drain flies.
Baking Soda + Salt + Vinegar
Combine these three pantry items for an all natural cleaning solution and poor it down your drain overnight. The baking soda will expand with the vinegar, ultimately reaching more areas than other natural remedies. Flush out the pipe with boiling water the morning after.
Soap + Water + Sugar + Vinegar
The smell of vinegar attracts fruit flies and makes them want to land on it. By combining soap with vinegar, the substance becomes thick, trapping fruit flies in the mixture and leaving them to drown.
Drain + Duct Tape
If you’re unsure of where your fly problem may be coming from, but often see them hanging around sinks, cover your sinks with duct tape at night before you go to bed. If the flies are in fact drain flies, they will be stuck to the duct tape once it’s pulled away from the sink, due to trying to escape. You can repeat this test for several nights.
How to Prevent Future Invasions
If the DIY methods just aren’t working or you don’t have the time or patience, it’s time to call a plumber for further help. By using an inline camera- your repairman will be better able to understand what is happening inside of your drain, allowing them to pinpoint the problem and quickly find a solution.
By using the above listed DIY methods or calling your plumber, your home will be free of infestations in no time. Remember, if you’re in over your head with drain flies and need a little extra help, contact Mr. Plumber for all your other needs.
