How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies from Drains? Stop Them from Reproducing in Sinks and Spoil Foods!

by Snezhana Besarabova PUBLISHED Aug 20, 2023

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In This Article

What Causes Fruit Flies in the Drain?
Ways How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies from Drains
How to Prevent Fruit Flies from Reproduction in Drains?

Fruit flies, the miniature insects that seem to appear out of nowhere, are very familiar to the masters of wine, as they adore brewing liquids. The small “invaders” may settle easily in home drains, spoil fruit and vegetables, therefore you should battle with them, stopping their further reproducing. So, how to get rid of fruit flies from drains, depriving them of food resources?

What Causes Fruit Flies in the Drain?

Before thinking about your strategy how to get rid of fruit flies from drains, let’s get deeper in the issue, finding out what is the reason for the appearance of these tiny insects. These miniature creatures feed with decaying organic matter and live in moist places, which makes kitchen and bathroom drains an ideal habitat for them. Little by little, tiny debris of food, hair, and other stuff can accumulate in the drains. This buildup offers a food basis and breeding territory for fruit flies. Furthermore, these insects have an acute sense of smell, which leads them to fruits and vegetables particles, which often break down in sinks. If they have found an appropriate environment, these mini flies lay eggs, and settle there permanently until you decide to solve the problem.

Ways How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies from Drains

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Pouring Boiling Water

It is the fastest method to remove the miniature insects. Just pour one pan full of boiling water down the drain. This measure destroys the eggs and larvae, though it might not be efficient against adult insects, and there is a need to do the same again later.

Baking Soda with Vinegar Mixture

Sprinkle a 1/2 cup (114 g) of baking soda into the drain. Pour ½ cup (120 ml) of vinegar right away after that. Leave this reactive mixture to stay for at least an hour. This will work chemically, fizzing and bubbling while cleaning the area by dissolving the organic matter. Wait for an hour, and pour boiling water down the drain to dissolve and remove the remaining residue.

How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies from Drains with Trap

Take a bowl and fill it with apple cider vinegar, adding 3–4 drops of dish soap inside. Stick or fasten a plastic wrap to cover the bowl and poke a few holes in its surface. The fruit flies will smell the vinegar, gather around, and trap in the solution, as dish soap will not allow them to get out.

Beneficial and Eco Bacterial Gel

This natural gel contains bacteria, which feed on the organic matter that gather in the drain. Read the product’s instructions to know how to use it, but in most cases, you should pour some of the gel into the drain and let it sit overnight. Then simply rinse with water.

How to Prevent Fruit Flies from Reproduction in Drains?

Protection is surely better than treatment. While it’s important to know how to get rid of fruit flies when they’ve already settled and reproduced into your drains, it’s even more substantial to understand how not allow them breeding there in the first place. There are some approaches to stop the unwanted “invaders” from reproducing there:

Keep the area clean. Clean your drains from time to time, scrubbing them vigorously to not allow buildup. Use a strainer to gather the food particles rather than allowing them to enter in depth. Try to not leave outside ripe or overripe fruits and vegetables, which can attract the insects.
Routine drain cleaning. Make it a habit to remove the organic residues from your drains at least weekly. Just a rinse with boiling water may in some cases be enough. If a deeper cleaning is needed, apply the mentioned earlier vinegar and baking soda mixture. Regular maintaining will ensure there’s no buildup of organic stuff left, which is an irresistible attraction for the fruit flies.
Seal the drains: When you do not use the sinks or bathtubs, mainly overnight, you may seal the entrances with rubber stoppers or other covers. This will not allow adult insects to enter the drain and lay eggs inside.
Store food reliably. Be cautious and store your fruits and vegetables either in the fridge or in sealed containers. Pay special attention to overripe fruits, which are especially attractive to the miniature insects.
Regular garbage discharge. Take out the garbage routinely, particularly if it comprises food traces or parts from fruits and vegetables. A waste bin with a good sealing lid can also decrease the attraction for miniature insects.
Do not leave standing water. Remove any standing water in the home, like leaking from the pots with plants or from trays of appliances. Standing water is known to be a breeding ground for many pests.