How To Get Rid of Drain Flies in Laundry Room – Stop Doing This!

If you’ve noticed tiny, dark bugs in your laundry room that look a bit like fruit flies or gnats, you’re dealing with drain flies. These bugs aren’t just annoying; they could be a sign of a problem with your home’s pipes.

Drain flies love wet places and eat the gunk that builds up in drains. If you’re seeing these pests around, it’s time to do something about it. This guide will help you get to know drain flies better, figure out where they’re coming from, and show you how to get rid of them for good.

Use clear packing tape to seal any potential entry sites to seal off drain flies so you can spot them. A fast trap comprised of sugar, water, vinegar, and detergent can be used to get rid of any flies that are already there. Keep entry points covered, and for at least a week, use boiling water every day to get rid of flies.

I am putting together a comprehensive tutorial on how to get rid of drain flies using chemical and natural cleansers, how to stop fresh infestations and other crucial information.

So, Keep reading to learn how to eliminate drain flies in the laundry room.

How to Deal with Drain Flies – A Detailed Overview!

Since flying is not one of their strong suits, so you’ll often see them sitting on walls or crawling around on hard surfaces.

They really like the slimy stuff that builds up in sewers and drains because they can eat and breed in it. If you don’t clean these areas regularly, you’re basically rolling out the welcome mat for these pests to move in, multiply, and potentially cause damage.

While drain flies don’t usually spread diseases, there have been some rare cases where they’ve caused asthma from people breathing in parts of them. But just because they’re not super dangerous doesn’t mean you should let them hang around. Imagine finding drain flies on your fancy cheese plate – yuck!

Identifying Drain Flies

• Nicknames: Known as moth flies or sink flies.
• Appearance: Distinguishable by their small, moth-like wings and fuzzy bodies, varying in color from pale grey to black.
• Flying Capability: Limited, resulting in their preference for hopping.

The Importance of Action

Drain flies can lay up to 300 eggs within 48 hours, with a lifecycle spanning 8 to 24 days. Prompt action is essential to prevent their spread through your plumbing.

How Can You Tell If Your Laundry Room Has Drain Flies?

Drain flies can be noticed near your drains and sinks during the late afternoon or evening when they are most active. They frequently gravitate towards windows and lighting.

Drain flies are frequently observed in wet or moist regions with biological material, such as storm sewers, compost piles, or even old logs. They subsist on filthy water, sewage, and floral nectar. Caulk or fill any openings with steel wool to seal these locations.

Here are the Initial Steps to Locate and Trap Drain Flies:

1. Seal Potential Entries:

Cover any potential entry points with clear packaging tape to help you locate the drain flies’ entry locations. This should deter existing flies from entering your home while also trapping any that attempt to do so on the tape. With a fast trap, you can get rid of the flies that are already inside.

2. Homemade Cleaning Solution:

Your drains will be sanitized once you scrub them with a good all-natural rinse consisting of baking soda and vinegar. Pour a combination of 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Follow with 1 cup of white vinegar to create a foaming action.

Allow the mixture to sit overnight to break down organic material. In the morning, flush the drain with boiling water to clear any remaining eggs or larvae.

There are also numerous recyclable drain liquids and insect growth regulator solutions that may be used to thoroughly clean the pipes and eliminate the nesting grounds for drain flies. However, make an effort to avoid using chemical cleaners.

3. Boiling Water:

Clean the drains, sinks, and sewer lines in your laundry room thoroughly. Pour boiling water down the drain to clear away any remaining muck after using an extensive, sharp brush to clean down into the drains.

Note: To prevent drain flies, it’s crucial to keep your laundry room’s surfaces and floors dry. Before washing waste and recycling bins with hot, soapy water, make sure to clear away any organic material from the surrounding floors and walls. Ensure these containers are completely dry before you use them again.

5. Talk to Your Plumber:

Drain flies and other pests in the laundry room might be drawn to cracks or damage in your sewage lines. It’s a good idea to ask your plumber for a check-up of your drain system’s integrity.

Often, plumbers use a fluorescent dye test, which involves flushing dye down your toilet. If you see this dye appearing in parts of the drainage system where it shouldn’t be, that’s a clear sign of a problem. A plumber can then fix these issues, ensuring your laundry room and the rest of your home are protected from pests.

Note: Replace any faulty drain traps or other sewer lines that you come across because the running water can attract flies to the floor of cupboards or into wall cavities.

Once you have identified the entrance location for the drain flies, you should always maintain the entry point sealed off with adhesive or a drain plug.

Find Out Where They’re Coming From

To find out if you’ve got drain flies or their little, wormy babies around, try this simple trick:

Stick some clear tape over the drain or the spot where you think they might be hanging out. Make sure the sticky side is facing down. If the flies are there, they’ll try to come out and get stuck on the tape.

Getting rid of the places where drain flies can find water and food is super important if you want to control them. You can do this by setting up some easy traps with things like sticky boards or a plastic cup.

If you’re using a plastic cup, here’s what to do:

Before you put the cup upside down over a drain you’re suspicious about, smear a little bit of petroleum jelly or vegetable oil on the inside. This makes the inside of the cup sticky. If drain flies are living in that drain, they’ll start sticking to the inside of the cup.

Placing a sticky cardboard technique:

Another way to catch these flies is by making a frame out of cardboard that can hold a sticky fly trap sheet right above a drain where you think the flies might be coming from.

Stick the fly trap sheet to the frame, sticky side down, and leave it there for a few days. Check it daily. You’ll probably find that flies trying to come out of the drain will get stuck on the sheet.

No matter which trap you decide to use, remember to check it often. If you don’t catch any flies after a few days, move the trap to another spot you’re suspicious about. And if you can’t seem to find where they’re coming from inside your house, it’s time to check outside. Look for any wet areas or places where there’s rotting stuff because that’s where drain flies love to hang out.

What Not to Do!

Don’t Forget to Clean

The biggest mistake people make is not cleaning their drains and laundry room enough. Bits of trash and lint can quickly pile up, making a cozy spot for drain flies.

Don’t Ignore Water Puddles

Leaving water in sinks, buckets, or on the floor invites drain flies. Make sure to dry up any wet spots and fix any leaks.

Don’t Overlook Tiny Leaks

Even small leaks can make your laundry room a great place for drain flies. Check your appliances and pipes for leaks and fix them right away.

Refrain From Pouring Bleach Down the Drain

Using bleach might seem like a good idea to kill drain fly eggs, but it’s not that effective. Bleach flows away too fast and can’t really get through the thick gunk where drain flies lay their eggs. Plus, bleach is super harsh and can damage old pipes. And remember, never mix bleach with ammonia because it creates a dangerous gas that’s harmful to breathe in.

Drain Fly Removal Methods Using Natural Remedies

Here are several non-chemical methods for eliminating and preventing drain flies.

• Bi-weekly hot water treatments can prevent organic buildup.
• Vinegar and Baking Soda solution can clean drains effectively.
• Some essential oils, like peppermint or eucalyptus, can help keep drain flies away. Use them in your drains and laundry room.

Drain Flies vs. Fruit Flies

Feature	Drain Flies	Fruit Flies
Appearance	Small swarms, often near drains, poor flyers, prefer dark.	Fly alone, good flyers, bald bodies with red eyes.
Habitat	Stagnant, foul-smelling water.	Overripe or rotting fruits and vegetables.
Activity Time	Fly in the open during the day but prefer dark.	Active around their food sources regardless of time.

Wrap-Up

Finding drain flies in your laundry room means you need to clean up and dry out. By figuring out where they’re coming from, cleaning up, and keeping everything dry, you can get rid of them for good. Regular cleaning and maintenance are your best friends in the fight against drain flies.

To get rid of slimy, gelatinous substances and hair clogs from the drains, use wooden sticks with marked borders or a stiff brush. A bacterial digester can also be used to prevent the production of gelatinous material. Finally, clear the drain up to two feet deep using a plumber’s rod.

Also, If you find yourself struggling with a persistent infestation that you can’t manage on your own, don’t hesitate to call in a professional plumber or exterminator for help.