Hi everyone!
I’ve been battling tiny black flies in my bathroom and kitchen for weeks, I think they’re drain flies! They swarm around the sinks and drains no matter how much I clean. I tried pouring boiling water and vinegar down the pipes, but they keep coming back. What am I missing?
Background:
Drain flies breed in the sludge inside pipes. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda + 1/2 cup vinegar, let it foam, then flush with boiling water. Repeat for 3 days. @FrustratedHomeowner, scrub the drain brush to remove biofilm!
Skip chemicals, use enzymatic drain cleaner! It eats organic gunk larvae feed on. Also, cover drains overnight with duct tape to trap adults. Works like a charm!
Tried baking soda/vinegar, but they returned. Could larvae survive in the pipes?
If DIY fails, use a pipe brush to scrape sludge physically. Larvae cling to gunk you can’t dissolve. Also, pour diluted bleach (1:10) weekly as maintenance!
Apple cider vinegar trap: Fill a jar with ACV + dish soap, cover with plastic wrap (poke holes). Flies dive in and drown. Caught 50+ in one night!
Drain flies don’t spread diseases, but they indicate nasty pipe buildup. Wear gloves when cleaning, biofilm has bacteria!
Pour salt + baking soda + lemon juice down drains. The acid kills eggs, and salt dehydrates them. Cheap and smells fresh!
Larvae need 1-3 weeks to mature. Disrupt their cycle by cleaning drains DAILY for 2 weeks. Use a flashlight to check for sludge under pipe joints!
Landlord won’t fix the pipes. Used a bacterial drain gel, no flies for a month! Amazon sells it for $15. Worth every penny!
Pipe brush + enzyme cleaner worked! Found gross black gunk, no flies since. Thanks all!