Fruit Flies Plague Your Drains
Fruit flies are quite pesky and can cause major frustration when they are coming from different parts of your household, including your kitchen drain. The kitchen is one of the last places you want to see these flies roaming around. Today, Stephens will discuss the origin of the flies, where we give, helpful DIY treatments to get rid of them, as well as prevention tips.
The Origin of Fruit Flies
Fruit flies are a species of the common housefly. They can enter your home through plants and flowers as well as produce that you purchase from a grocery store. They are called fruit flies because of their attraction to fresh and rotting fruit. You might wonder why there is a fairly large amount of fruit flies in your home. This is because one female can lay up to 500 eggs during her life!
Where They Live
Where exactly do fruit flies live? Fruit flies inhabit household plants, bowls filled with fruit, trash cans, garbage disposals, and, you guessed it, drains. Drains are a particularly favored place because they are dark, damp, and full of rotting food debris, a fruit fly’s favorite.
DIY Treatments
There are different ways to get rid of these flies, stopping them from infesting your drain and living space. You can clean the drain by creating a solution consisting of salt, baking soda, and vinegar. You pour the solution down your drain and let it sit until the next day. The following day, you can pour hot water down the drain to eliminate the flies. Another way to sanitize your drain and eliminate the flies is to combine a half gallon of water with a cup of vinegar. To make sure they aren’t lingering on the outside of your sink, you can also create small traps using vinegar and dish soap.
Prevention Tips
Keep your drains clear of fruit flies by practicing these prevention tips. Clean your sink and drain regularly! This will also help ensure that your garbage disposal works effectively and does not get damaged by leftover food debris. Remember to take out your trash frequently and especially when it begins to smell. Throw away fruits and vegetables before they begin to mold. Fruit flies love rotten produce! Lastly, thoroughly wash and rinse your produce before consumption as well as before placing them in a bowl in your kitchen. This will hopefully get rid of any eggs that were potentially laid.
Call Stephens
If you are unable to get rid of the fruit flies on your own, there may be a more serious problem at hand. It is possible that there is an issue with your p-trap or drain line. In cases like these, it is important to give the professionals at Stephens Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning a call. It is our goal to provide you with the best in quality service, while helping you save time and money.