How to Spot and Eliminate Drain Flies and Fruit Flies in Your Home

Even the smallest of the pests inside our homes can be annoying. We usually deal with flying insects buzzing around our heads, but we usually won’t know what kind of pest or insect they are.

Some of these flies that are taking over our kitchen and other rooms of our homes are fruit flies and drain flies. But which exactly are you dealing with? Is it fruit flies or drain flies?

Let’s discuss this in this article.

Knowing Your Enemy: Drain Fly vs. Fruit Fly

Here is what you should know to differentiate between the two.

Fruit Flies

• Appearance
  • Small, about an eighth inch long (around 3 mm)
  • Red eyes
  • Tan or light brown body, sometimes with darker stripes
  • Clear wings
  • Slender, oval shape

• Habitat
  • Attracted to fermenting or decaying fruits and vegetables
  • Found near ripe or overripe produce, garbage disposals, and trash bins

• Behaviour

• • Hover around food sources
  • Often seen in kitchens, pantries, and near fruit bowls

Drain Flies

• Appearance

• • Small, about an eighth inch long (around 3 mm)
  • Darker in colour: black, brown, or grey
  • Fuzzy or hairy appearance due to tiny hairs on wings and body
  • Moth-like appearance with wings held roof-like over their body

• Habitat

• • Breed in drains, sewers, and other damp areas with organic matter
  • Found near sinks, showers, and floor drains

• Behaviour
  • Often seen resting on walls or flying near drains
  • May be seen in large numbers if a drain infestation is present

Additional Notes

Both fruit flies and drain flies can be an annoyance. But drain flies indicate that there is a sanitation issue, compared to fruit flies.

Where They’re Usually Found

For fruit flies, your own kitchen is a prime spot. Check your fruit bowl, near garbage bins, and around any areas where food scraps might linger, like under the sink.

As for drain flies, check around the sinks, showers, floor drains and even damp areas near leaky pipes in your bathroom. The sink drain and garbage disposal are also common breeding grounds for drain flies.

If you live in an area with disturbed soil and temporary sanitation facilities, you should check your home more frequently as these conditions attract both types of flies.

Getting Rid of Fruit Flies

The best way to start is by removing all food sources. Go to your countertops and clear them of ripe fruits and vegetables.

Check all your surfaces to see if there have been spills or sticky residues that you might not have noticed.

Fruit flies can be attracted to even small amounts of fermented substances.

For home remedies to try, you may mix apple cider vinegar with a few drops of dish soap in a small container. Cover it with plastic wrap and poke tiny holes. A second option is to place a piece of overripe fruit instead of vinegar.

Be responsible when storing fruits. Put them in the fridge or in sealed containers, so they don’t ripen fast. Keep your kitchen surfaces clean and use airtight garbage bins. This is how simple you can get rid of fruit flies.

Their presence does not necessarily indicate a sanitation concern, but be responsible in placing your goods so you don’t attract these tiny insects.

How to Get Rid of Drain Flies

You should be as thorough in cleaning as possible since drain flies breed in the organic matter building up in drains.

To do it mechanically, use a drain brush to remove the buildup inside drains—the gelatinous material where drain flies lay their eggs.

Or use boiling water. Pour it directly down affected drains once daily for at least a week. The scorching temperature of the water helps kill eggs and larvae, and at the same time, loosens accumulated grime.

Want to go natural? Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of vinegar. Let it fizz for several minutes, then flush with hot water. Doing this breaks down organic matter and kills fly larvae.

Monitoring Progress

Place clear sticky-side down over drain openings overnight. If you find flies stuck to the tape in the morning, you have identified an active breeding site that warrants attention.

Maintaining a Fly-Free Home

To do this, clean drains weekly using appropriate cleaners. Focus on cleaning/wiping kitchen surfaces daily, especially areas around fruit storage and fruit storage and garbage bins.

Also check your pipes and faucets to see if moisture accumulates near these sites.

Make sure that the bathrooms and kitchens are not humid as these flies thrive in damp conditions.

Getting rid of these pests, like any other pesky creatures, means that you need to be proactive in your undertaking. Just because they are small doesn’t mean you should take their potential impact lightly.

When Should You Seek Professional Help

Many fruit fly and drain fly problems can be resolved with DIY methods. However, there are instances that require the intervention of pest professionals. Let’s break them down one by one.

Signs of Severe Infestation

1. You see large swarms of flies despite consistent cleaning
2. Multiple drains are affected simultaneously
3. The problem persists for more than two weeks despite following all recommended treatments
4. You notice flies emerging from wall cracks or other unexpected places
5. There’s a recurring infestation even after thorough DIY treatment

Hidden Problems That Need Expert Assessment

There can be underlying issues that may be contributing to your fly problem, and only professional pest controllers can identify them.

1. Hard-to-reach pipe damage that provides breeding sites
2. Hidden moisture problems within walls
3. Structural issues that allow flies to breed in concealed areas
4. Complex drain system problems that DIY methods can’t address

Long-Term Prevention

When you engage a professional service, you get the following:

• A customised treatment plan for your specific situation
• Expert advice on preventing future (re)infestations
• Follow-up visits to ensure the problem is solved
• Guidance on home maintenance to prevent recurrence

Concerned About The Costs?

Professional pest control services require an upfront investment. But did you know that they can be more cost-effective in the long run? The following are the reasons why.

1. Solving the problem faster than DIY methods
2. Preventing damage to your home from long-term infestations
3. Reducing the need for repeated DIY treatments
4. Protecting your home from future pest problems

Choosing the Right Professional Service

Here are the questions you should ask yourself before finalising your partnership with a pest control firm.

1. Are they licensed and certified in Singapore?
2. Do they have specific experience with drain and fruit fly control?
3. Do they provide detailed inspection reports?
4. Do they offer a warranty or guarantee for their services?
5. Do they use eco-friendly treatment options?
6. Do they have positive reviews from local customers?

These are not the be-all and end-all. It still depends on your personal preferences and how well you trust a specific company. These are just guide questions so you steer clear of ineffective pest treatments.

Your money should be spent on wise investments.

When to Act Quickly

Don’t delay calling professionals if…

1. You have an upcoming house inspection
2. You are planning to sell your property
3. You run a food-related business from home
4. You have family members with respiratory issues or allergies
5. There are elderly people or young children in your home

Conclusion

Your DIY efforts don’t always go as planned. And it doesn’t mean that they are in vain. It only implies that there are better options than addressing this issue alone. Pest professionals have the experience and training to handle pest concerns and more serious situations.

What’s important is for you to act quickly so you can prevent a small fly problem from becoming a major infestation that’s harder and more expensive to control.

Avalon Services is always at your service, whatever pests you may have lurking around. We are NEA-certified, so you can trust us to solve these living annoyances. Contact us today to get quotes!