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Fruit flies? In the bathroom? If you’ve spied these pesky little flies buzzing around your head while you brush your teeth, Mr. Rooter can help. Though they don’t bite or sting, fruit flies are a nuisance – populations can quickly escalate out of control if nothing is done to stop them. Read on to get rid of fruit flies in your bathroom and keep them away.
Why Are Fruit Flies in My Bathroom?
A good place to start is looking around for any attractants. Removing any temptation for the fruit flies to be there is a great way to deter them. There could be a piece of food in the trash or even hidden behind the toilet/vanity. Even if nothing sweet is in the room, fruit flies prefer warm, moist places like bathrooms.
Fruit flies may also be attracted to any debris in your sink or shower drain. If you notice fruit flies in your drain, they could be sewer gnats, which look very similar. Whatever they are, they aren’t welcome! Luckily, the methods in this blog work on both types of bugs.
How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
Try to make the bathroom a less hospitable environment for the flies. Remove any moist towels, mops, or clothing in the bathroom. Fix any leaks, and wipe up any standing water. Control moisture and humidity in the room with a fan or vent.
Homemade Fruit Fly Trap
Once you’ve removed any temptations for the flies, remove the existing ones. There are several DIY and store-bought options. Make your own trap with three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and water with a few drops of dish soap in a disposable cup. Cover the cup with plastic wrap secured with a rubber band, and poke a few holes in the plastic cover with a toothpick. Store-bought options are inexpensive and effective as well.
Homemade Drain Cleaner
Clean out your drains with boiling water or boiling white vinegar to kill sewer gnats or fruit flies breeding in your drains. This should kill any larvae inside the pipes and destroy the type of habitat the flies like. You may also mechanically clean the pipes with a drain snake to remove any debris the flies are attracted to. Afterward, cover the drain with duct tape for 24 hours – the remaining flies that try to escape should stick to the tape.
Professional Drain Cleaner
If you need to have your drains professionally cleaned to remove all traces of fruit or sewer flies and their habitat, just call Mr. Rooter. Our plumbing experts hate those pesky flies just as much as you do, and we have the right equipment to thoroughly clean your pipes. While we’re there we can inspect your plumbing for any leaks or other issues that may be causing the fly problem in the first place. Just call us or request a job estimate on our homepage.
Pests seem to find all sorts of creative ways to infiltrate our homes and property. If you need pest or mosquito control for your lawns, our sister company, The Grounds Guys, can help. The Grounds Guys are part of Neighbourly’s network of home service providers committed to keeping your home in great shape and pest-free!
