3 Reasons Why Fruit Flies May Invade Your Bathroom – And How to Get Rid of Them
The bathroom can be a very high-traffic area of your home. So we’re sure you don’t want to share it with dozens (if not hundreds) of unwanted guests. We’re talking about fruit flies invading your bathroom.
Fruit flies can be annoying, spread contaminants, and reproduce very quickly. That all means you want to address the situation right away and stay one step ahead of these pests. Here are the three most common causes of fruit flies in the bathroom, along with ways to get rid of them.
Reason 1: Debris in the trash can
Fruit flies are commonly found in kitchens because that’s where they’re more likely to find organic matter to eat, including ripened fruits, vegetables, and sweet drinks. However, there may be debris in your bathroom that is attracting the fruit flies. Check the trash can (as well as other areas) for food, juice boxes, soda cans, or anything else that the flies may be snacking on. If there’s any liquid at the bottom of the trash can liner, throw it away and replace with a new, clean one.
Reason 2: Damp materials
In addition to sweet foods, fruit flies love damp areas. Go through your bathroom and remove any wet clothes, towels, rags, sponges. Clean up any standing water and check for any leaks from your fixtures or pipes. The last thing you want is to create a breeding ground for flies to lay their eggs.
Reason 3: Blockage in a drain
The sink or tub drain can be a perfect home for fruit flies. Not only are these areas damp but they can also provide food in the form of debris collecting in the pipe. Even if you don’t notice the drain is backed up, there could be a small blockage.
One thing to note. If you see flies coming from your drain, they could also be drain flies, which are different than fruit flies. Either way, it’s a sign that your draining needs a cleaning.
DIY ways to get rid of fruit flies
Once you clean the bathroom to remove any potential food or damp materials for the fruit flies, there are a few homemade methods from shooing away the pests so they don’t return.
Apple cider vinegar fly trap:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of sugar, a couple of drops of dish soap, and a ½ cup of water into a jar
- Stir the mixture up and place the jar in your bathroom close to where you see fruit flies
- The flies will be attracted to the sweet apple cider vinegar and sugar but they’ll get caught by the soap
- You can use a few different traps in the same room, and replace as necessary
Drain cleaner:
- Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the sink or tub drain
- Next, pour 1 cup of vinegar down the drain
- Cover the drain hole and overflow drain
- The mixture will fizz, expand, and hopefully loosen up any debris caught in the drain
- After 10 minutes, flush the drain with hot water
You can also find various products in stores to get rid of fruit flies. However, we don’t recommend using liquid drain cleaning products as they contain harsh chemicals that can damage your pipes.
If you need your drain professional cleaned or you find any leaks or other plumbing issues, bring in the team at Reichelt Plumbing, Inc. Our licensed plumbers will take care of the problem so you can win the battle against fruit flies in your bathroom. Call us today at (219) 322-4906.