How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies in The Bathroom

Fruit flies can be a real hazard, mainly if they have settled in your bathroom. Fruit flies love to stay in a moist and warm atmosphere. They usually lay their eggs under sinks and drains; unfortunately, bathroom drains and sinks are no exception and are the perfect breeding spot for fruit flies. But that may not be the only case; they could be attracted to debris in your sink drain or showers. Whatever the point is, the real question is how to deal with them.

How To Identify Fruit Flies

There are several ways to identify fruit flies if you have an issue with them. They are smaller in size, black, and fly around swiftly. Moreover, they are attracted to lights, usually gathered around windows and doors.

They land on food and spills; hence found in kitchens. However, if you find them in the bathroom, there is a chance of a severe infestation of fruit flies under sinks, showers and drains. Though it’s hard to get rid of them without professional help, there are some helpful DIY tricks.

How to Get Rid of Them Effectively

For starters, make your bathroom’s environment inhospitable by removing wet or moist towels, clothes or mops and wiping additional water from the bathroom floor.

Find their Source

Before doing anything else, one must find the fruit flies’ source to get rid of them successfully. If failed to do so, you will never get rid of them. as mentioned above, they live in drains, pipes, under sinks and showers. If you can find the source, you can easily block the area, stopping them from entering your bathroom. This points to cleaning and scrubbing the area thoroughly and losing any material that may be the source of attracting these flies. Ensure that you clean all the areas – hair or soap scum etc.

Homemade Fruit Fly Trap

After doing that, some DIY options could be useful. A fly trap is a beneficial trick to obliterate the fruit flies in the bathroom.

Try mixing these three ingredients in a cup:

• Three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
• Water
• Few drops of dishwashing soap

After mixing these ingredients, cover the cup with plastic wrap and punch some holes in the plastic with the help of a matchstick or toothpick. This is a great way to kill fruit flies instead of using harmful chemicals and pesticides.

Homemade Drain Cleaner

Try cleaning the drains with boiling vinegar or water to kill fruit flies and their breeds producing in your gutters. Doing so can eliminate all the larvae in your drains and pipes. After that, tape the pipe opening for 24 hours; the flies trying to escape will stick to the duct tape. If you do this regularly, their population will be reduced over time. One thing to remember is that this method is ineffective if you have a severe infestation. It would be best if you used numerous ways to eliminate them completely. If you want to use a drain cleaner, hire a professional because it can be harmful if misused.

Natural Repellents

Natural repellents are a practical solution way to get rid of fruit flies. They work by using plant extracts or essential oils to produce an unpleasant aroma that prevents fruit flies. This suggests that eliminating fruit flies can be possible without pesticides and chemicals. One can use several essential oils as natural repellents; for instance,

• Citrus Oil
• Peppermint Oil
• Lavender Oil

Adding these oils to a spray bottle and spraying on the area where fruit flies gather can be extremely helpful. Moreover, you can extract vinegar and spray it directly on the flies to kill them instantly.

Bottle and Plastic Wrap

This method is highly effective if you have an empty bottle of wine, vinegar, or beer. Cover its opening with plastic wrap and punch a hole or two in the plastic. In this way, the flies can enter, but they won’t be able o get out.

Regular Cleaning

Undoubtedly, one of the most effective ways is regular cleaning. You can make an unpleasant place by cleaning all the surfaces and removing any organic material.

Keep the Air Moving

Though fruit flies are great at flying, they need air to land. If you have an acute infestation of fruit flies in your kitchen, place a circulating fan on your counter to at least keep them away from food and shut the windows so there won’t be more flies.

Prevent Fruit Flies by Following These Simpler Steps

Try the following techniques to stop fruit flies from making your home too comfortable:

• Don’t buy extra food that you don’t need. For instance, thousands of fruit flies can result from one rotting potato or a box of abandoned fruits. Always put ripe food in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat it, and discard leftovers immediately.
• Before refrigerating the food, wash it thoroughly to remove any larvae.
• Throw away the kitchen waste every day.
• Clean up the spills immediately, especially fruit juices and alcohol.
• Also, to get rid of adult flies from coming in, put screens on your doors and windows.
• Turn off extra lights as they attract adult flies.
• Seal all containers. Make sure your lids are tightly closed if you preserve your fruits and vegetables or make your own cider.

Will Fruit Flies Go Away on Their Own?

Fruit flies only live for two weeks on average. As long as the infestation continues, you will keep getting more every day, but don’t worry, as fruit flies typically come in the summer, but their numbers will reduce once the weather turns cooler. However, getting rid of them is better because they can spread bacteria, which could harm your health. Therefore, if all else fails, wait them out. Though they are annoying, they present minor health risks. When they touch food and household surfaces, they can spread bacteria or germs, which can frequently cause health problems. That’s why always wash your hands well after cleaning up an area with flies and wash any fruits and vegetables on your counters before eating them.