There are a lot of things to love about summer, but fruit flies are not one of them. You find them in your face, around your food, or even in your drink – they’re everywhere! So how do you get these pesky critters out of your delicious dinner or your fresh bowl of fruit? And where do these pests come from?

Where do fruit flies come from?

There’s not one easy answer to this question because you can get them from a number of sources. For example, they may have hitchhiked on your fresh produce or on those fresh flowers you brought home from the farmer’s market. They can also hide in your plants outside and sneak in through open doors, window screens, and even through cracks in window seals. 

To these food loving insects, the kitchen sink is paradise; it’s the perfect place to find food and lay their eggs. It can start with just a few fruit flies here and there, but before you know it, they’ve taken over your home.

What can happen if fruit flies find your kitchen drain?

Although harmless, fruit flies always seem to find a way into everything, including your sink. Once inside, these bothersome insects will want to find a place to settle down and reproduce. Not only is your kitchen sink a great place to find food residue, but it’s also the perfect dark and damp environment for them to lay their eggs. It’s even more enticing to them if your sink drain is clogged up with food. Did you know that fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs that hatch within one week? That’s a lot of unwanted guests. 

How can you avoid fruit flies taking over your drain?

If you don’t want these unwelcome guests living in your sink drain this summer, luckily there’s ways to prevent that. Here’s a list of simple but effective, solutions to evict them:

1. Keep your garbage can lid tightly closed and take it out often

Even adult fruit flies can find their way through the smallest cracks, so make sure you keep your garbage can closed if you’re storing it inside. Taking your garbage out often, especially if you’ve disposed of food scraps, will be crucial to keeping those critters out.

2. Rinse produce immediately after taking it home to avoid bringing in any fruit flies

In addition to your kitchen sink drain, fruit flies can settle on produce and reproduce. That’s why it’s a good idea to rinse off your produce as soon as you bring it home to ensure there are no larvae hiding on your fruits and veggies.

3. Clean your dishwasher regularly to get rid of any food residue

When’s the last time you cleaned your dishwasher? Food can build up in the filter and attract unwanted guests. Make sure you’re cleaning out the filter found at the bottom of your dishwasher regularly. Using vinegar and baking soda to clean the rest of your dishwasher will also do the trick.

4. Store produce in the fridge, not on the countertop

Not only will this help keep your produce fresh longer in the summertime, it will also help to prevent attracting fruit flies. Once they have found your fruit bowl, it will be hard to get them to leave.

5. Get a mesh strainer for the drain to catch any bits of food before it gets stuck in your sink drain

It’s easier to prevent food from collecting in your drain than it is to clean it out later. So, make sure you’re using a sink strainer to prevent any food residue from building up in your sink drain if you want to keep fruit flies out.

6. Keep your garbage disposal clean and free of food scraps

If you have a garbage disposal, you’ll want to make sure you run it as soon as you put food scraps in it. Make sure you’re using water every time you run the garbage disposal to clear out any remaining food scraps. It’s also good to run through a handful of ice cubes once a month to prevent food build up.

7. Rinse and put dirty dishes in the dishwasher immediately

This one goes without saying. If you don’t want to attract pesky fruit flies, don’t leave anything for them by storing your dirty dishes where fruit flies can’t get to them.

8. Use apple cider vinegar and dish soap traps near your sink

Place a small bowl with 2 inches of apple cider vinegar and a couple drops of dish soap by the sink to trap fruit flies who would otherwise end up in your sink. Any fruit flies who land in the trap will get stuck and drown.

What if the fruit flies decide not to leave?

If you’ve done all these things and there are still fruit flies hovering over your sink, there’s a few things you can do. Make sure to do proper maintenance on your drain to keep it clean, and cover your drain every night. This will help to keep fruit flies out when it’s darkest and prevent them from multiplying. It’s also worth it to check your P-trap, which is the U-shape pipe underneath your drain that traps debris and water. Fruit flies can get trapped in this pipe and will try to find their way out through your sink drain. However, if you notice your sink is draining slowly and becoming clogged, there may be more to the problem. 

Give Tap 2 Drain a Call.

At the first sign of clogging, get in contact with Tap 2 Drain by calling 1-866-918-2421 or by filling out our contact form. Our Nice Guy plumbers will never overcharge, will always come prepared, and will treat your home like their own. Give us a call if you’re ready to say goodbye to those clogged drains and pesky fruit flies.