Drain flies love organic moist matter, making the drains of our kitchens and bathrooms perfect for them to live and breed. They are a fuzzy sort of moth creature that doesn't fly all that well. It often just jerks around and is found resting on the side of the sink and tub. Most of the time, the moths show up in drains that don't get used a lot. This allows them to breed and not be washed away. They often show up after a vacation or in a cabin that sits from time to time.

Although these moths are not biting insects, they can be helpful by breaking down the organic matter in the drains, and, they are pretty harmless. However, people still don't like to share their spaces with bugs. They have a lifespan of about three weeks and can reproduce every 32-48 hours. So, they can quickly take over the unused drain.

There are some easy ways to get rid of drain flies. One example is the fly strips that are used for other fly species. The strips are made for regular flies, but you can use them for drain flies as well. And, they are somewhat effective at taking care of the issue. Fly strips can be purchased just about anywhere, and they are super sticky, so be careful when putting them into the sink. They can be hung from a faucet with care. Or pull them from the outer cardboard and make a cone-like shape. Again, carefully to not have it touch the sides of the sink. These things are super sticky and undoubtedly hard to keep clean.

Other natural ways to get rid of drain flies are:

  • Trap the flies in a bowl with sugar, ten drops of liquid dish soap, water, and white vinegar. The flies will be attracted to the substance and drown.
  • Clean your pipes. This sounds easy. But, warning, the flies are living on organic matter in the pipes, so it can be a little too much for some people. This should be done with metal pipe brush. By pushing it back and forth through the pipe to clean the inside of the pipes.
  • Pour piping hot boiling water down the sink at least 1-2 times a day.
  • Combine a 1/2 cup of salt, 1/2 Backing Soda and Vinegar and pour down the drain. Let it sit overnight and pour boiling water down it to clear it further out.
  • Using Apple Cider Vinegar in a glass, sit it in the sink with a bit of plastic wrap over the top. They are attracted to the Vinegar and will get trapped inside and drown. This will need to be left for a few days to ensure all of them are caught.

There are also pesticides that can be used if the above options seem to be ineffective.  And, the best way to control them from returning is to continue to use the drain. However, if this happens in your cabin or somewhere that isn't readily available, putting in a drain plug or stopper could be your answer.