Seeing tiny flies hovering around your bathroom sink or shower is annoying—and honestly, a bit gross. The good news? Drain flies are easy to get rid of once you know what’s causing them. You get rid of drain flies by cleaning the inside of the drain where they breed, removing moisture, and keeping the drain dry and clear for a few days.
Let’s break it down in a simple, no-stress way.
What Are Drain Flies and Why Are They in Your Bathroom?
Drain flies (also called sewer flies) are small, fuzzy flies that love dirty, wet drains. They don’t come from trash or food. They come from slime inside your pipes.
Bathrooms are perfect for them because:
- Warm water runs daily
- Soap, hair, and toothpaste build up
- Drains stay wet most of the time
That slimy layer inside the drain is where they lay eggs.
How to Get Rid of Drain Flies Step by Step
1. Find the Problem Drain
Most of the time, it’s one of these:
- Sink drain
- Shower drain
- Floor drain
Easy test:
At night, cover drains with clear tape. In the morning, check which one has flies stuck underneath.
2. Clean the Drain (This Is the Most Important Step)
Sprays alone won’t work if you skip this.
What to do:
- Pour boiling water slowly down the drain
- Use a drain brush (or old bottle brush)
- Scrub the inside walls of the pipe
This removes the slime where eggs live.
3. Use a Natural Drain Cleaner
After scrubbing, use one of these simple mixes:
Option 1: Baking Soda + Vinegar
- ½ cup baking soda
- 1 cup white vinegar
- Let it sit 30 minutes
- Flush with hot water
Option 2: Salt + Baking Soda
- Mix equal parts
- Pour down the drain
- Leave overnight
- Rinse in the morning
These help break down leftover buildup.
4. Keep the Drain Dry for a Few Days
Drain flies need moisture to survive.
Try this:
- Fix leaking taps
- Wipe sinks dry at night
- Run the bathroom fan after showers
If the drain dries out, the flies disappear faster.
5. Use a Simple Trap for Adult Flies
This helps reduce what you see while cleaning works.
DIY trap:
- Bowl of apple cider vinegar
- A drop of dish soap
Place it near the sink overnight.
Pros & Cons of Common Drain Fly Solutions
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Boiling water | Cheap and easy | Needs repeating |
| Baking soda & vinegar | Natural and safe | Slower results |
| Drain brush | Removes eggs | Needs effort |
| Chemical cleaners | Fast acting | Can damage pipes |
| Fly traps | Reduces flying bugs | Doesn’t fix root cause |
Real-World Examples
Example 1:
A homeowner kept spraying fly killer daily. Flies returned every morning. Once they scrubbed the shower drain and used baking soda and vinegar for 3 nights, the flies were gone within a week.
Example 2:
An apartment bathroom had drain flies from a floor drain rarely used. Pouring water weekly and cleaning the drain stopped the problem completely.
FAQs (People Also Ask)
Do drain flies go away on their own?
No. If the drain stays dirty and wet, they keep coming back.
Are drain flies harmful?
They don’t bite, but they spread bacteria and are unhygienic.
How long does it take to get rid of drain flies?
Usually 3 to 7 days if you clean the drain properly.
Can bleach kill drain flies?
Bleach may kill some flies, but it often doesn’t remove the slime, so the problem returns.
Why do drain flies keep coming back?
Because the inside of the drain wasn’t fully cleaned or moisture remains.
Final Verdict
Drain flies in the bathroom are a drain problem, not a fly problem.
If you:
- Scrub the inside of the drain
- Break down the slime
- Keep the area dry
They will go away—and stay away.
No fancy products needed. Just a little cleaning in the right place.