How to Rid Yourself of Drain Flies

In my hotel room, I have a sticky fly-strip hanging near the sink. Holding the door open allows large flies to come in. Usually, this is not a problem. They either fly out, land on the strip or get caught and eaten by T’Siri (my cat).

Lately, I have had a more annoying problem. No, not bed bugs. The hotel is clean of those insidious creatures. This infestation does not carry diseases that I am aware of, but they are annoying just the same. They are drain flies.

I purchased plugs for the bathtub and sink drains. Using them all day and night did seem to cut down on their numbers somewhat. They were back quickly. Either I seem to have one, or several.

The first thing I tried was to spray an aerosol bug spray in the drain and put the plug in place. It worked for a couple of days, and then they were back. I did it again the next night; this time stuffing a plastic bag in the overflow holes (with spray) overnight.

By the next afternoon, I had them again. Instead of bothering the maintenance supervisor or going to the office to complain (in front of people trying to check in), I decided to take care of the problem once and for all.

I learned about getting rid of the pests. I want to share that with you here. It’s not difficult.

About Drain Flies

Over time, material such as lint, soap scum, dirt, hair and so forth builds up inside a drain. This could be any drain in the house. To a drain fly, the dark, warm, moist environment is perfection.

That’s where you have to get them. Take the environment, you stop the infestation.

How To Clean A Drain

I once purchased a “mini drain snake” from the dollar store. It’s about a foot long and grabs hair and other gunk from the drain trap. Although the thought of touching hair from the inside of a drain is creepy to some, it is necessary to remove it.

You could take the pipes apart and clean them manually, but that is really not necessary unless the pipes are nearly clogged and drain very slowly.

Once the material has been removed, use a commercial drain cleaner. Follow the instructions to the letter for the best results and safety. It may take a few weeks to completely clean the drains.

Ensure the product is a drain cleaner, not something to clear clogged drains. There is a difference. If you have PVC pipes, make sure the product is safe for them.

Maintenance

Use the drain cleaner once a month in all the drains. Keep a careful eye out for other drain flies. In apartments or hotels, check the place where the pipes go into the wall. Caulk around the pipes for insulation, sound protection and to stop other bugs from coming in. Caulk is very inexpensive and will not harm the walls.

You don’t need an exterminator for drain flies. With just a little effort, you can eliminate them for good. In a hotel, that means maintenance does not have to come back every few days.

I no longer have a problem with drain flies. My hotel room is nice and cozy.

Source: The author of this article has over 40 years of experience in diverse forms of DIY, home improvement and repair, crafting, designing, and building furniture, outdoor projects, RV’ing and more.