Why Are There Fruit Flies in My Kitchen Sink Drain?

Has this ever happened to you? You’re scrubbing a dish in the kitchen sink and notice a small creature fly up out of the drain. Was that a gnat? Then you watch more of them buzzing around your kitchen. These annoying little guys are actually fruit flies. And if you’re wondering how they got in there and what may be done about them, you’re in the right place. 

Why Are They Here? 

Fruit flies exist all over the U.S., and spread quickly. According to WebMD, “An adult female fruit fly can lay up to 2,000 eggs on the surface of anything that’s moist and rotting. Within 30 hours, tiny maggots hatch and start to eat the decayed food. Within two days, they’re all grown up and ready to mate.” Because they’re lured by moisture and rotten food, they’ll often end up in your trash can, your rotten fruit and the kitchen drain, which is packed with moisture and small chunks of food. Sometimes you’ll notice them come up out of the drain. This can be particularly likely if you have a somewhat clogged sink or disposal that empties slowly. This preserves more moisture and food debris that appeals to these insects and allows them to thrive and reproduce. 

How Bad Are They? 

When fruit flies transfer from a dirty surface to a clean one, they carry germs with them. This may include listeria, salmonella and even E. coli. All of these bacteria can result in severe cases of food poisoning. 

What Can I Do About Them? 

Because of this bacterial risk, keep your home’s surfaces clean at all times. Use a kitchen surface cleaner that kills bacteria. Don’t reuse sponges that can attract, retain and transport germs. It’s best to use paper towels and throw them away. 

Bug sprays can kill off the adult fruit flies but won’t kill the eggs. And you likely don’t want to apply insecticide all over your kitchen. Instead, pour boiling water in your drain. Before bed, close off your drains with clear packing tape. Each morning, you should see some fruit flies stuck to it. 

Here are other traps you can also try, all utilizing a jar: 

• Wine—Add an ounce of wine in the jar. Put a hole in the lid so the fruit flies can enter. You can also use a funnel or paper cone instead of a lid. 

• Spoiled fruit—Same as above, but using rotten fruit instead of wine. 
• Apple cider vinegar—Same as above but with apple cider vinegar. 
• Apple cider vinegar and dish soap—Same as above with dish liquid added, which makes it more difficult for flies to get away. 
• Yeast—Put in two or three ounces of water, one packet of activated dry yeast and a teaspoon of sugar. 

To avoid bringing in fruit flies: 

• Wash your produce as soon as you take it home. Sometimes they can contain fruit fly eggs or larvae. 
• Refrigerate whenever you can. 
• Try not to keep spoiled produce in your home. Buy only what you’re going to eat. 
• Empty your kitchen trash often, and keep it closed. 
• Keep your surfaces clean and disinfected. 

• If you prefer to keep windows raised, make sure they have well-fitted screens. 

If the listed methods haven’t resolved your fruit fly infestation, there may be something wrong with your p-trap. That’s the part of your drain pipe bent in a u shape to hold water and keep foul air from drifting up into your home. It also stops flies from living in your pipes and flying up from the drain. If your pipe has a leak and lacks a water seal, this can produce a fruit fly infestation. Run the water and search below for a leak. If you spot one, get it fixed promptly. Leaky pipes can cause mold and structural damage to your home. 

You should also hire a plumber if your kitchen sink or garbage disposal is draining slower than usual. This problem not only helps encourage fruit flies, but over time the sink drain can fully clog and become useless. The Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts plumbing team has the tools, experience and know-how to determine the problem and solve it quickly. We use a video drain inspector to obviously see what’s occurring inside the pipes, and a number of methods to clean them, depending on the type and extent of the blockage. If the problem is your garbage disposal, we can repair or replace it at a price you can afford. We also clear leaky pipes. 

If you want any sort of plumbing service at all, contact the professionals at Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts. Whether we’re warming, cooling or making the water run, we take great pride in keeping our customers happy. With more than 4,000 team members, we can deliver and innovate better than anyone. Our can-do family attitude helps us get the job done on time, and right—the first time.