If you notice drain flies in your home, then you’re going to want to get rid of them ASAP. So you’re probably wondering, “does bleach kill drain flies?” After all, everybody has bleach in their homes, so you won’t need to go out of your way to find some.
In this article, you’ll find out the pros and cons of using bleach to kill drain flies, whether there are more effective ways to get rid of drain flies, and things you can do around your home to prevent drain flies from coming back again!
So keep reading to find out everything you want to know!
Does Bleach Kill Drain Flies?
There are times when bleach will help kill drain flies; however, generally, it’s not the most effective method to get rid of them. In fact, bleach tends to pass quickly through drain pipes, so it’s unlikely to remove eggs that are waiting to hatch in the thick build-up of muck they’re normally found.
So while bleach may kill any adults in your drain, once the eggs have hatched, you’ll be back with the same problem again.
Other Problems With Bleach
The fact that bleach isn’t overly effective at killing drain flies isn’t the only problem with bleach. In fact, there are a couple of other things you should be aware of as well.
- First of all, if you’re pouring full-strength bleach down the drain, it can end up damaging your septic tank permanently. So at some point, you may end up with a very expensive bill.
- When mixed with other substances in your drains, bleach can also end up damaging the inside of your home’s pipes as well. This is especially the case in older houses. So if your house has a lot of old pipes, this is something you need to watch out for.
- When mixed with other substances, there’s a strong possibility that dangerous fumes could end up being created as well. So you should avoid mixing bleach with ammonia, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol.
How To Get Rid Of Drain Flies With Bleach
You may think that there’s no point using bleach; however, if you’re in a new build home and you think you’re only suffering from a small infestation, then it may still be worth using it. With that being said, here is how to use bleach to get rid of drain flies in your home!
- First of all, you should pour boiling hot water down the drain to help remove any blockages caused by slime, soap scum, and mildew.
- Once the boiling water has been poured down, mix a cup of bleach with a gallon of hot water. And then begin to pour it down your sink as well. You should also use a funnel to pour bleach down your sink’s overflow as well if you have one.
- Then all you have to do is wait, and the bleach should remove the drain flies from your drain.
Once again, it’s important to note that this will only work in cases where drain fly infestation is small.
Can You Mix Bleach And Ammonia?
You should never mix bleach and ammonia when you’re trying to get rid of drain flies. Doing so is going to create chlorine gas which is extremely toxic and even fatal when inhaled in large doses.
Can You Mix Bleach And Vinegar
You should also avoid mixing bleach and vinegar for exactly the same reason. When you mix bleach and vinegar together, it’s also going to create chlorine gas.
Alternatives To Bleach
As you can see, bleach isn’t the most effective way to remove drain flies from your home, but fortunately, there are a lot of alternatives you can use! Here are the different things you can try!
Enzyme Cleaners
Enzyme cleaners are considered the best way to remove drain flies from your home. When applied, enzyme cleaners are going to remove a drain flies’ food source whilst also killing any eggs. On top of this, the cleaner is not harmful to you or your home, so it’s the go-to for professionals.
Drano
One of the main ingredients in Drano is lye, so it’s no wonder it’s effective at removing drain flies from your home. If you’re going to use Drano, make sure you’re keeping an eye on the time, though. If it’s left for too long, it could end up damaging your pipes.
(Find out more about using Drano to remove drain flies.)
Try Removing The Pipes
You may need to get a professional to do this, but removing the pipes is another way to make sure they’re getting a good clean. This way, you can ensure all of the gunk is being removed from your pipes, and the drain flies have nowhere to eat, breed, or sleep.
Vinegar And Baking Soda
Vinegar and baking soda are other great choices. Just make sure you’re not using this in combination with bleach.
If you want to try vinegar and baking soda, then pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, and then slowly pour in a cup of vinegar as well.
Once both have been added, the combination will begin to bubble and fizz. Once this happens, you just need to let it sit within the pipe for an hour before washing it down with boiling water.
Doing this will remove the build-up muck the flies have been living in, as well as the eggs, larvae, and drain flies themselves.
Recap
As you can see, while you can use bleach to remove drain flies from your pipes, it’s not the most effective method. However, if you think it’s only a small infestation, then it may be worth trying.
In more severe cases, then you should try something stronger such as enzyme cleaners, Drano or vinegar, and baking soda.
And if you liked this article, make sure you check out the rest of the website. Otherwise, have a great day!
