Get Rid of Pesky Little Flies in Your Kitchen for Good

It starts with just one or two flies buzzing around your kitchen. Before you know it, those few stray flies have invited all their friends and turned into a full-blown swarm. Tiny flies flitting around your food prep areas and landing on your dishes are beyond annoying. Even just a couple of flies can make your kitchen feel dirty and gross. The good news is that with some diligent prevention and control efforts, you can get rid of small flies in the kitchen and keep them from coming back.

We'll cover the most common fly varieties - like fruit flies, drain flies, and fungus gnats - as well as their favored breeding spots. You'll get helpful tips for identifying different fly types based on their appearance and behavior. Most importantly, we'll share effective methods to clear out current fly infestations and stop future ones from developing. Read on to make your kitchen a no-fly zone!

What Causes Little Flies in Kitchens?

To get rid of small flies, it helps to understand what brings them to your kitchen in the first place. Fly infestations start when adult flies find their way into your home and begin laying eggs. Tiny fly eggs then hatch into larvae or maggots, which eventually mature into adult flies. Stopping this life cycle is key to getting rid of an infestation.

Flies need food, moisture, and breeding sites to complete their life cycle. Kitchens provide all three of these necessities. Even tidier kitchens can experience fly issues if they offer ideal conditions. Here are common fly attraction and breeding points in kitchens:

Overview of Common Fly Types

Not all tiny flies are created equal. Different fly species have unique characteristics and habitat preferences. Here are some of the most common flies found buzzing around kitchens:

• Fruit flies - Attracted to ripe and rotting produce
• Drain flies - Breed in drains, pipes, and sewers
• Fungus gnats - Lay eggs in damp soil of potted plants
• House flies - Feed on food scraps and garbage
• Moth flies - Thrive in damp, moldy environments
• Vinegar flies - Drawn to fermenting fruits and vinegar
• Phorid flies - Scavenge decaying organic matter

Breeding Sites

Flies need moist areas containing organic matter to lay their eggs. Kitchen trouble spots include:

• Drains and pipes - Drain and fungus gnat larvae feed on gunk inside.
• Garbage disposals - Bits of leftover food accumulate and rot inside.
• Sinks and faucets - Standing water supports fly development.
• Overripe or rotting produce - Fruit flies love fermenting fruits.
• Potatoes and onions - Provide needed moisture for flies.
• Trash cans - Contain food waste and rotting matter.
• Compost piles - Decaying food scraps are an ideal breeding ground.

Entry Points

For flies to become a nuisance, they first need to find their way into your kitchen. Possible fly entryways include:

• Open doors and windows - Flies can fly or crawl through unscreened openings.
• Small cracks and gaps - Tiny flies fit through surprisingly small spaces along walls or cabinets.
• Plumbing under sinks - Flies can come up through drains and pipes.

Conditions That Attract Flies

Flies seek out kitchens that offer ideal living conditions. They look for:

• Moisture - For breeding and drinking.
• Standing water - Drain and sink areas often provide this.
• Food particles - On dishes, counters, floors, etc.
• Rotting organic material - Supports fly egg-laying and larval development.
• Warm environments - Flies thrive at room and higher temperatures.

Identifying Types of Small Flies

To control kitchen flies effectively, it helps to know exactly what kind you're dealing with. Use these tips to identify the culprits:

Physical Characteristics

Observe flies up-close to note:

• Size - Fruit flies are only 1/8-inch, while house flies reach 1/4-inch.
• Colors - Dark flies like fungus gnats versus metallic green bottle flies.
• Wing shape and vein patterns - Characteristics used by entomologists for identification.
• Body patterns - Markings such as stripes or eye color.

Behavioral Cues

Watch where flies congregate and when they're active:

• Locations - Do they prefer your compost bucket or hover around drains?
• Time patterns - Note when flies appear such as in mornings or evenings.
• Trap response - Vinegar attracts fruit flies, while others ignore it.

Life Cycle and Habits

Learn about how flies live and reproduce:

• Egg-laying sites - Fruit flies stick eggs to surfaces near food; drain flies deposit them in slime.
• Larval food sources - Fungus gnat larvae eat plant roots; others eat decaying matter.
• Maturation time - House flies develop from egg to adult in 6-15 days.

Clearing Breeding Sites to Prevent Flies

Cutting off flies from their breeding grounds is key for reducing infestations. Focus on kitchen hygiene, drains, and entry points:

Kitchen Hygiene Practices

Without proper sanitation, your kitchen offers an all-you-can-eat fly buffet. Important practices include:

• Eliminate standing water in sinks, around faucets, and on counters.
• Dry out wet drains after use to discourage moisture-loving flies.
• Run garbage disposal with baking soda and vinegar to clean out debris buildup.
• Take out trash frequently to limit food waste accumulation.
• Clean up spills and crumbs immediately to remove fly food sources.
• Remove rotting produce from fruit bowls and storage areas.
• Cover compost piles so flies can't access decaying contents.

Drain and Pipe Maintenance

Drains and pipes with organic buildup allow drain and fungus flies to thrive. Proper maintenance helps disrupt breeding sites:

• Pour boiling water down sinks and shower drains at least weekly to scald larvae.
• Use enzyme drain cleaner products to digest and clear out debris.
• Install drain filters or screens to block females from laying eggs inside pipes.
• Inspect pipes under sinks for cracks, leaks, or damage and repair as needed.

Entry Point Sealing

Block flies from sneaking inside your kitchen through these tactics:

• Caulk cracks and small gaps around walls, plumbing, cabinets, etc. to close openings.
• Weatherstrip doors and windows to seal gaps when closed.
• Install screens over vents, small openings, drains, and floor trenches to exclude flies.

Trapping and Catching Adult Flies

In addition to breaking the fly life cycle, traps can capture adult flies buzzing about. DIY and commercial options work:

DIY Traps

Homemade traps take advantage of what attracts flies:

• Vinegar or wine in a cup - The smell lures many flies in to drown.
• Funnel trap - Flies enter but cannot escape.
• Sticky tape - Hung in areas where flies travel to get stuck on glue.
• Jar trap - Punch holes so flies can enter but not exit.

Zappers and Swatters

These devices aim to quickly kill flies on contact:

• Electric zappers - Lure flies in with UV light and kill with an electric shock.
• Bug-a-salt shotgun - Fires a blast of table salt to shoot flies down.
• Swatters - Made of plastic, rolled paper, or electrified grids.

Insecticide Sprays and Baits

Chemical insecticides target fly adults and larvae:

• Foggers and aerosol sprays - Provide quick knockdown of adult flies.
• Residual sprays - Applied to surfaces where flies frequent and rest.
• Granular baits - Contains attractants and poisons that flies consume.
• BTI products - Contain bacteria deadly to fly larvae when applied to breeding sites.

Natural Fly Deterrents

Prevent flies without using harsh chemicals through these natural options:

Scent Repellents

Strong herbal scents drive flies away, such as:

• Basil
• Bay leaves
• Cloves
• Lavender
• Lemongrass
• Peppermint

Visual Repellents

Items that disturb flies through sight/touch:

• Sticky traps - Covered in glue to immobilize flies that land on them.
• Colored sticky cards - Yellow attracts flies unlike humans.
• Fly paper coils - Unravel and hang for flies to get caught on.
• Shiny surfaces like tinfoil - Reflect light which flies avoid.

When to Call an Exterminator for a Fly Infestation

In severe fly situations, professional help may be needed. Contact an exterminator if you notice:

• Large numbers of flies that traditional measures cannot control.
• Flies present for long periods of time and through multiple life cycles.
• Difficulty reaching fly breeding sites like inside wall voids or ventilation systems.
• Unsure of exact fly species to target appropriate control measures.
• Flies emerging from outside areas like sewers beyond your property.

The extensive experience and commercial-grade insecticides exterminators have can tackle the toughest fly outbreaks.

Now you know exactly why those tiny flies insist on invading your kitchen and how to show them the door. Don't tolerate sharing your space with annoying flies for one more day! Implement these prevention, control, and removal tactics to reclaim a clean, fly-free kitchen.