Most fly problems are breeding problems. Flies don’t just wander in. They’re usually breeding somewhere close by: a drain, a trash can, overripe fruit, or damp soil in a potted plant.
Which fly do you have?
- House flies. Gray, about a quarter inch long, with a loud, direct flight. They breed in trash, pet waste, and compost, and spread bacteria by moving between waste and food.
- Fruit flies. Tiny and tan with red eyes. They hover around ripe fruit, recycling bins, and spilled drinks.
- Drain flies. Small, fuzzy, and moth-like. They rest on bathroom walls and breed in the slimy film inside drains.
- Fungus gnats. Tiny, dark, and weak fliers. They breed in damp soil in houseplants.
Where they come from
- Slow or rarely used drains
- Trash cans and recycling bins without tight lids
- Ripe fruit and produce left on the counter
- Overwatered houseplants
- Pet waste in the yard
- Dumpsters and pools nearby
Find the breeding spot and the flies go away. Kill only the adults and they keep coming back.
What our treatment does
We help you track down where the flies are breeding, treat the problem areas, and show you how to keep them from starting again.
What treatment can’t do
We’ll be straight with you: spraying adult flies doesn’t stop the larvae that are still developing in a drain or trash can. If the breeding source stays, the flies come back. Flies from a neighbor’s yard or a nearby dumpster can also keep wandering in.
What actually helps
- Scrub the drains. Use a stiff drain brush and an enzyme drain cleaner to remove the film flies breed in. Bleach alone doesn’t break it down.
- Refrigerate the fruit. Keep ripe produce in the fridge and rinse recycling before it goes in the bin.
- Lid the trash. Use tight-fitting lids and take trash out often, especially in summer.
- Let houseplants dry out. Let the top inch of soil dry between waterings to stop fungus gnats.
- Clean up after pets. Pick up pet waste in the yard regularly.
Common questions
Why do I have gnats in my house?
Tiny flies indoors are usually fruit flies around ripe produce or trash, drain flies in bathroom and kitchen drains, or fungus gnats in damp houseplant soil. Where they hover tells you which one you have and where they’re breeding.
How do I get rid of drain flies?
Clean the drain, not just the flies. Scrub inside the drain with a stiff brush to remove the slimy film where the larvae live, then flush it with hot water. Bleach poured down the drain usually rushes past the film without clearing it.
How long do fruit flies live?
A few weeks, but they breed fast: one female can lay hundreds of eggs in that time. That’s why tossing overripe fruit and emptying the recycling matters more than trapping the adults.
Tips and tricks
Find out if a drain is the problem. Before bed, cover the drain with a piece of clear tape, sticky side down. If you find small flies stuck to it in the morning, that drain is where they’re breeding.
Quick fruit fly trap
Pour a little apple cider vinegar into a small cup and add a drop of dish soap. The vinegar draws the flies in, and the soap breaks the surface so they can’t escape.
Get help with flies
Can’t get flies under control? We’ll find where they’re breeding, treat the problem, and give you an honest plan.
Other pests we handle: Scorpions, Cockroaches, Ants, Spiders, Rodents, Crickets, Stinging Insects, Bed Bugs, Mosquitoes, Ticks & Fleas, Beetles, Centipedes & Millipedes, Silverfish, Pillbugs & Sowbugs. See the full pest library.