Help with bugs in bathroom.

[nickelsfamily]

Over the past week, I have noticed some bugs that fly-not sure if they are flies. The only way I can describe them in they are black and small and their wings remind me of hearts???? They are in my hall bathroom. The bathroom is cleaned every week. Can anyone help me with what they are and how to get rid of them? I can't figure out where they came from. They are not in any other part of the house-and today there is a bunch in that bathroom....
Please help. I have company this weekend!
Thanks a bunch!!

 

[minnieandme]

I don't know if their gnats, but I had a similar problem in my kitchen earlier this summer. I got some fly paper and trapped them, but they seemed like they would multiply overnight. What I did was pour bleach down the drain and let it sit over night. That killed them off and they haven't been back. Try that and see what happens.

 

[rcraw45425]

Over the past week, I have noticed some bugs that fly-not sure if they are flies. The only way I can describe them in they are black and small and their wings remind me of hearts???? They are in my hall bathroom. The bathroom is cleaned every week. Can anyone help me with what they are and how to get rid of them? I can't figure out where they came from. They are not in any other part of the house-and today there is a bunch in that bathroom....
Please help. I have company this weekend!
Thanks a bunch!!

Julie, is there a shower in that bathroom that's not used ? We have those same ones, only in the downstairs hall bath, the shower is one of those corner ones that is never used. We are on a septic tank or I'd follow the PP's advice and bleach the drain.

 

[nickelsfamily]

Thanks! I will try anything at this point!

 

[dvcfamily41801]

OMG!! We are having the EXACT problem in our master bath. We had it more in the summer and our neighbor dug up their entire front lawn and I thought maybe that had something to do with it coming in the screens, so I closed up and put the air on LOL. They seemed to take a break for a little while and now they are back again. It is so frustrating!

 

[piglet too]

I too have had a problem with them this past week or so! I am going to try the bleach.

 

[rcraw45425]

Glad to know we're not the only ones. I keep thinking.....but we're not dirty people!

 

[lovethattink]

I had that problem a few years ago. Turned out the source was the inside toilet lid of a toilet we never used, except for company. I killed the flies, scoured the toilet and they have not been back.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I would guess they're drain flies. They live in the pipes off of the waste. You might have to buy enzymes from the HW store to clean the lining of the pipes.

 

[beck0321]

I am having this problem in the upstairs bathroom. We live in apartments so I'm not sure if that is why we are more prone to it. We always have problems with them. They are called sewer flies. You don't have to be dirty to get them, they just make a little nest in your drain. Pull out the stopper and clean that up. Clean out the drain from any clogs. Then pour some bleach down the drain, don't mix with anything. They should be gone right away. I was REALLY freaking out when we first got them and I couldn't get rid of them. For some reason the apt had anchored the stopper and I had to get all up under the sink and un-anchor it! I was pretty proud of myself though, but I had to find directions online.

PS. Maybe you can pour some bleach in the drain before you clean it out too so that you don't have bugs flying at you while you clean. But make sure to pour some after to kill the nest.

 

[nickelsfamily]

WOW! I feel better to know that it is not just me! The bathroom is not used that often....
I guess I will try the bleach in all of the drains and if that doesn't work I will have DH buy some enzymes!
Thanks!

 

[Connieh]

Had this happen once and found the source to be a bag of milkbath powder I had in the bathroom. They stuff smelled so good I never used it but kept it out for the scent.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

I am really embarrassed to say I've had those in my FREEZER. I can not fiqure out for the life of me where they are coming from and what they are. I try to keep a clean house too and this baffled me. From what you describe these are exactly the same bugs. I even wondered if they came in with some produce and made their way up into the freezer.

Could they be coming in my ice maker??? Help!

 

[stm61]

I'm the only female in our shop on base and had the same problem with those flys. Contacted Civil Engineering and they said the problem is in the floor drain. Since I haven't managed to flood the bathroom, it hasn't been used and is dry. They said to pour a couple pitchers of water down the drain. We can't use any bleach or chemicals because of environmental restrictions. The water worked. I see the flys about every 6 months or so and just pour more water down the drain again.

 

[Shere_Khan]

Are you sure they are not box elders?
Are they black and fly, and have a little orange stripe down their back?
We have not had problems with these in apartment but they are all over our deck and sliding glass door. I heard that because of weather they are here in large quantities this year. Kind of like that one year with the lady bugs. But maybe I am thinking of a whole different bug then what you are referring to.

 

[Princess89]

I cannot believe I have come across this thread. I have had these things on and off. Right now, I am having a bout with them, but in the kitchen. The kitchen sink is used daily, but sometimes not both side. Its a double sink, and I for the most part favor one side. I read about the drain thing, but there is no way, or so I think this is possible. I put the fly strip up, which I hate doing because its in the kitchen. That night I saw all of them gone. So I thought great, I cleaned out all the cabinets washed them out etc. The next morning I go to make coffee and go the sink to get the water, and I was bombarded with these things. They tend to favor the sink, but I have seen them on the ceiling and such.

I think I am going to have to try and do the bleach in the drain, but its still so odd that it could be that, its the kitchen, and its the sink But I am at my wits end with these things! It makes me feel dirty and nasty, when I clean in there more than once per day! All I can say is its the kitchen for Mickey's sake

 

[nickelsfamily]

Well, I cleaned the bathroom yesterday after my last post....and sure enough, the started to come out of the tub drain!! I used the bleach in all of the drains. The hardest part was getting rid of the bugs that were flying all over!
But, since then we have not seen any more! Thanks sooooooooooooooooo much.

 

[beck0321]

I cannot believe I have come across this thread. I have had these things on and off. Right now, I am having a bout with them, but in the kitchen. The kitchen sink is used daily, but sometimes not both side. Its a double sink, and I for the most part favor one side. I read about the drain thing, but there is no way, or so I think this is possible. I put the fly strip up, which I hate doing because its in the kitchen. That night I saw all of them gone. So I thought great, I cleaned out all the cabinets washed them out etc. The next morning I go to make coffee and go the sink to get the water, and I was bombarded with these things. They tend to favor the sink, but I have seen them on the ceiling and such.

I think I am going to have to try and do the bleach in the drain, but its still so odd that it could be that, its the kitchen, and its the sink But I am at my wits end with these things! It makes me feel dirty and nasty, when I clean in there more than once per day! All I can say is its the kitchen for Mickey's sake

I think it doesn't really matter if you don't use the drain that often. We have them in the upstairs bathroom right now and we use that sink every morning and night, and during the day to wash our hands. I don't think the water kills them, but bleach definately will. I need to get them out of there, but I was waiting til tonight (it's payday so it's time to go stock up on groceries and bleach ). I just noticed them a couple of days ago and last night I noticed the drain was clogged, so maybe that has something to do with it? Whatever the case, those suckers better say their prayers cuz tonight....