To get rid of maggots in sink, pour boiling water, scrub away drain slime, clear the trap, and sanitize to break the breeding cycle.
If you’re seeing larvae near a drain, you’re dealing with drain-fly or housefly young feeding on the gunk that lines pipes and traps. Remove the food, flush the hiding spots, and stop new eggs. The steps below bring a clean and a steady prevention plan.
How to Get Rid of Maggots in Sink: Step-By-Step
Run this simple drill. It targets the biofilm inside the pipe, the tailpiece, and the P-trap. Work top to bottom so loosened debris flows out.
Rapid Actions At A Glance
| Action | Why It Works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boiling water flush | Heat knocks back larvae and loosens grease | 2–3 kettles, pour slowly |
| Remove and scrub strainer | Hair and film trap eggs | Use a stiff brush |
| Brush the tailpiece | Breaks biofilm where larvae feed | Drain brush or bottle brush |
| Clean the P-trap | Sludge builds in the bend | Bucket under trap; re-seal washers |
| Scour with soap | Detergents cut grease food sources | Hot water + dish soap |
| Sanitize surfaces | Reduces germs after cleaning | Diluted bleach or EPA-listed disinfectant |
| Dry the area | Larvae need moisture | Wipe splash zone and cabinet |
Gear And Safe Prep
Set a bucket, rubber gloves, eye protection, an old towel, a small brush, dish soap, and a kettle. If you plan to sanitize, mix a mild bleach solution only after all scrubbing and rinsing are done, keep air moving, and never mix bleach with any other cleaner.
Step 1: Boiling Water Flush
Bring water to a rolling boil. Pour a steady stream around the drain rim, then down the opening. Repeat two more times. The heat softens grease and knocks back live larvae so the next steps reach the film that feeds them.
Step 2: Pull And Scrub The Strainer
Pop out the basket or grid. Brush both sides with hot, soapy water. Rinse well. If you have a disposal, switch off power at the wall, then brush the rubber splash guard and the first inches inside where slime clings.
Step 3: Brush The Tailpiece And Trap Arm
Feed a drain brush a few inches down to break the film. Twist, pull out, and rinse the brush in the bucket. Repeat until it comes up clean.
Step 4: Remove And Clean The P-Trap
Place a bucket under the curve. Loosen slip nuts, lower the trap, and dump into the bucket. Scrub with hot, soapy water, rinse, reassemble, and check for drips.
Step 5: Soap Scour And Final Rinse
Run hot water and add a squeeze of dish soap. Swish the brush around the drain opening and the first foot of pipe. Rinse well. This step strips the last greasy layer that feeds larvae.
Step 6: Sanitize Contact Surfaces
After cleaning, wipe the deck, stopper, and strainer with a mild bleach mix (1/3 cup in 1 gallon water) or an EPA-listed disinfectant. Rinse food-contact areas after the labeled contact time. Keep air moving and never mix chemicals.
Getting Rid Of Maggots In Sink Drains: What Actually Works
Not every hack helps. Some just mask the issue. Here’s what tackles the cause—the film and sludge inside the plumbing—and what to skip.
Methods That Target The Source
Mechanical cleaning wins. Brushes strip film so larvae lose food and grip. Boiling water helps but won’t replace a scrub. Enzyme cleaners can digest buildup as a follow-up.
Things To Skip Or Use With Care
Undiluted bleach down a dry drain can miss the film, and splash hazards rise in tight sinks. Foaming mixes can bubble, but without scrubbing the film stays. Never combine cleaners.
How to Get Rid of Maggots in Sink — Safety And Supplies
Protect eyes and skin, unplug the disposal, and open a window. Keep kids and pets away until the area is rinsed and dry.
Quick Supply List
- Bucket and old towels
- Rubber gloves and eye protection
- Dish soap and a drain brush
- Pliers for slip nuts
- Kettle or large pot
- EPA-listed disinfectant or diluted bleach
Find And Fix The Source So It Doesn’t Return
Larvae thrive in wet film. Remove the film and keep it from building back. That’s the long-term win.
Where The Breeding Starts
Common sites include the tailpiece under the basket, the P-trap bend, disposal splash guards, overflows on bathroom sinks, and the short horizontal run before the wall. In kitchens, the area just beyond the disposal often holds slime and food scraps.
Test For Hidden Film
Tape a clear bag loosely over the drain for a day. Adult drain flies often gather inside if that drain is the source. If you still see adults and one drain tests clean, check other fixtures in the same room.
Improve Flow And Drying
Run hot water after greasy dishwashing. Wipe the sink rim and splash area. Fix slow drains and small leaks so water doesn’t stand in the trap arm.
Prevention You Can Keep Up
Once the plumbing is clean, set a routine that stops film from returning. The schedule below keeps the drain clear without harsh habits.
Simple Routine That Works
| Task | When | How |
|---|---|---|
| Boiling water rinse | 2× per week | 1 kettle down the drain |
| Brush the opening | Weekly | 10–15 strokes with soap |
| Clean the splash guard | Weekly | Flip up, scrub both sides |
| Enzyme cleaner | Weekly | Apply at night; follow label |
| P-trap check | Monthly | Inspect for sludge or slow flow |
| Cabinet dry-out | Weekly | Wipe any moisture under sink |
| Food scrap control | Daily | Strain solids; trash or compost |
When To Call A Pro
If larvae keep returning after a full clean, the source may be deeper: a long horizontal run with poor slope, a hidden leak that keeps wood wet, or buildup beyond reach. A licensed plumber can snake and hydro-jet, re-slope a run, or replace a damaged trap.
Answers To Common “Why” Questions
Is Bleach Enough On Its Own?
It helps with sanitizing surfaces after you scrub, but it doesn’t replace physical cleaning. Contact time and safety matter. Use it last, and never mix with other products.
Do Baking Soda And Vinegar Fix It?
The fizz can lift light debris, but it won’t strip a thick film in the trap. Treat it as a light upkeep step after real cleaning, not a cure-all for heavy buildup.
Proof-Backed Notes
Drain flies breed where organic film builds in sinks and traps. Stripping that film is the reliable route. Public pest notes point to mechanical cleaning as the core step, with boiling water and enzyme products as helpers.
Deep Clean For Garbage Disposals
Disposals hide film under the splash guard and on the first inches of the grind chamber. Cut power at the switch. Lift the rubber guard and scrub both sides with hot, soapy water. Brush the upper chamber. Rinse with a kettle of boiling water. Drop in ice with a spoon of coarse salt and run the unit for 30–60 seconds to scour the impeller plate. Finish with a final hot rinse.
Bathroom Sinks And Overflows
Many bathroom basins have an overflow slot that opens to a hidden channel. That channel can hold film and larvae. Feed a thin brush into the slot, scrub, and flush with hot water. Remove pop-up stoppers and clean the stem where hair collects.
Stop New Flies From Moving In
Keep lids tight on indoor bins. Rinse recycling. Empty compost caddies daily. If a bag leaks, wash the can with hot, soapy water and let it dry before a new liner. Screen windows and keep a tight fit on door sweeps so adults don’t enter to lay eggs.
Two Linked Guides Worth Bookmarking
Extension notes show how drain-fly larvae live in organic film inside drains and traps. See the UC IPM page on drain flies for biology and inspection tips. For safe surface sanitizing after scrubbing, review the CDC page on cleaning with bleach.
Exact Keyword Use In Context
Readers often search “how to get rid of maggots in sink” when larvae show up out of nowhere. The process above takes you from quick knockdown to prevention in one run. If a friend asks how to get rid of maggots in sink during a move-out clean, share this playbook and the weekly routine so the problem doesn’t bounce back.