Indoor Pest Control - bugs in kitchen, nothing helps

I moved into my apartment in October. A couple of months ago, we began having a bug problem in the kitchen. I have called the apartment management twice and they have come and sprayed but it does not help. They said that many others were having the same problem and recommended pouring bleach down the drain. I don't know that that would help and have not tried it yet. I have tried a couple of sprays I have bought myself as well.

The bugs seem to be primarily coming through the kitchen drain. If I leave the drains open and come back at the end of the day, there are always several bugs on the counter and in drawers and cupboards. More than a few. Leaving any food or dirty dishes in the sink makes it MUCH worse.

Sealing the drains reduces the number of bugs, but there are still 3-5 in the morning and when returning from work. I really don't want to have to keep my drains blocked all the time.

It's a great apartment, but this sucks. Please help. Is there anything I can put down the drain to keep these things at bay? I'm just worried that it will get washed away quickly.

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If this is still a problem, can you describe what the bugs look like (color, size, able to fly or not, etc)?

Instead of bleach, try pouring Lye down the drain once a day for a few days. You can get liquid Lye by going to large home centers and checking the Drain Cleaner aisle.

The stuff I get is in a large black jug, sealed in a ziplock bag. It has not brand name, it just says "Hair and Grease Remover". If you read the label on the back, it will tell you that it's Lye.

If these are drain flies, several treatments of Lye will destroy the gunk that lines the pipes that they are living off of.

Have you tried fly gel or drain gel?

This shouldn't be YOUR problem at all. Have them fix the pipes. Ask them to redo it if possible. This is a great health hazard.

Thank you for the replies.

They have sprayed the apartment three times, but the bugs are still there.

There are two types of bugs. One lookslike a slender cockroach, soft shell, about half an inch long, brown. The others are much much smaller, rounder like beetles, and black. Neither flies.

I have tried pouring incecticide down the drain at night, but it does not help.

This is a brand new apartment, I am the first tenant, so I would be surprised if there was already build up in the drain. I will try the lye first.

Where can I get the gel?

At this point, I don't even know if they are coming through the drain. They are spreading throughout the house now.

I am looking for a new apartment at this point, but haven't found anything worth moving in to. I really like my place(except for the bugs) and hate to move.

If you can capture a few of these insects, any exterminator should be able to identify them and suggest a remedial program. An empty pill bottle is an ideal holding cell.

Also, google "household insects" and check out the university extension sites. They usually have pictures to help with identification as well as favorite hiding places and the types of insecticides best suited to them.

I doubt that they are all coming from the drain. They are more likely to be under the sink and behind the counters and cabinets. They do need water which attracts them to the sink.

Thank you. That sounds like a good idea. I will try to capture some of the bugs and research more.