How to Get Rid of Gnats in Your House

Table Of Content

• How do you tell the difference between gnats, fruit flies and drain flies?
• Look for a moisture source
• Make a homemade solution
• Try a diluted bleach solution for drain flies.
• Set sticky traps
• How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats in Houseplants Naturally
• Stop the buzzing once and for all: Here’s how to get rid of gnats

Introducing bacteria or microscopic worms to the soil can eradicate gnat eggs and tiny soil grubs. Let’s look at the two most common environmental gnat control methods. Diatomaceous earth (DE) to kill plant flies—Another way to get rid of flying gnats is to put a layer of DE on your plant pot soil. Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring silica powder that should kill these bugs as they emerge from the potting soil. Neem oil to eliminate houseplant flies  —This oil is a natural insecticide that disrupts the fungus gnats’ hormones. You can use neem oil as both a soil flush and an organic insecticidal homemade spray.

How do you tell the difference between gnats, fruit flies and drain flies?

Place the lit candle in a dish of soapy water to attract the gnats and turn out the overhead light. They may burn up in the flame or drop into the water and drown. Although this method works best at night, never leave a burning candle unattended, especially while you sleep. To kill drain flies and their eggs nesting in pipes, mix 1/2 cup of bleach in a gallon of water and pour it slowly down the drain. Make sure there’s proper ventilation in the room when you do this and for an hour afterward. For best results, also scrub infested drain pipes with a wire brush and enzymatic cleanser.

Look for a moisture source

Fungus gnats love water, so it's important to monitor your watering. "Often times overwatering provides a perfect environment for pests and diseases," says Royer. "Many houseplants prefer to have a break between watering." If you notice fungus gnats buzzing around your plants, consider adjusting your watering schedule. The most obvious sign that your houseplants are infested with fungus gnats is the appearance of adult gnats. "As the larvae feed on the roots of your plants, they reduce the amount of nutrients that the plant is able to uptake into its foliage," says Royer.

Make a homemade solution

Kill any eggs in your drain by pouring boiling water in the sink. In a small bowl, mix a half cup of warm water plus two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, and about six drops of liquid dish soap. Gnats will be lured in by the sugary mixture, but once they dip in for a drink, the sticky dish soap will trap them. Simply place the bowl with solution in the areas where you've noticed the most gnats, and wait for results.

8 products that actually get rid of fruit flies, according to reviewers - Reviewed

8 products that actually get rid of fruit flies, according to reviewers.

Posted: Tue, 27 Aug 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]

What is the quickest way to get rid of gnats?

The tiny bugs often hover above your fruit bowl or drain, bite the skin, and persist as a general nuisance until dealt with. Traps like this Zevo Flying Insect Trap ($19.97, Walmart), use safe amounts of blue and UV light to attract gnats, and mosquitoes to trap them in. The best thing is they contain no chemical insecticides, odor and are more user-friendly. If none of these solutions seem to be working and the gnats keep returning, it may be time to call in a professional. A pest control company can help you tackle a serious or persistent infestation. If you find gnat eggs or larvae on clothing, do not throw the item away.

They tend to swarm around sources of food and moisture including your fruit bowl, your drains, your houseplants, and even your body. To keep the fungus gnats from returning, replace the moldy potting soil, remove dead leaves, pick up any twigs, and don’t overwater your plants. Because fungus gnats are attracted to moisture and decaying matter, let your plant dry out thoroughly before watering it again. Fungus gnats, also called soil gnats, are small flying bugs that are the bugbear of anyone who has houseplants.

Set sticky traps

The best way to get rid of gnats is to prevent them from coming into your house in the first place, says Gabriella Dyson, Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens. Drain flies can sometimes transmit disease, especially when the fly issue is severe. If they fall into food, they may cause an asthmatic reaction, adversely affecting swallowing and breathing. If you have a drain fly issue, address it quickly before it becomes unmanageable or hazardous. Drain flies are tiny gnat look-alikes, sometimes called moth flies, because they resemble small, powdery moth.

Overripe fruits and vegetables can attract gnats, so keep your kitchen clean and trash properly disposed of. These tiny flying insects are a nuisance, hovering around faces and swarming in large numbers. If things get really bad, you may find yourself in need of a more serious bug killer. Insecticide is one option, though we caution against using it if you have small children around (and as always, you'll want to be sure you're following manufacturer directions). This Hot Shot Kitchen Bug Killer is one option that specifically targets gnats, in addition to several other household pests.

Fungus gnats are dark brown with long legs and wings in a Y-shaped pattern. Even though they have wings, fungus gnats are weak fliers and tend to hop around more than fly. These pests are often attracted to houseplants and decaying organic matter like rotting produce. If you have a gnat problem, you may have noticed them swarming around your house plants.

This usually means waiting until the top layer of soil is dry before watering. Also, thoroughly water plants in pots so that water drains out the container. Frequent shallow watering starves roots of moisture and creates a gnat-friendly environment. Beneficial nematodes are another natural way to kill gnats in houseplants effectively.

Once gnats invade your space, it can feel impossible to get rid of them. Adult female gnats can lay up to 300 eggs in their short, 10-day lifespan. When getting rid of gnats, you may have to treat the problem both inside and outside your home. The best way to get rid of gnats is to find a combination of insecticide solutions and natural methods that deal with different types of gnat infestations. Or, you can make a homemade gnat trap with a shallow dish and red wine or vinegar, which will attract gnats. Some people use a container with a small opening, like a water bottle, so it’s more difficult for the gnats to fly away after they investigate the wine or vinegar.

Native to South Africa, this type of sundew is super easy to grow and perfect to kill gnats. It's a carnivorous plant whose sticky leaves wrap around gnats as well as small houseflies, midges and mosquitos... The above should solve a lot of your gnat issues so next you need to follow and stick to the more preventative measures. Staying on top of general house plant care will help stop reoccurrences and one of the big ones to watch out for is overwatering your house plants in the first instance.

A professional can help pinpoint areas you might have missed that attract fungus gnats and even spray affected areas in your home to kill adult populations. They can also treat the soil in your potted plants and make other recommendations for avoiding recurring infestations. If these efforts don’t eliminate the gnats, you can also repot houseplants with sterile soil or treat them with a product containing BTI. Fruit flies can lay up to 500 eggs at a time near the surface of fermenting (ripening) foods or other organic materials like the soil in your houseplants.

It uses geraniol and lemongrass oil, which are bio-insecticides that don't need to be registered with the EPA, to kill gnats on contact. Though safe around people and pets, don't allow the spray to come into contact with eyes or skin, and the flammable liquid should never be used near electrical wiring. Using cinnamon in soil is also said to get rid of gnats in the house. These pests are frequently referred to as gnats, even though they don't look much like them up close.

There's really no solution more trustworthy—or oddly satisfying—than fly paper, which simply catches flying bugs on its sticky surface. You can either hang "ribbon fly paper" from areas in your home that get a lot of gnat traffic or try window fly paper, which will cover an entire window in an adhesive sheet. Clear your plants and soil of decaying leaves, flowers, or organic matter. Remove dead flowers, leaves, or other plant parts from your plants.