An Expert Guide on How to Get Rid of Gnats Inside Your House

gnats in the house

The idea is that once gnats and fruit flies make their way in through the tiny holes, they get trapped within the plastic and can’t fly out. If you spot these tiny bugs, you’ll need to know how to get rid of gnats inside your home. Be it rotting fruit, overwatered plants or you simply forgot to wipe up a sugary spill, these can easily attract a swarm of gnats. Remember that traps and zappers only kill adult gnats, not eggs and larvae. Thus, if you have a lingering gnat infestation, a professional pest control company can help address it. Licensed professionals have access to better equipment, insecticides, and training, so they’ll be able to spot the source of the infestation and treat it efficiently.

gnats in the house

Battle Drain Flies with Bleach

The apple cider vinegar will lure the gnats to the bottle and though the gnats enter the bottle, they will not be able to climb out. Gnats are small, winged insects, often no larger than ¼-inch. They can have yellow, tan, black, or brown coloring, and they have long legs compared to their bodies, and wide, flat wings. Some gnats are simply pests, while others actually pollinate plants and play a beneficial role. Houseplants attract fungus gnats, especially if the soil is retaining a lot of moisture or holds decaying plant matter.

Dilute bleach for drain gnats

Gnats are tiny (about 1/8 inch long), dark, mosquito-like flies with antennae and long legs. Their larvae are translucent worms with a black head capsule. While gnats are not considered dangerous, their presence can be a nuisance in the household. Sticky traps work especially well for gnats crowding around your houseplants.

Clean up Sources of Organic Material

gnats in the house

Fungus gnats can also spread pythium, which is a plant pathogen that causes damping off, a condition that can rot the roots of seedlings, making them die. The main issue you will have with fungus gnats is with your plants. Once their population has increased and gotten into your houseplants, their feeding habits can cause yellowing and stunted plant growth. They can get in your face, nip at your skin, and annoy livestock. There are many species of gnats, and though they all look similar, they may have very different habits. We can’t set your gnat traps or clean up spills right when they happen.

Gnats vs. Other Common Pests

Mosquitoes have needle-like mouth parts that they use to pierce skin, while gnats use scissor-like jaws to cut open the skin. Their saliva can cause an allergic reaction, which for most people is usually mild. They can’t bite through fabric, so they only affect exposed skin. Take preventative steps to help support the effectiveness of your selected treatment methods and to keep swarms of gnats away for good.

Insects That May Be Those Little Black Bugs in The Kitchen—And How To Get Rid of Them

6 top-rated products to get rid of gnats this summer - SFGate Shopping

6 top-rated products to get rid of gnats this summer.

Posted: Wed, 14 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Gnats are attracted to the smell of vinegar, so that will draw them into the soapy mixture. The soap works by breaking the surface tension of the liquid, ultimately preventing gnats from being able to stay afloat. Pouring one cup of baking soda down your drain, followed by one cup of white vinegar, can help clean a kitchen sink drain and flush out the gnats along with it. What's more, it deodorizes your sink, so gnats are less likely to be drawn to your pipework. Be sure to cover the plug with a damp cloth so the vinegar-soda reaction works its way downwards through your pipes and doesn't flow over into the sink. If you have houseplants, ensure they are not being overwatered, as this creates a year-round breeding and feeding source inside your home for gnats and other pests.

Do gnats bite?

You can fold up a small bit of sticky paper and stick it right in the soil where they're lingering. 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. One of the biggest pest control mistakes you can make when dealing with irritants such as gnats is leaving the problem to worsen. It is highly unlikely that gnats will ever go away on their own if they find somewhere to live.

The gnats will be attracted to the sweet smell of the honey, but once coated in it, they won't be able to fly away. Whether they're in your home or outside, gnats are problematic. You probably have most of the ingredients that can be used to bait and trap them, such as vinegar, wine, and rotting fruit.

Types of Gnats

But we can keep your kitchen and the rest of your home sparkling clean as often as you like. Partner with The Maids to create a healthier environment that shuts the door on gnats and other pests and prevents them from coming back. If you have extra time a final type of trap can be made by turning off the lights, lighting a candle and placing the candlestick in a container of water. The gnats will be attracted to the flame like moths and then drown in the water. You can also use red wine in place of water, sugar, and vinegar. A simple mixture of red wine and dish soap will also do the trick.

These devices attract gnats and electrocute them, causing them to die and collect in the bottom of the device. Many of the modern bug zappers on the market are safe for indoor use, so placing one on the counter or near plants can take care of a gnat problem quickly. Let the soil get as dry as you can without your plants wilting. Repot your plants when the soil starts to hold too much moisture or if the soil becomes full of decaying matter. Bacillus thuringiensis, subspecies israelensis, strain AM will kill larvae. After the pesticide kills the larvae, wash off your plant's roots and repot it in a clean container with fresh soil.

Even after you eradicate the source of your gnat problem, you can still have some lingering in your house. This vinegar trap is easy, effective, and made from things you probably already have at home. Regarding plants, overwatering them is likely leading to your gnat problem. Consider watering plants over a sink or drain and then letting the water drain out.

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