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How to get rid of stuff » Pest Problems » How to Get Rid of Gnats
 

How to Get Rid of Gnats

January 22nd, 2007 by admin
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GnatGnats are very much in need of a public relations department. Actually, a gnat could be one of several different small flying insects that are related in those biology classifications. The most common are called fruit flies (Learn how to get rid of fruit flies) and some types are called fungus gnats or vinegar flies. Regardless, they are always pests. They are completely harmless in every way except that they are one of the most annoying insects on the planet. They tend to buzz around our heads, clumsily bouncing off of our faces and occasionally get into our ears. The gnat has an average life span of around four months. It would be a very rare and unusual thing to see just one gnat flying around. This is because they spend most of those four months laying eggs. Each gnat can lay between two hundred and three hundred eggs during its life.

Most gnats love the smell of rotten food. It’s their main choice as a place to eat and to lay eggs. This is why you see them so often around your trash cans and sink drains. Most likely they are busy laying eggs there. They also seem to like over-watered plants. Since they really do not serve any practical purpose, are pests, and you’re reading this guide; you most likely want to get rid of them. The best way to get rid of gnats is to not let them come around in the first place. If you cover you trash cans, wash out you sink, and don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink, you shouldn’t have to worry about them. Also make sure not to over water your plants. If somehow, despite all your preventive measures, you still have gnats inside your home, there are several ways to go about getting rid of them.

    Soap spray
  • Nuke Them. This is a good choice if you just have a few that wander in from outdoors. Just about any flying insect spray will kill them and very quickly. If the situation becomes an infestation, a fogger might be a better way to get the job done. If you use a spray and have pets make sure that you check the labels, and follow all directions for safe use. A less caustic approach would be to use insecticidal soap sprays.
  • Track Them and Kill Them. If you’ve got a swarm, you need to eliminate the source. It seems gnats are attracted to vinegar. Fill a jar almost to the top with vinegar, poke several small holes in the lid and then set it out. The gnats will come to the jar, wiggle down into the hole, and will not be able to climb back out. Set several of these traps around your home and monitor them to determine where the highest concentration is and use that information to find the source. Understand that the gnats that pester you in your home require moist or wet organic material in which to breed – it could be anything from a grimy drain to the drip pan under your refrigerator. Check your door and window seals also – they could be breeding right outside and wandering in.

VinegarThere are other home remedies that have met with success, but most of them use vinegar, and work pretty much like the vinegar trap above. Mixing a half cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of Dawn dish detergent attracts the gnats. They will feed on the mixture and die. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda works also. Be careful with this one. Vinegar and baking soda react and foam up, so make your mixture slowly. A cup of ammonia poured down the kitchen sink can also encourage the little pests to go elsewhere.

Gnats are harmless pests, and like many such household pests, the best way to get rid of them is to prevent them from coming around in the first place. It takes just a bit of protective sanitation to take away their breeding grounds. Also, most commercial flying bug sprays will wipe them out with little or no trouble. For more information regarding this article, read how to exterminate gnats.

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  1. December 12th, 2011 at 1:15 pm    Annoyed Anon Says:

    Put VINEGAR IN A JAR and poke holes through the top. Place it where gnats tend to hang out (near trash bin, fruit bowl). This is the best and easiest way to get rid of them. I completely cleaned the trash bin with bleach cleaner and disposed of the fruit bowl. I used 2 small baby food jars filled with vinegar and placed them by the trash bin and where the fruit bowl used to be. After about a week the gnats were trapped in the jars. They can go into the jar but can’t climb out. Home is now gnat free.

  2. October 11th, 2011 at 3:50 pm    Cheryl M Says:

    No tip, just a heart-felt thank you to all who have posted over the years. This past weekend I was trying to come to grips with getting rid of all 24 of my plants, but thanks to the tips and suggestions, I may not have to.

    Thanks Courtney/Keith. I always have Windex in my apartment. Will try it tonight, and I am trying to locate a hand-held zapper. Thanks to whomever pointed out that there are fruit gnats and dirt gnats, and that dirt gnats aren’t attracted to the vinegar, and that the “sand on top of the soil” really works at killing them off. I’d seen that tip for plants on another site as well and was going to try it, now I definitely will. (My plants are spread between the living room and two bedrooms in my apartment so gnats are everywhere.) I’ll be trying ALL the suggestions because there may be more than one variety infesting my home, and I want to get rid of them once and for all!

    And lastly, thanks for all the laughs which come from identification. Typing and swatting; cleaning bugs off my hands and computer screen; covering my plate and sneaking bites; and my fave which I didn’t see – slapping myself silly hoping to kill one.

  3. October 5th, 2011 at 9:32 pm    Tasha Says:

    I have been so frustrated with gnats. I put up fly strips and put honey in it like everybody told me to do…needless to say it did not work! I put the same fly strips up that have the little cups on the bottom and put a teaspoon of apple cider viniger in the cup and within an hour the strips were covered with those little pests! WOOHOO

  4. September 13th, 2011 at 2:03 am    Courtney Says:

    Keith says “Windex kills them instantly.”

    I agree 100%. A friend came by my house today and I was telling him about my infestation with fruit flies. I had a cup in my sink with some water and some silverware in it i went to put the dishes in the dishwasher and a swarm of them flew out and he said spray them Windex (I waited until they flew back in the cup) and when I went to pick it up again to check none flew out– instead they were floating about in the water.

    Point of my story: The trick to the windex killing them is the ammonia in the cleaner so really any cleaner that contains ammonia will work just fine. Now if you only have pure ammonia I suggest wearing the protective gear (gloves, safety goggles/glasses, and one of those painter’s masks–at least I would :) obviously ammonia is potent lol).

    I know this is how to get rid of gnats but I think this tip works with pretty much any little flying buggers. One more thing, for the ones flying around you as your spraying the windex– invest in those handheld bug zappers that look like tennis rackets and wave it around like you just don’t care :) .

  5. August 18th, 2011 at 10:39 pm    Gwen Says:

    I couldnt believe it! I went to sleep with a half-full glass of light beer sitting on the kitchen cabinet. When i woke up, 20 or more gnats had gone for a swim! Thinking it was just a fluke, i tried it again last night. This time i stayed up to watch for myself. Like a moth to a flame – something in the beer draws them to the pool that awaits! No funnel, filter on top or plastic wrap with holes needed. Once they touch the surface, they just don’t fly away. Try it!

  6. August 7th, 2011 at 1:06 pm    Marlene Says:

    I didn’t have a jar so I’m using a butter tub & put holes in the lid. I’m hoping this helps. They’re all over the lid so hopefully they’re getting IN the tub. We are over taken by them lately & it’s getting worse.

  7. July 13th, 2011 at 12:38 pm    Laura Says:

    They stay far away from candles too.

  8. June 30th, 2011 at 10:37 pm    Jae Says:

    Put red wine in a vase, Plastic wrap the top and poke holes, they fly in and don’t get out make sure the sides are secure though!

  9. June 28th, 2011 at 10:53 am    Bobbi Says:

    If I spray the vinegar and soap around my flowers in my garden will it harm them? I have knock out roses and clematis

  10. June 24th, 2011 at 9:13 am    Keith Says:

    Windex kills them instantly. Noticed some on my patio door, tried some windex, no more gnats, plus I got a clean window.

    I have an infestation in the garage and will use a fogger to kill them, but for the ones that got in the house, I will be using windex on.

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