How to Get Rid of Gnats with Home Remedy?
Gnats can be very annoying, and you may have been asking how to get rid of gnats. If that’s the case, you can get the steps to go about it in this article.
Gnats can be unpleasant, bothersome, and sometimes dangerous when they appear unexpectedly, and several items in our houses attract them.
Fresh fruit, tempting snacks, and blossoming flowers, for example, all attract these pesky pests. In addition to removing these gnat magnets from counters, there are a number of home cures available to help you get rid of gnats without going to the shop.
Homemade choices are quick and easy victories that you can attempt, and the best part is that they employ natural ingredients that you most likely already have on hand.
What are Gnats?
Gnats are little flying insects that can bite or not bite. You can relax knowing that the majority of indoor gnats are not biting and do not carry disease.
However, these unwanted visitors are a nuisance, and it is critical to deal with them before an infestation worsens.
The first step in combating gnats is to identify the type of gnat that is buzzing around your environment.
1. Drain Flies: These microscopic pests are frequently found in or near drains, sewers, septic tanks, and sites where sewage has leaked.
2. Fruit Flies: Gnats are drawn to rotting or fresh fruits and vegetables, wet organic materials, and liquids such as soft beverages, wine, and vinegar.
3. Phorids Flies: Phorids, like drain flies, congregate near garbage, drains, and rotting fruits and vegetables.
4. Fungus Gnats: When organic matter in the soil begins to decompose, these are frequently spotted around overwatered houseplants. Their larvae feed on plant roots, causing yellowing and dropping leaves or entire plants to wilt and die.
Fungus gnats can also transmit a pathogen that causes damping-off, a disease that kills seeds before they sprout and weakens or kills seedlings shortly after sprouting.
Gnats breed on decaying organic debris and wetness, so you’ll need to determine where they’re coming from.
This should be very clear because they prefer to congregate around the problem, which aids in recognizing their type. Use the following tips to get rid of gnats and learn how to avoid them in the future.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Gnats
The good news is that there are numerous methods for eliminating gnats in and around your home.
What’s even better? The majority of these solutions are simple, inexpensive, and successful. Here are a few do-it-yourself ideas to consider.
1. Trap Fruit Flies with Vinegar and Sugar
You probably have some apple cider vinegar and sugar in your kitchen or pantry, and these two substances can help you get rid of gnats.
Fill a bowl near the infestation with vinegar before adding a spoonful of simple sugar, which will attract the gnats.
The vinegar will eventually kill them, but you must also be able to keep them in the dish long enough for that to happen.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and puncture small holes in the top, or add a small amount of dish soap to the vinegar and sugar mixture.
If you have an open wine bottle (red works best) that has gone rotten but don’t want to throw it away, replace it with vinegar and proceed with the rest of the instructions.
2. Use Produce That’s Gone Bad
Try a similar strategy to lure and trap fruit flies. Put a few pieces of rotten fruit, like a banana or an apple, in a dish, cover it securely with plastic wrap, and pierce small holes in the plastic so the gnats can get in but not out.
They’ll perish in the handmade trap. This is a fantastic method to remind your family to consume fruit before it spoils.
3. Battle Drain Flies with Bleach
If pests are circling the sink drain, grab a bottle of bleach and combine half a cup with a full gallon of water. Then, slowly pour the diluted solution down the drain to destroy any gnats or larvae.
Alternatively, you can get the same results by using a commercial drain cleaning. After using bleach, make sure to ventilate the space thoroughly.
4. Get Rid of Gnats with a Candle
This strategy necessitates being on standby after dark, but it is a simple solution. Fill a pan halfway with water and dish soap, then add a candlestick with a tall, tapering candle in the center.
After lighting the candle, ensure that the remainder of the room is dark. After a while, you’ll observe that the gnats are drawn to it and eventually die from the heat or by falling into the soapy concoction below.
5. Stock up on Sticky Traps
If all else fails, or you’re not interested in building a DIY solution, consider placing a store-bought fly trap near where gnats congregate, such as flypaper, cards, or ribbons.
Some of these products are intended to be placed in the soil next to a potted plant to attract fungus gnats.
When the sticky side is completely filled, throw it and start over. You can also use a bug zapper to catch smaller insects, or if the problem persists, contact a reputable pest management business.
Store-bought sticky traps can be hazardous to pets if eaten or chewed on, so read the packaging carefully and keep an eye on your pets when using them.
How to Get Rid of Gnats in the Future
After you’ve successfully eliminated the gnats that were troubling you, it’s time to concentrate on prevention. So, how can you keep them from coming back? To keep gnats at bay, practice the following habits on a regular basis.
1. Maintain Low Humidity in Your Home
Gnats prefer humid and moist conditions. In the summer, ensure the air conditioner works correctly, check for leaks around the house, and add a dehumidifier to any moist areas.
2. Tend to the Trash
When not in use, your garbage can, especially in the kitchen, should have a lid that seals tightly. The trash, as well as any indoor compost, should be removed on a regular basis.
3. Avoid Overwatering Houseplants
Indoor pots’ damp soil might serve as a breeding habitat for gnats. So, water them sparingly or consider low-maintenance plants that require only a minimal amount of water to grow.
4. Keep Drains Clean and Dry
This is a major breeding ground for gnats, so pay special attention to your kitchen sink and drain. Clean it on a regular basis (along with garbage disposal if you have one), keep the area as dry as possible, and use a drain stopper overnight.
Conclusion
Fruit flies aren’t the only gnats that can infiltrate your home. Fungus gnats and drain flies may also be present.
Unfortunately, each variety has a distinct appearance and method of elimination. Fortunately, this post has addressed everything.
