17 Easy and Effective Ways to Get Rid of Gnats, Indoors and Out
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“We get called when homeowners can’t find the source of the bugs,” he says. Likewise, he says the source of the bugs might be unreachable, which could indicate it’s time to call in the pros. 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. Clear your plants and soil of decaying leaves, flowers, or organic matter.
An Expert Guide on How to Get Rid of Gnats Inside Your House - Good Housekeeping
An Expert Guide on How to Get Rid of Gnats Inside Your House.
Posted: Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
How to Get Rid of Gnats
The longer you leave garbage, the more gnats will be attracted to the area, and the higher the chance of having to deal with maggots if flies lay their eggs on exposed garbage. Mix some vino with a couple drops of dish soap in a small bowl, and wait for the gnats to accumulate. After you remove the pot, let the excess water drain before putting it back in its saucer or cachepot. "This technique of bottom-watering ensures your plants get the water they need while avoiding the environment that gnats love." Peterson recommends keeping your home – and especially your kitchen sink drains and toilets clean and clear.
Make a gnat trap with apple cider vinegar.
While fungus gnats do not bite people, fungus gnats can damage your plants. Read on to learn how to get rid of these pesky critters, with tips from the experts on how to banish and prevent gnat infestations. You can purchase highly effective, non-toxic gnat traps at an affordable price online. These traps eliminate fungus gnats—the most common indoor gnats—that breed in houseplants. According to the manufacturer, these traps control even the worst infestations without toxic pesticides.
Avoid overwatering plants.
To get rid of gnats and fruit flies and to prevent an infestation in your home, you can use many home remedies to kill off the annoying insects. For example, gnat traps with vinegar or banana are one way to solve your gnat problem naturally. Or, you can make your own gnat repellent using a mixture of essential oils which can also destroy their habitats and prevent them breeding.
Avoid overwatering plants
You may have unknowingly brought home a plant from a garden center that was infested with gnats—or brought freshly picked produce infested with gnats indoors. Hydrogen peroxide is a common household antiseptic, but it's also good for plants. In addition to killing gnats and other small insects, hydrogen peroxide can also kill some bacteria and fungi, and it adds oxygen to the soil. The easiest first step is to allow the soil to remain dry for several days before watering again.
Plus, fungus gnats are attracted to compost and even dead foliage. Fortunately, you can safely get rid of gnats (as well as fruit flies and drain flies) with a few common household ingredients that are probably sitting in your kitchen already. Here, you’ll find four simple solutions for natural pest control, as well as one safe product you can buy to eliminate gnats before they take over. 'They normally feed on decaying organic material, but when found in our homes, they are a real nuisance.
Install Light Traps
Sometimes gnats hang around the drains in your kitchens due to food residue and moisture. If this is your problem area, this method is definitely the one to try. This is one of biggest the hotspots for gnats, so pay extra attention to your kitchen sink and drain. Clean it (along with a garbage disposal if you have one) on a consistent basis, keep the area as dry as possible, and use a drain stopper overnight.
How to get rid of gnats without damaging your plant’s sensitive leaves
Weeping willows grow a few feet per year, typically in the 3- to 4-foot range, which is fairly fast for a tree that can grow up to 40 feet tall. In rare cases a gnat bite can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms of this include but are not limited to trouble breathing, nausea, swollen throat, lightheadedness and rapid heartbeat. Here’s what to know about getting rid of everyone’s least favorite household pests. Zahid is a renowned figure in the gardening industry, with extensive experience and hard-earned skills in horticulture. Remove that glass of water left on the nightstand to help keep gnats out of your bedroom and refresh the water in any vases of fresh flowers in your living room, too.
Look for a moisture source
Since the gnats are attracted to the flame, they'll either hit the flame itself or fall into the water and drown. While the candle is lit, we recommend staying in the room to observe the flame until it's time for it to be blown out. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help get rid of gnats quickly to prevent a future infestation. From setting sticky traps to apple cider vinegar solution, here’s how to get rid of gnats inside the home, and banish them once and for all. You can make the gnat repellant similar to the tea tree oil remedy.
While adult fungus gnats are more of a nuisance than a danger to plants, their larvae can stunt plant growth and damage plant roots. Larvae, which are early-stage gnats in maggot form, feed on organic matter and chew on plant roots. Large numbers of gnat larvae can significantly damage young plants and seedlings. Fortunately, there are ways to rid your home and plants of gnats, fruit flies, and drain flies.
Peppermint oil is a natural fly repellant and can be used to say goodbye to your gnat problem. The active components of peppermint oil help to repel gnats and fruit flies and also efficiently kill off any larvae. All you have to do is place some banana in the jar instead of the apple cider vinegar mixture. Cover the jar with plastic wrap and puncture some holes in it to make the gnat trap.
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.
Solutions below include both traps that will attract any type of gnat and specific solutions for clearing your plants of fungus gnats and your drains of drain flies. For fruit flies, the easiest DIY option is a vinegar trap, which is simple and cost-effective to create. Simply place a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a tablespoon of sugar in a bowl and stir. If you have a gnat problem, you may have noticed them swarming around your house plants. Fungus gnats are the most common type of gnat found around house plants.
Place several of the fly traps in areas around your house where you have noticed them congregating. One of the most popular and effective home remedies to catch gnats and fruit flies is apple cider vinegar. You can lure gnats and fruit flies into a vinegar trap both inside and outside because they love the sweet smell and taste of the apple cider vinegar. Place a bowl containing this solution in an area where you’ve seen gnats. They will be lured in by the fruity-sugary mixture, and the sticky dish soap will trap them.
Luckily, getting rid of gnats is a simple process, and with numerous ways to deal with gnats in the house, there is bound to be a method that works for you and your home. You might need to call in an expert to positively ID these pests. Gnats are attracted to sweet scents, moisture, garbage, houseplants, and other warm, moist environments like your bathroom or kitchen. Gnats also live and reproduce in sink drains and garbage disposals due to the food residue, water, and shelter that drains provide. If the gnats are infesting your houseplants, you can either purchase a mild insecticidal spray or make one yourself.
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