The Best Way to Get Rid of Gnats

The smell of vinegar draws gnats in.

Gnats encompass a variety of smaller insects like biting flies, midges and fungus gnats. These small insects may be drawn to items in your home, like overripe fruit and fungus-ridden plant soil. Gnats reproduce quickly so take action fast. First, prevent more from entering your home, and second, exterminate the ones that have already infiltrated. Use a mix of natural and chemical remedies when getting rid of gnats.

Things You'll Need

• Apple cider vinegar
• Dish soap
• Glass jars
• Plastic wrap
• Toothpicks
• Bug repellent
• Cleaner with ammonia
• Sodium lights

Instructions

1. Prevent any new gnats from entering your home. Keep all food properly stored, and throw away any food that is rotting or moldy. Immediately empty your trash can after throwing away items.

2. Clean areas where there might be food particles or areas where mold has occurred. Keep areas as dry as possible, as gnats are drawn to moisture. You may have to get rid of over-watered indoor plants, which also attract gnats. Spray down your sink with a product that contains ammonia, such as a window cleaning solution.

3. Make your own gnat traps. Combine apple cider vinegar and dish soap into a wide-mouthed open container like a glass canning jar. Fill the jar about halfway with the mixture.

4. Cover the top of the jar tightly with plastic wrap. Take a toothpick and poke several holes into the plastic wrap. Make the holes large enough that the gnats can enter the jar, but small enough that they are unable to escape. Gnats are attracted to vinegar and will climb into the jars to get to it, but they will not be able to escape.

5. Make several of these jars, and put them around your home where gnats frequent.

6. Check your jars every one to two days, depending on how big your gnat problem is. Clean out the jars, which will have dead gnats in them, by rinsing them out. Follow Steps 3 to 4 and put the new jars out again. Keep doing this until you check the jars and don't find any gnats in the solution.

7. Purchase and use sodium lights to keep biting gnats or stubborn gnats away. Or use gnat bug repellent, if the problem persists.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have apple cider vinegar, use any vinegar you have in your home.

• If you are still having a pest problem, contact your local pest exterminator.

References

• How To Get Rid Of Gnats In The House: Homepage
• Pest Extermination: How to Get Rid of Gnats?
• Get Rid of It All; Get Rid of Gnats; Ted Curtis