A swarm of gnats inside your own home is a serious nuisance — but it surely’s nothing in comparison with the $200 to $600 you’ll seemingly need to shell out if the infestation will get so unhealthy it’s essential to name in a pest management skilled.
Fortunately, there are straightforward and efficient methods to cease these tiny winged creatures of their tracks and forestall them from coming again. We spoke with pest management specialists to get their greatest recommendation for eliminating all kinds of gnats.
What’s a gnat?
Gnats are teeny-tiny flying bugs which are usually present in swarms and are identified for his or her skill to hover in place. Three of the commonest kinds of gnats present in properties are fungus gnats, fruit flies and drain flies. You’ll first have to stand up shut and private to establish which gnats you’re coping with in your house, so as to greatest perceive easy methods to resolve the issue.
Varieties of Gnats
Fungus gnats
Fungus gnats are black with lengthy legs. They’re sometimes discovered close to potted crops.
Fruit flies
Fruit flies are brown with purple eyes and normally extra spherical in form. They’re sometimes present in kitchens.
Drain flies
Drain flies are fuzzy with moth-like wings. They sometimes congregate round drains.
The excellent news is that whereas some species of gnats can chunk and sting, the kinds mostly discovered indoors are merely only a nuisance to people, flying in your face throughout meal prep or throughout a cocktail party. “In a latest research, we discovered most of ‘flying bugs’ in properties are fungus gnats,” says Dr. Changlu Wang, who works within the Division of Entomology at Rutgers College, including that fungus gnats “don’t chunk folks or trigger allergic reactions.”
Whereas gnats are unlikely to go away on their very own, they are often managed with a little bit of vigilance and a few primary residence treatments.
How one can stop gnats
Usually talking, gnats — together with many different pests — thrive in moist, humid environments, so it’s possible you’ll need to contemplate working a dehumidifier in notably dank areas of your own home. “In damp basements, maintain relative humidity beneath 50% and ensure loos are nicely ventilated,” says Dan DiClerico, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Dwelling Enchancment and Out of doors Lab director. “Simply remember that a dehumidifier received’t remedy the underlying supply of the humidity.” You’ll additionally need to repair any leaking pipes and ensure your own home’s gutters and downspouts are channeling water away from basis partitions to maintain moisture out.
Past that, the simplest method to stop infestations in your house by eliminating the bugs’ “meals” supply, which varies relying on the kind of gnat:
✔️ Fungus gnats are normally discovered close to houseplants. “Fungus gnat infestations are sometimes brought on by sources of damp soil, equivalent to houseplants, or decaying or broken plant roots,” says Dr. Jim Fredericks, a board-certified entomologist and senior vice chairman of public affairs on the Nationwide Pest Administration Affiliation (NPMA). To forestall fungus gnats, it’s essential to frequently repot your houseplants in new soil and ease up on overwatering them.
✔️ Fruit flies feast on decaying vegetables and fruit. To stop fruit flies in your house, rinse and dry your produce as quickly as you get it residence from the shop, then maintain it inside bins or in your fridge as a lot as attainable. “By washing them and storing them correctly, fruit flies can’t discover that meals supply anymore,” says Chelle Hartzer, an entomologist with Orkin. Fruits that ripen shortly — like apples, grapes, melons, pairs, peaches and plums — could be stored within the low-humidity crisper drawer; produce that’s liable to wilting, together with leafy greens, carrots and broccoli, belong within the high-humidity crisper drawer. Whereas bananas are greatest left on the countertop, ideally on a devoted banana hanger, you’ll be able to switch them to the fridge as soon as ripe, or peel and retailer them within the freezer in an hermetic container.
✔️ Drain flies are normally present in kitchen and toilet drains, rubbish disposals and seldom-used bathrooms, since they like micro organism, sewage and gunk. To forestall drain flies, it’s essential to clear and clear these plumbing traces steadily, particularly throughout sizzling, humid summer season climate.
- To wash drains, pour in an answer of equal elements baking soda and vinegar, wait 5 minutes, then observe with boiling water. Cussed clogs would possibly require a harsher therapy; Hartzer advises utilizing a drain cleaner like Drano Max Gel Clog Remover to flush out the pipes. If the problem persists, an ongoing infestation may indicate a leak, so call a plumber.
- To clean garbage disposals, toss a dozen ice cubes in the chamber, plus 1 tablespoon of baking soda, a few lemon slices and 1 teaspoon of bleach. Turn the disposal on without running water until you hear the grinding stop. Then, with the motor running, flush with cold water for 30 seconds.
How to get rid of gnats quickly
While preventive measures will stop gnats at the source, sometimes it’s best to take immediate action. Here are the most effective ways to get rid of gnats, instantly.
1. Use a high-tech bug zapper.
We’ve found that plug-in traps can be extremely effective. Consider the Zevo Flying Insect Trap, a GH Seal holder that uses safe amounts of blue and UV light to attract gnats, fruit flies and mosquitoes. “I personally love the Zevo traps that have earned our Seal; I have them in my house all year round,” says Birnur Aral, Ph.D., director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Health, Beauty and Sustainability Lab. “We recently tested the latest version of the product and found it be even more effective at trapping gnats.”
In our tests, the Zevo Flying Insect Trap started trapping insects right away and was filled with dead ones when it was time to replace the cartridge after 15 days.
2. Try a spray solution.
The Zevo Fly, Gnat & Fruit Fly Flying Insect Spray, another GH Seal holder, is also a good option. It uses geraniol and lemongrass oil, which are bio-insecticides that don’t need to be registered with the EPA, to kill gnats on contact. Though safe around people and pets, the spray must be handled properly; Zevo cautions against it coming into contact with eyes or skin, and the flammable liquid should never be used near electrical wiring.
3. Make a DIY vinegar trap.
One of the best and easiest methods is to set up a vinegar trap. There are a few ways to do this:
- Make a trap with apple cider vinegar and plastic wrap: DIY your own fruit fly trap by pouring a little apple cider vinegar into a glass or just removing the cap from the bottle. Cover the opening with plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band. Then, poke a few small holes in the plastic. The fruit flies will enter but not be able to make their way out.
- Make a trap with a paper cone, vinegar and old fruit: Place a little vinegar and a chunk of very ripe fruit in a jar. Then, roll printer paper into a cone and stick it into the jar, placing the narrow opening down. The smell of rotting produce will help entice the fruit flies into the mixture, but the paper cone will make it difficult for them to escape.
- Leave out a bowl of vinegar and dish soap: Add three drops of dish soap to a bowl of vinegar, and leave it uncovered in problem areas. The soap cuts the surface tension of the vinegar, so the flies that are enticed by the vinegar will sink and drown.
4. Put out a beer or wine trap.
Along with vinegar, fruit flies also like the smell of wine. Leave out an almost-empty open bottle of old wine — the skinny neck will keep the flies trapped. The Old Farmer’s Almanac also recommends using stale beer to attract fruit flies.
5. Buy a sticky trap.
For a fail-safe trap, buy Aunt Fannie’s FlyPunch! on Amazon. The mixture includes sodium lauryl sulfate (a surfactant used in soaps) and malic acid (found in fruit). Just open the top, set it on your counter and watch the cycle of life unfold.
Shop Gnat Solutions
Zevo Electric Flying Insect Trap Starter Kit
Zevo Fly, Fruit Fly, Gnat & Flying Insect Killer & Repellent
Aunt Fannie’s FlyPunch Fruit Fly Trap
Looking for more advice on managing pests? Check out our guides to the best mouse traps and how to get rid of silverfish.
Contributing Writer
Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She’s a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.