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Yes, the very thing that caused the infestation in the first place might be your best bet when it comes to ending it. Add a few pieces of overripe fruit to a large bowl, then cover with plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band. Soon, gnats and fruit flies will flock to the fruit, making their way in through the tiny holes—but they won't know how to find their way out.
Drain Flies vs. Fruit Flies: Which Tiny Winged Pest Is Invading Your Home?
Gnats and small flies that appear inside homes are drawn to rotting organic matter, which they use for both a feeding and breeding site. You will want to address as many of these sources as you can to get rid of them. If you're wondering how to get rid of gnats quickly, look no further. We've rounded up 10 easy methods for removal — from simple home remedies, like a trap made from apple cider vinegar, to top-tested products that have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal.
Make a Vinegar Trap
If you see one and are wondering if there may be more, head to your plants, windows, and lights. You may also want to peep around your fruit basket because the sweet aroma will draw them in. 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. With interior gnat and fly issues, the issue will likely go away once the feeding or breeding ground is found and removed. If you are having trouble finding where the gnats or flies are coming from, call a professional integrated pest management specialist to help you deal with the problem.
Tips to prevent gnats from coming back
You can fold up a small bit of sticky paper and stick it right in the soil where they're lingering. Just get rid of it — whether it’s moldy fruit on the counter or food that has built up in your garbage disposal. Leftover food will attract gnats and create all kinds of unwanted smells in your kitchen. On the same note, throw out your garbage, and until you do, make sure it stays in a sealed container. The same goes for any compost bins you might have — don’t leave them open throughout the day. Say your plants are dry and gnat-free — that’s the time to start investigating potential sources of mildew or mold.
Use a wine trap.
Many of the modern bug zappers on the market are safe for indoor use, so placing one on the counter or near plants can take care of a gnat problem quickly. In all reality, the main sign of a gnat infestation is several gnats flying through the air when you turn on the sink, move a house plant or disturb an old piece of fruit. These bugs don’t damage wood or leave trails of scat around, so take the first sight of these winged pests as a sign that there is an infestation. Overwatering indoor plants can lead to mold growth in the soil that attracts fungus gnats. Allow the soil to dry completely before rewatering, and use pots with holes in the bottom and water trays to catch excess water rather than let it sit in the soil. Protect yourself and your lungs properly, then dilute one-half cup of bleach with about one gallon of water and pour it down the affected drain.
Using the manufacturer’s instructions, pour some of the cleaner down the drain slowly to kill flying gnats and the larvae. Be sure to wear a mask, gloves and eye protection as drain cleaner can be particularly noxious stuff. Kitchen sink drains are common spots where gnats lay eggs, especially in garbage disposals. They love the warm, moist environment and any food and bacteria build up that occurs there. Kill any eggs in your drain by pouring boiling water in the sink. We chatted with Diana Ludwiczak, a home pest inspector certified in New York City, where unwanted bug invasions are quite common.
Plug-in traps
Place a few pieces of overripe or rotting fruit in a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band. The idea is that once gnats and fruit flies make their way in through the tiny holes, they get trapped within the plastic and can’t fly out. 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.
How to Get Rid of Water Bugs Once and for All
Finally, regularly clean up decaying organic matter, such as fallen leaves or fruits, to minimize gnat breeding grounds, according to Orkin. Experts recommend trying natural remedies first to remove gnats from your house plants. Natural remedies are eco-friendly and pose no health risks to humans or pets.
Overripe fruits, veggies, decaying food matter and moisture in drains are all culprits. You can purchase products that contain BTI online, at a local home improvement store or from your local nursery. Follow the manufacturer’s application directions to reduce the population of fungus gnats in your home.
Exactly How to Kill Fruit Flies in Your Drain With DIY Solutions, Per Experts - Prevention Magazine
Exactly How to Kill Fruit Flies in Your Drain With DIY Solutions, Per Experts.
Posted: Mon, 31 Aug 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]
To use peppermint oil to get rid of gnats, spray the essential oil around your garden, windows, and doors to deter pests from approaching your property. This method is best paired with other preventative measures or removal methods to make sure your gnat problem is taken care of in its entirety. Drawn in by moisture, fruit bowls, garden flowers, or garbage cans, gnats are on of the most frustrating pests to have in your home. The bad news is that they can lay about 200 to 300 eggs during their brief lives. Each egg matures into a larva, and then transitions into a pupa and adult. Depending on the species, a gnat’s entire life cycle can be completed in as few as 3 weeks.
Below, we explain how to identify a gnat infestation and offer expert tips for prevention. You could always kill gnats the old-fashioned way—by swatting them with a fly swatter or your hands. This is one of the more difficult ways to eradicate gnats because the insects are so agile and acrobatic.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Insects in Your Home - Treehugger
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Insects in Your Home.
Posted: Wed, 17 Jun 2020 15:42:09 GMT [source]
Relocating an outdoor compost bin farther from your house can also help keep the flies outside where they won’t be a nuisance. Sarah Fielding, MS, is an acclaimed journalist focusing on mental health, gender rights, and social issues. She's also the co-founder of Empire Coven, a space for highlighting trailblazing women across New York. She has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, Insider, Verywell, The Guardian and more. Every pest is different, and knowing what you're dealing with is essential before formulating a treatment plan.
If all else fails, it might be time to call a professional extermination service. Extermination services will charge between $100 and $450 to treat an infestation. And some extermination services offer guarantees that state if the infestation reoccurs within a certain amount of time, they’ll treat it again.
If the soil in or around your home tends to be overly moist, try letting it dry out more between waterings to discourage gnats and other pests from being attracted to it. Gnats may lay eggs in clothes if they are left damp and undisturbed for a period of time, so making sure your laundry room is equipped to dry your clothing properly is essential. If gnats have laid eggs on damp clothes, there is a chance that larvae (maggots) will hatch within a few days or weeks.
If possible, try to leave all fruit in the fridge and flora outside. “If you make these traps alongside removing mildew, standing water, and keeping overripe fruit in the fridge, you’ll get rid of the gnats in no time,” Ludwiczak explains. Fill the tray or bowl with vinegar and a drop of dish soap so that it pools around the candle. The light should reflect on the vinegar solution and attract the gnats. Gnats are irritating little creatures that can crop up in your home looking for produce, flowers, houseplants, and any other exposed foodstuff to munch on. At worst, you can wind up with a pregnant gnat laying as many as 300 eggs in your house.
Here's how to tell the difference to identify and address your pest problem properly. Gretchen Heber is a writer, marketer, and entrepreneur based in Texas.
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