How to Get Rid of Gnats: 9 Tips for Gnat Control

Gnat is the common name for multiple species of small flying insects with short wings and long legs. They include drain flies, fruit flies, and fungus gnats. While gnats are often mistaken for small or immature house flies, they are not the same species.

Gnats are common nuisances inside homes. Moist areas and organic material, such as damp potting soil in houseplants, attract many types of gnats. Other species of gnats prefer decomposing food, so they flock to countertop composting bins, ripe fruit, dirty dishes, or the sink, where a garbage disposal might harbor small pieces of decomposing food.

Gnats like houseplants and overripe fruit, which can make home infestations a common occurrence. For any serious gnat infestations, call a pest control service. For more minor problems, here are six things you can try to get rid of gnats indoors:

1. 1. Remove food sources. Rotten fruit or other decaying organic material is a breeding ground for gnats. Take the composting bin outdoors instead of leaving it on the counter. Similarly, gnats often seek out overripe fruit, so store fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator as opposed to keeping them in a fruit bowl.
2. 2. Make a DIY apple cider vinegar trap. In a small bowl, combine half a cup of warm water, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of sugar, and six to eight drops of dish soap to create an apple cider vinegar trap. Place the bowl near the gnat infestation in the kitchen or bathroom. The gnats find the scent of sugar and vinegar alluring, and the dish soap will trap the gnats and cause them to die in the bowl. Remove and clean the bowl when it becomes full of dead gnats.
3. 3. Use leftover red wine. If you have an opened bottle that’s become stale, use it to make a wine trap. Combine about half a cup of red wine with five to six drops of liquid dish soap. Pour in a small bowl or small vase and place it in the area of the gnat infestation.
4. 4. Light a candle trap. Place a tall candle or a candle set into a candlestick holder in the center of a wide bowl. Pour water into the bowl to fill it a third of the way. Taking care not to burn yourself, light the candle and turn off or dim the lights. Gnats will fly into the flame, where they will either burn or drown. Empty the water bowl when you’re finished.
5. 5. Bleach your drains. For gnat problems in bathroom or kitchen sink drains, try using bleach. Use a diluted bleach solution of half a cup of bleach to a gallon of water and pour it down the drain. Whenever you handle the beach, wear gloves to avoid the bleach coming into contact with your skin.
6. 6. Invest in flypaper. Flypaper attracts insects, which they become stuck to once they touch. Flypaper may appear unsightly, but it does work: Hang the flypaper near the gnat infestation and discard it and replace it every few days until you see improvement.

Gnats like moisture and organic material, which makes houseplants common breeding areas. In addition to placing a DIY gnat trap, such as an apple cider vinegar trap, in the area of your plants, you can also take these actions.

1. 1. Cover the plant soil. Cover your plant’s soil with very small or fine gravel. Gnats like the organic matter in the soil, not the plant itself, so covering the moist soil with plant or aquarium gravel makes it more difficult for them to nest in the dirt. Take care not to use large gravel or rock pebbles, as that could exacerbate the issue.
2. 2. Remove dead or dying leaves. Trim dead or dying foliage off your plants several times a week, especially leaves resting on the soil, which are prone to decay as a result of the moisture. Gnats love this kind of rotting organic material and will use the leaves as a food source if you don’t remove them promptly.
3. 3. Water your plants less frequently. Adult gnats and gnat larvae and eggs need moisture to survive. Let the top of the soil dry in between waterings, which will kill the gnat larvae and become inhospitable to adult gnats. This method of gnat control is not the best option for tropical houseplants, which require consistent humidity and moisture to survive.

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