How Do You Get Rid Of Gnats? – Forbes Advisor - Forbes

So, you have a gnat pest infestation on your hands. A gnat infestation is far from ideal, but luckily for you, there are easy ways to handle this common household problem.

Gnats are small insects that can infest your home. They include fruit flies, drain flies and fungus gnats. Because gnats reproduce quickly, it's crucial to attack this problem at the source and make sure you've eliminated every last gnat in your home.

There are several different options for eliminating gnats, and the method you choose may depend on the severity of the problem, the amount of time you have, the materials you have on hand and the amount of money that you are willing to spend. Here, we lay out your gnat exterminations options in order to insure a pest-free home.

1. Build a Trap

The most traditional method for getting rid of gnats is building a trap. Mix a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of dish soap in a bowl, and then add a tablespoon of sugar. Stir it all together, and place the bowl where the gnats are most likely to congregate (in many cases, this will be your kitchen). The sugar and the vinegar will attract the gnats, while the dish soap will trap and eventually drown them.

Similarly, you can build a trap by mixing a few tablespoons of red wine and a few tablespoons of dish soap in a bowl and placing it in a gnat-heavy area of your house. In severe cases, multiple traps may be required. If that's the case, place multiple bowls around your home, focusing on places where you've noticed gnats congregating.

You can also make a trap out of rotting fruit, if you happen to have some on hand. Mash some past-its-prime fruit in a bowl or jar (bananas work especially well here), and place some plastic wrap over the top. Then, poke small holes in the plastic so that the gnats get caught inside the container.

Another option is to build a candle trap. To do this, place a candle in a candlestick, and place the candlestick in a shallow container of water. Light the candle and turn off the lights. The gnats will be attracted to the flame, and they will either burn in the fire or drown in the surrounding water.

2. Bleach Them Out

Occasionally, you'll notice that gnats are congregating around your bathroom or kitchen sink. In these cases, a trap may not be sufficient. If gnats are hovering near your drain, dilute half a cup of bleach with a gallon of water, and slowly pour it down the drain. Repeat this process as needed until there are no gnats in sight.

3. Spray Them Away

If you have only a few gnats in your home, you might be able to get away with eliminating them using a spray bottle. In a spray bottle, mix one cup of water, a tablespoon of vinegar and a bit of dish soap. Spray this mixture directly at the gnats whenever you see them fly by.

4. Hire A Professional

If your gnat problem is recurring, or does not go away when you implement the solutions above, it might be time to call in a pro. A pest control company can attack gnat larvae and will customize a treatment plan for your home based on the nature and scope of the infestation. Keep in mind that this service will likely run you between $500 and $700.

How To Prevent Future Infestation

Once you get your current gnat situation under control, you'll want to make sure it doesn't happen again. To do this, clean up food and drinks after every meal and take out your trash nightly, using a sealed trash can. You might also consider watering your plants less often, since gnats are attracted to the moisture in the soil, and keeping your fruit in the refrigerator rather than on the counter, since fruit tends to attract gnats.

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