What are Gnats?
Gnats are tiny, flying black flies that tend to appear everywhere. There are a few common types: fruit flies, drain flies, and the fungus gnat. True to their names, these pests are tiny and may seem insignificant, but they can quickly grow in collective size if not properly dealt with.
These pesky insects are often attracted to rotting fruit, dirty dishes, trash, and spoiled food. Drain flies tend to hover near drains, leaking pipes, and other damp areas. Fungus flies enjoy oil soil, fungus, and dirty areas. All these insects are also attracted to light and, unfortunately, humans.
Common Places You Can Find Gnats
Some of the most common places you may spot gnats include places with decomposing organic matter, standing or leaking water, and garbage disposals. The tricky thing about gnats is that they can appear seemingly out of thin air, and it can be difficult to determine where they came from in the first place. Gnats are most active during the day, specifically mid-morning or at dusk, and are typically seen most during the summer months, otherwise known as bug season.
If you are through with these annoying little pests, we’ve listed seven quick ways to repel gnats.
How to Get Rid of Gnats
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
An easy and inexpensive way to get rid of gnats in any room of your house is by using the apple cider vinegar trap. You only need a small dish, apple cider vinegar, and dish soap to make your trap. Pour the vinegar into the dish and add a few drops of dish soap. The gnats are drawn to the sweet smell of the apple cider. As they fly down, they get trapped in the soap and drown.
If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, no worries. This trap also works with wine as the base. It’s a quick and easy solution that can clear out any gnats.
2. Use Rotten Fruit
Place overripe fruit in a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap, keeping the plastic tight with a rubber band. Once the plastic is secure, poke a few holes in the plastic wrap using a toothpick or a skewer. The sweet scent of the rotting fruit will quickly draw gnats into the plastic. Once they crawl through the holes, they will not be able to find their way back out. This is a simple, inexpensive way to clear your kitchen of gnats.
3. Keep Counters Clear
You can avoid an annoying infestation by keeping your counters clean and clear. Keep an eye on fruit or food you keep on the counter. Store food or throw it away as it starts to turn. This holds especially true for fruit like bananas, which tend to go bad very quickly.
Keeping dirty or wet dishes out of your sink is also a good idea. Gnats are drawn to rotting food, so keeping your kitchen tidy eliminates any possible food sources.
4. Take Trash Out Frequently
While it may seem like throwing spoiled food away in the trash should be enough, the opposite is true. Gnats love to lay their eggs in the garbage, particularly fruit flies. The best way to keep these annoying insects out of your home and away from your house is by keeping your trash covered and removing it frequently. It may also be worth it to invest in a stainless steel trash can with a lid, as these types of trash cans tend to seal in the trash scent more than other types of trash cans.
