Gnats are a household irritation that can be notoriously difficult to get rid of. Gnats like to live around fruits and vegetables as well as plants. They are particularly common where you might have over-ripe fruits and vegetables and can make a home look unclean and unhealthy.
Just to give you an idea of what you’re up against a female gnat can lay 400 or more eggs in their life-time meaning it is highly important that you act quickly to prevent the problem spreading. They lay these eggs in moist environments so leaks, mold and condensation are to be avoided. Here we will look at some ways you can avoid and get rid of gnats.
Preventative Methods
In order to prevent gnats getting into your home it is important to avoid luring them in. Gnats are attracted to fruit, to moisture and to plants so managing these aspects of your home will help you to avoid the problem. Here are some quick tips…
Keep Fruits in the Fridge
This will prevent it from going off and will also keep it safe from gnats that won’t be able to get in. It also prevents the fruits from going off. At the very least make sure to throw out old food and to avoid hanging on to it for too long and letting it go off.
Empty Out Old Bags
Old bags such as suitcases and backpacks that you have carried food in can sometimes have a thin residue from old food and can also present a moist habitat for gnats so be sure to air them out. Look for old bags in your wardrobe and loft and you might find them to be full of gnats. Turn them inside out, wipe them down and leave them to air in the garden or balcony.
Don’t Water Plants Too Regularly
Gnats like plants, but they also like moisture – so the combination of these things is highly tempting. To avoid it becoming a problem try not to water your plants too often so that the soil never becomes too moist.
Empty Your Bin Regularly
Just because you have thrown your old fruits away doesn’t mean you’re safe from it – it will still be in your dustbin rotting and attracting the wrong kind of visitors. Be sure to empty your bin bag out regularly and you will prevent it from becoming a gnat hot-spot.
Cover Your Fruits
If you don’t fancy putting your fruits in the fridge, then you can get net covers to go over the fruits and render it inaccessible to gnats.
How to Get Rid of Gnats
If your gnats have already set in then it’s too late for preventative methods. Fortunately there are some ways you can nip the problem in the bud. Use the following strategies to get rid of gnats that have already set in, then apply the methods listed above to stop them from coming back.
Re-Potting
If gnats have set in and gotten the taste for your plants then you need to make some changes – they may also have laid eggs in the soil. To prevent this problem then re-pot your plants and try to keep the soil more dry from here on out.
Neem Oil
Take some neem oil and put it on your pot plants and on the surfaces where gnats like to congregate.
Vegetable Oil
If you have gnats coming out of the drains, then try putting some vegetable oil into the drains. Now tape closed the drain to seal it off and leave it for 24 hours. When you come back to it you will likely find them stuck to the bottom of the tape.
Water With Soap
Add some soap to the water you water your plants with and it might help to kill off some of the gnats.
Homemade Gnat Remedy
Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, a bowl of water and then a teaspoon of wine. Put this near the potted plants where you have the gnat problem and it should ward them off.