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If you've ever spilled sugary juice on the counter and didn't wipe it up right away, overwatered plants inside or outside, or waited a day too long to take out the trash, you know this feeling. One simple household mistake, and all of sudden your house seems to be covered up in bugs—tiny gnats, to be exact. Here are eight ways to help you get rid of gnats once and for all.
Before killing gnats, the first thing to do is make sure that they are, in fact, gnats. There are many different types of itty-bitty flying insects, and each requires a slightly different elimination tactic. You may actually find yourself needing to know how to get rid of fruit flies or how to get rid of drain flies instead. If you know what to look for, it's easy to distinguish between bugs. Fungus gnats look black and feature long legs while fruit flies are typically brown and rounder in shape. Drain flies have a fuzzier appearance and larger wings, and as the name suggests, they hang out around sink drains.
Once you’ve correctly identified what bug is, well, bugging you, you can start to take the necessary steps toward getting rid of gnats, flies, and any other bugs once and for all with vinegar solutions, store-bought remedies, and even rotten fruit (really!). For longer-term success, invest in one of the best bug zappers on the market.
KATCHY Original Indoor Insect Trap Try a bug zapper.
Although it works better with larger bugs (such as mosquitoes), a bug zapper is always a good option. Nowadays, there are plenty of brands and designs that are safe to use indoors, such as the KATCHY device pictured here. These noiseless machines should be able to catch the majority of gnats and flies in your home, and the best part is, you won't have to lift a finger to make the magic happen.
Hot Shot Buy a chemical spray.
If things get really bad, you may find yourself in need of a more serious bug killer. Insecticide is one option, though we caution against using it if you have small children around (and as always, you'll want to be sure you're following manufacturer directions). This Hot Shot Kitchen Bug Killer is one option that specifically targets gnats, in addition to several other household pests.
Black Flag Use fly paper.
Black Flag Use fly paper.
There's really no solution more trustworthy—or oddly satisfying—than fly paper, which simply catches flying bugs on its sticky surface. You can either hang "ribbon fly paper" from areas in your home that get a lot of gnat traffic or try window fly paper, which will cover an entire window in an adhesive sheet.
Bragg Make a trap using apple cider vinegar.
In a small bowl, mix a half cup of warm water plus two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, and about six drops of liquid dish soap. Gnats will be lured in by the sugary mixture, but once they dip in for a drink, the sticky dish soap will trap them. Simply place the bowl with solution in the areas where you've noticed the most gnats, and wait for results.
Pour boiling water down your drain.
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.
Use a wine trap.
Now, we're not asking you to sacrifice your wine collection to kill gnats! Instead, for this nifty trapping trick, you'll want to use an expired wine—one that's nearly turned into vinegar. You can use it in nearly the same way that you used the aforementioned apple cider vinegar trick: Pour some of the stale wine into a small vessel, add in a couple drops of dish soap, then place the mixture in gnat-filled areas of your home and wait for the bugs to drop in.
The Clorox Company Try a diluted bleach solution for drain flies.
The Clorox Company Try a diluted bleach solution for drain flies.
If you've noticed that the gnats in your home are converging around your sink drains, they may actually be drain flies (in which case, the other traps we've discussed here may not work well for eliminating them). Drain flies are best dealt with using bleach. 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.
Lure them with rotten fruit.
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. Use a toothpick to poke a few holes in the top. 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.
Here's a trick that seems almost too good (and easy and old-school) to be true: Place a tall candle into a candlestick, then place the candlestick into a small pan filled with water. Turn off all the lights, then light the candle and wait for gnats to make their way to the flame. They'll either hit the flame itself or fall into the water below. As with any lit candle though, you must stay in the room and attend to the flame with caution until it's time to blow it out.
Amy Mitchell is the managing editor at Country Living Magazine. She writes about a wide range of topics, including homes and lifestyle content.
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