There is no more unwelcome house guest than a group of gnats. The tiny bugs often hover above your fruit bowl or drain, bite the skin, and persist as a general nuisance until dealt with.
“Gnat” is actually an umbrella term referring to a wide variety of small insects. To get rid of gnats in the house a few different strategies are recommended. Traps, bleach and even exterminators can be effective solutions depending on the severity of your infestation.
You are watching: How do you get rid of gnats in the house? Instantly kill the pests in with these DIY tips.
Here’s what to know about getting rid of everyone’s least favorite household pests.
How do you get rid of gnats?
Common methods include:
- Homemade traps
- Bleach
- Spraying them with a water, vinegar, soap mixture
- Throwing away old food, store fruit in the fridge
- Hiring an exterminator
- Flypaper
How to get rid of mosquitoes:Tips to keep them away from house, yard
How to make DIY gnat traps
Catching gnats in your house can be done by building a trap with dish soap, apple cider vinegar and sugar. Combine equal parts vinegar and soap and then add a few tablespoons of sugar – once you mix it all together you can place the bowl wherever the gnats have been gathering. They will be attracted to the sugar and vinegar and drown in the mixture.
Read more : Rust In Your Stainless Steel Sink
Traps can also be made out of red wine and dish soap, or rotting fruit. For the fruit Forbes advises to mash it up and place it in a container with plastic wrap over the top. Then puncture the wrap so gnats can fly in and get trapped.
If you have extra time a final type of trap can be made by turning off the lights, lighting a candle and placing the candlestick in a container of water. The gnats will be attracted to the flame like moths and then drown in the water.
If this doesn’t work, you can also target the gnats with a spray-bottle filled with water, vinegar and a little bit of dish soap. If your infestation is extra stubborn, you can always hire a pest control company to come take a look.
What are gnats?
“Gnat” can refer to a number of different species of small flies. In North America, gnats are most commonly black flies, midges, fungus gnats or fruit flies.
What causes a lot of gnats in the house?
Gnats enter your home from the outdoors and can find their way through pretty much any crack. They are attracted to moisture, which is why you’ll likely find them in the bathroom sink or drain, and to fruit, especially if it’s gone bad.
Pro Tip: If you’re battling gnats make sure not to let garbage sit too long, they’re attracted to a full waste bin also.
Do gnats come from drains?
Gnats don’t usually come from drains but they certainly congregate and breed there. The hyper-moist environment is incredibly attractive to the insects.
Read more : How to Remove Stains from Kitchen Countertops
In order to get rid of drain gnats, pest control company Arceneaux recommends pouring a half cup of hydrogen peroxide or bleach in the drain. This should kill them instantly, but repeat as needed.
Will gnats go away on their own?
If you continue to have appealing habitats for gnats in your home, no, they will not likely go away on their own. If you remove old food and beverages, take out the trash and are sure to eliminate high-moisture environments an infestation may subside.
It’s best to use one of the above tips to go after them immediately though.
Are gnats harmful to humans?
Aside from generally being an annoyance, gnats do not usually pose any grave physical danger to humans. They may bite you but a bite from a gnat is often benign and will appear like other bug bites: red, slightly raised and itchy.
In rare cases a gnat bite can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms of this include but are not limited to trouble breathing, nausea, swollen throat, lightheadedness and rapid heartbeat. If this happens visit a doctor immediately.
Soothe the itch:Home remedies to get rid of mosquito bites fast
Just curious? We’ve got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From “How to manifest” to “When does pollen season end?” to “How old is Barbie?”, we’re striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens
