How to Get Rid of Gnats: Tips To Keep Your Home Insect-Free

Having gnats in the house can be a great nuisance. You may notice the pesky little flies zipping around the kitchen, buzzing around your tv or computer screen, and even hanging out in your bathroom. Gnats can be tough to kill due to their small size. Unlike larger insects that can be easily squashed, getting rid of gnats at home requires stronger intervention. Luckily, there are products and proven approaches designed to effectively rid one’s household of this particular pest.

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How to Get Rid of Gnats in Your House

Where do gnats come from?

Gnats can be found in most environments and can survive almost anywhere. The term “gnat” itself covers a large variety of small fly species, but there are generally two main types of gnats: non-biting and biting. If you are reading this article, you most likely have the common household variety of non-biting gnats. Even so, they can still be just as annoying as their bitey cousins. 

The following types of gnats that bite are known to leave bite marks that are small, red, itchy, and painful:

  • Deer flies
  • Buffalo gnats
  • Biting midges
  • Stable flies
  • Sand flies

What causes gnats to be in your house?

There are a multitude of reasons why gnats may be present in your home, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about! Sometimes the reason is the fault of seasonal changes and where you live. 

The Top 4 Items that Attract Gnats:

  • Moisture
  • Decay
  • Produce
  • Light

Do you live in a humid region? You are more likely to have gnats in your home. Likewise, if it is a humid time of the year, gnats are likely to thrive in trapped moisture. Rotting produce in the trash can, pantry, or fridge is another common reason for gnats to be in your home. Gnats are also attracted to dying houseplants (we’ve all been there) and anything else that might have decay inside of it. 

Finally, gnats are attracted to UV light. Does your home catch a lot of rays? This can attract unwanted visitors. Luckily, there is a highly effective method using UV light that can help eradicate gnats from your home. Read on or skip ahead to the end to learn what this method entails.

What is the fastest way to get rid of gnats?

There are many ways to kill gnats, some more effective than others. We’ll save you the time and internet searches to bring you the most common as well as the most effective approaches.

Ammonia or Bleach for Gnats

  • If you notice gnats hovering around your kitchen or sink area, they may be coming from your kitchen drain! Simply pour 1 cup of ammonia OR bleach down the drain to kill gnats and potential eggs. Check back in a week to see if things have improved. If not, carry on to other methods listed. Note: Do not mix ammonia and bleach together, as this can create a harmful compound to humans.

Gnat Sticky Trap

  • A simple sticky trap is a piece of material covered in glue that gnats get stuck on. Once the gnats are collected, you can throw away the material and repeat the process. This trap is hung on a string from a high place where gnats are most likely to fly into it. This type of trap can be found at most stores or online, but you can also make one yourself using a thick paper, a string, and some honey.

UV Light Gnat Trap

  • The most effective gnat killer is one that both attracts and traps insects in the home. The Katchy Indoor Insect Killer is a sleek tool that uses UV light to lure gnats in, then traps them in glue. This is also a more discreet way to trap gnats without unsightly glue traps or buckets of chemicals. After three days, you will start to notice the difference as more gnats become trapped in the glue.
Some tips to utilize the effectiveness of this device:
  • Keep the device near where most gnats are present
  • Keep the device in a dark place so that the UV light attracts more gnats
  • Replace the sticky glue pad once it is full

    3 Extra Tips to Prevent a Gnat Infestation

    Now that you know how to trap and kill gnats, let’s wrap up with ways you can prevent future infestations:

    1. Take Trash Out Regularly

    • If you have leftover food to throw out, it is recommended that you take it straight to the garbage bin rather than leaving it in your trash can inside your home for more than a day.

    2. Monitor Humidity Levels in Your Home

      • After a hot shower, leave the bathroom door open so as to not trap moisture.
      • If you live in a particularly humid climate, consider investing in a dehumidifier.
      • On hot, humid days, keep the A/C low and run the fan to circulate air flow.

      3. Treat Indoor Plants

        • Don’t overwater your plants. Keep soil moist, but don’t let pooling water become a gnat playground.
        • Clip dead leaves and decaying materials. 
        • Consider keeping your plants outdoors if problem persists.

        Final Thoughts

        Now that you know how to prevent infestations as well as get rid of gnats, you’re ready to start enjoying spending time at home without worrying about the annoyance of flying critters. Remember that this is a common problem with simple solutions. Your home and its occupants will thank you for putting in the effort to make living spaces gnat-free! 

         

        Contributing Writer: Madeline Collins

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