How to Get Rid of Gnats: Drain Flies, Fruit Flies, and Fungus Gnats
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Letting plants dry out a bit between watering will kill larvae, preventing them from thriving off of the fungus on the plant’s roots. There are almost as many ways to get rid of gnats as there are different types of them. However, the following are some of the most tried-and-true methods for getting rid of gnats and quelling the infestation. Now that you know how to get rid of gnats in your house, you can remove them and reduce your exposure to bacteria they can spread. Because The Maids® is the only residential service to clean for health specifically, we are committed to providing handy housekeeping guides to help keep your home clean and healthy. If you continue to have appealing habitats for gnats in your home, no, they will not likely go away on their own.
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The fungus gnats will be attracted to the aroma of fermentation, land on the soapy film, and drown. 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. Fruit and veggies are appealing to us – and to the fruit flies we don’t want in our homes, too.
Avoid overwatering plants
Gnats typically come out in the summer, but potted plants in a warm house can be quite cozy for gnats, thus annoying you all year long. Fungus from mold or mildew in your home can also be a contributing factor. Most gnats are not harmful to humans, though some can give you bites a little, like mosquito bites.
Make a homemade solution
You will want to address as many of these sources as you can to get rid of them. If the soil in or around your home tends to be overly moist, try letting it dry out more between waterings to discourage gnats and other pests from being attracted to it. If you suspect your houseplants’ soil is rife with gnat larvae, you may have to repot the plant. Trash the old soil, and wash the plant’s roots as best you can. Thoroughly clean out the container, and replant your greenery in fresh soil.
"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. However, a rule of thumb the insects often follow is access to food, moisture and protection, states Orkin's website. This usually comes by way of decaying organic material, such as trash or soil. To deter them overwatering plants should be avoided – let the soil dry out before you water again – and always use pots that don’t provide good drainage.
Skip the harsh drain cleaner and use a pipe snake, boiling water, and other remedies. Follow up with an enzyme drain cleaner and rinse away your pesky problem. Gnats are one of the few pests that can also be treated quickly by using home remedies. Home remedies for getting rid of gnats can be used for both indoor and outdoor infestations, as well as alongside other gnat treatment options.
Chances are you have a bottle of apple cider vinegar and some sugar sitting in your kitchen or pantry, and these two ingredients can help you get rid of gnats. Place a bowl near the infestation and fill it with vinegar before adding a teaspoon of plain sugar, which is what the gnats will be drawn to. The vinegar is what will ultimately kill them, but you also need a way to keep them in the bowl long enough for that to happen. Either cover the bowl with plastic wrap and poke small holes on the top, or add a bit of dish soap to the vinegar and sugar concoction. Fungus gnats are found in different areas of the plant, depending on where they are in their life cycle.
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They are common in houses, especially kitchens, restaurants, and other food-handling sites, attracted to ripening or fermenting fruit, other fly droppings, and uncooked food. Drain flies are tiny gnat look-alikes, sometimes called moth flies, because they resemble small, powdery moth. Drain flies are about 1/8 inch (4 mm) long with long antennae and light tan to gray coloring. They have faint black and white speckling on their heart-shaped wings and tiny white hairs on their body. Even a leaky pipe causing minimal mold or wood rot can provide gnats and other pests with food and water sources.
If the gnats are coming from the drain, the mode of treatment will be different from that when they infest watered plants. Let us have a look at the different ways gnats can be eliminated. Be it black or red gnats in house, gnats are one of the most annoying pests one can encounter. Swarms of them fly all around the house and some even fly to sit on your nose. Before their numbers increase, it is important to control their populations.
To use peppermint oil to get rid of gnats, spray the essential oil around your garden, windows, and doors to deter pests from approaching your property. This method is best paired with other preventative measures or removal methods to make sure your gnat problem is taken care of in its entirety. Drawn in by moisture, fruit bowls, garden flowers, or garbage cans, gnats are on of the most frustrating pests to have in your home. From hanging ribbons and cards to sticky stands specifically designed for potted plants, sticky traps are an easy way to catch a cluster of gnats. You'll just have to keep an eye on it and replace the trap once it's full.
Fungus gnats are those that love your houseplants; in large numbers, they can damage plants' roots and growth. Fruit flies are attracted to rotten fruit but love any sweet liquids, such as vinegar and red wine. Drain flies can be found buzzing around your home's drains, while midges are more likely to gather around standing water, such as your backyard's water features.
Using cinnamon in soil is also said to get rid of gnats in the house. The best way to get rid of gnats is to prevent them from coming into your house in the first place, says Gabriella Dyson, Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens. Along with vinegar, fruit flies like the smell of fruity beer and wine. Leave out an almost-empty open bottle of stale beer or old wine — the skinny neck will keep the flies trapped. Don't overwater your soil; clean your drains with a stiff scrub brush and drain cleaner, and ensure your compost bin has a tight lid. The mere presence of these pesky insects in your house can leave you feeling twitchy.
Gnats don't fly well, so they usually stay near the plant or sink where they developed. Sometimes, though, you can find them around nearby windows, as they are attracted to light. Biting gnats are also found around plants because their main food source (except when females are producing eggs) is sap and plant nectar. The best way to eliminate pests like drain and fruit flies is by using one of our favorite home remedies for gnats and other pests. You only need homemade cleaning ingredients that you can easily find around your home and a two-quart bowl. Once gnats invade your space, it can feel impossible to get rid of them.
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They will also lay eggs into rotting fruit and vegetables, including those in your fruit bowl or pantry. Gnats are attracted to damp spots to lay eggs, particularly affecting houseplants since they like to lay eggs in moist soil. A gnat infestation can damage some houseplants, causing wilting, loss of leaves, and leaf yellowing. Lucky for the gnats that want to move inside, many people have interior house plants, which provide fungus gnats with a year-round feeding and breeding source.
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