How to Get Rid of Gnats
In the spring months you may have noticed a tiny bug buzzing around you, that tiny bug is a gnat. From the same family as mosquitoes, gnats are seasonal bugs, most commonly seen in the spring months. Learning how to get rid of gnats is important to know as a home owner.
If you notice gnats in your home, it’s best to take care of them before they lay eggs and the problem worsens. These tips will help you eradicate those pesky gnats and prevent them from ever coming back into your home.
Gnats 101
As mentioned above, gnats are from the same bug family as mosquitoes and are seen in the spring months. Gnats look to feed on plants, fruit, vegetables and decomposed waste. Gnats will lay hundreds of their eggs in soil or decaying fruit at a time. If you notice these little bugs in your home, it is most likely a fungus gnat, fruit fly or a phorid fly. Regardless of the type of gnat, you’ll want to take care of it quickly.
Here’s how to get rid of gnats in your home:
How to Get Rid of Gnats
There are many different options available when you’re trying to get rid of gnats. No matter which option you choose, you’ll find a solution for your specific gnat problem.
Set a Trap
Traps are the most common tool when you want to get rid of gnats in your home.
Store bought trap
There are many different types of bug traps you can find in stores, the most popular is the bug zapper. These machines are noiseless and very effective at trapping any pests in your home.
Vinegar Trap
A vinegar trap is cost effective and can be made with items you’ll have lying around your house. Start by filling a jar with a half cup of warm water plus two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of sugar and a couple drops of liquid dish soap. The gnats will be lured in by the sugary mixture and once inside the jar they will be trapped inside because of the soap. Place as many jars as needed in areas where you notice the most gnats.
Candle Trap
Gnats are attracted to the light so a lit candle in a dark room can be used as a trap for these bugs. Start by placing a tall candle into a candlestick, then place the candlestick into a small pan filled with water. Turn off the lights in your home and wait for the gnats to make their way to the flame. The gnats will fall into the water and can be easily disposed.
Pour Bleach Into the Sink
If you have noticed any bugs around your kitchen sink then they are probably phorid flies. Luckily this trick is a surefire way to get rid of these pesky bugs. Start by pouring bleach down your drain and let it sit there. Let the bleach do its magic for several hours without running the water.
Use Spray: Fogging
When you hire a professional to exterminate your gnats, they will normally use a chemical spray. Products such as Raid and Zep are specifically made to kill gnats, flies and mosquitoes around your home.
You can also make your own organic spray out of products you should have around your house. Lemon scented dish soap, vinegar and water mixed together will function similar to store bought sprays, however they may not work as quickly.
Dispose of Spoiled Food
Gnats and fruit flies are attracted to rotten fruit and vegetables. This is also where these bugs will lay their eggs, so it’s best to get these rotten foods out of your home as quickly as possible.
Remove Plants That Attract Gnats
Gnats, especially fungus gnats, are attracted to damp soil. If you’re over watering your plants, these bugs will find their way there and start laying eggs. They can lay up to 800 eggs in one breeding cycle so this can become a major problem very quickly.
How to Prevent Gnats From Returning
Now that you know how to get rid of gnats, lets take a look at how to prevent them from returning to your home. Here are a few suggestions that’ll stop these bugs from coming back in the future.
Clean Up Your Kitchen
As mentioned previously, gnats are attracted to fruits and vegetables. Removing these things from your home as well as taking care of dirty dishes can prevent gnats from seeking entry to your home.
Replace Old, Worn Out Windows and Doors
When wood doors and windows are exposed to moisture they can warp and rot which makes your home susceptible to mold, when this happens your home becomes a nesting place for gnats. If you notice your wood windows or doors are experiencing any warping or rotting, it’s time to replace your windows and doors.
If you want to avoid this problem in the future, we suggest getting new vinyl windows. Vinyl windows are designed to handle the Midwest weather, which includes an abundance of moisture. This will eliminate the mold, rotting and warping that you would normally find on a wooden window.
When looking for a replacement door, steel or fiberglass are the best options to eliminate gnats. Both of these doors will be energy efficient and durable, and like vinyl windows, they wont rot or warp. These doors will be resistant to moisture build up so you wont experience any mold on your doors.
Screen Windows and Storm Doors
Another measure you can take to protect your home from gnats is to install screens with your windows. Mesh screens will give your windows another level of protection against bugs.
Storm doors are another way to combat against bugs entering your home. Just like window screens, a storm door will act as a second layer of protection and will trap gnats. Plus, some storm doors allow you to swap out the screens and replace them with glass during the colder months.
If there are any tears or rips in your screen door, have them replaced or repaired immediately. Any tears in your screen can open your home up to gnats and other bugs.
Get Rid of Gnats and Prevent Them From Returning Before It’s Too Late
It’s important to know how to get rid of gnats and prevent them from entering your home in the future. A gnat infestation can be a a major problem, but with the right steps, this problem can be properly avoided and you will be protected from bugs overrunning your home.
Windows, siding and doors play a major role in preventing gnats from getting into your home. Feldco wants to help you in your quest to keep your home gnat free. Get a free quote now and we’ll help you find the perfect vinyl windows, vinyl siding, steel or fiberglass doors and storm doors for your home.
