Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I am having problems with gnats in my basement. I don't know what they are attracted to. I don't have any live pants or food in the basement. They seem to be multiplying. How can I get rid of them?
I had that problem. The little buggers were in the drain line from our furnace/central air. Poured bleach down it and no more gnats. Also use the vinegar and dish soap solution to speed it up.
I have a pontoon boat that we just took out of storage and is now at the boat slip. We have gnats everywhere. What can I use to get rid of them?
They are attracted to the moisture trapped in it somewhere. I would drape it and bug bomb it. Then, undrape it and clean it well. Also make sure no food or anything rotten is in it.
Someone told me to pour bleach where gnats are at the most and they will go to the glass and die. I was just wanting to know if it would work or not?
a good way to kill gnats and fruitflies is to get a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and just spray them where they are.
also make sure to keep everything as clean and grime and moisture free as humanly possible, especially rubbish bins and drains
the only thing I've heard re bleach is to pour it down the drain to kill the eggs, though I prefer to make a bomb by pouring a cup of baking soda chased with white vinegar and then with a pot full of boiling water. In general I find it's best to avoid bleach as much as possible because fumes
I am assuming the gnats are by your windows...not coming from the sink drains or other locations.
The best way to get rid of them is to get rid of the source...like if it as a bag of old fruit or potatoes or something like that, bag it up and take it outside away from the house.
If that is not the problem, and they are coming from the drains, then, yes, bleach down the drain until they stop coming up should do the trick. I mix a cup of bleach in a bucket of warm water and repeat this over several days. Wear old clothes and gloves so you don't get this splashed on you.
If you can't locate the source, then you can set up a trap and hope that eventually you get them all...by mixing up some dish soap and apple cider vinegar, water and sugar (equal parts water and cider--like 1/2 cup) and a few drops of dish soap--any kind and a tablespoon of sugar. They will go to that, try to eat? drink? and die.
Only use this mixture if you DO NOT have small children and pets around that will get into it...you don't want them ingesting that mixture. BIG BAD YUCK!
I have friends that swear by filling up a bottle with vinegar and water (equal parts) and spraying them to kill them as they fly around...but I am not into my rooms smelling like salad dressing so I haven't tried that one.
Good luck! Those things are PESKY and quite annoying!
Does anyone know how to get rid of the biting gnats (not fruit flies, not normal gnats)? These are not attracted to cider vinegar, soap, or fruit. I had a dozen of these scattered around the house, and they did catch normal gnats, but not these biting ones. These are not killed with "flying insect killer" (biting gnats are the one exception listed on can). I tried it anyway, but it didn't work.
They bite mercilessly when I'm watching TV or on the computer. My son accidentally brought these back from Costa Rica and nothing seems to work. I hung pest strips and bug zappers right behind my head while watching TV for days with no help. I have been battling these for over a year. Sometimes they fly between me and the computer screen, but are so small and quick, I can't seem to kill them. Any useful ideas?
They are obviously getting fed from something in your house. They can't live without water/food. Make sure everything is contained.
I would suggest you use insect repellent while you are inside your home. Wash all bedding in hot water and dry. Rent a steamer for drapes and upholstered furniture. Encase your mattress. Cover all food. Make sure there are no leaks or standing water.
Do you have something to catch gnats? I need some ideas for making a trap.
By Marie M
Are you talking about fruit flies? They look like gnats so if that is what you mean, put some red wine vinegar out. Works well to put it in a bottle because they crawl in and can't get out or just use some left over wine.
I made the mistake of using hedge apples to try to get rid of spiders, and instead I got a house full of gnats. :-( I put small bowls of vinegar out, with enough veg oil on top to thinly cover it. I was amazed at how many of those pesky gnats I caught in them. Literally hundreds of them.
We are overrun by gnats every day. Help!
Look where they are coming from. Try to find the nest. It is probably outside. Spray it with insecticide and you will get rid of the gnats.
How do gnats get into an oven?
A female pregnant gnat can be trapped in the oven and lay her eggs there. Then, if you do not use the oven for a day or two, the new baby gnats will be released from the oven when you next open it.
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I need an inexpensive way to get rid of gnats. I have a client with a bad gnat problem and they are on a limited income. Thanks in advance.
I have a horrible problem with gnats in my house! We left food out one day (out of laziness) and ended up with a terrible outcome
I have tiny gnats that are flying all over my house. I have cleaned and scrubbed and tried to find anything that might be the source of them.
