Problem with Gnats
Request:
I have a problem every spring and summer with gnats in my kitchen. Any ideas? - Susan J.
Answers:
RE: Problem with Gnats
I too deal with gnats and here is how I cut down on them. First, put away ALL food, including fruit in the fruit bowl. Put food scraps in bags before putting in trash can, and empty trash frequently. Make a gnat trap-a small bowl of vinegar with a few drops of dishwashing liquid works well-change frequently. You can also put a piece of banana in a jar, stretch plastic wrap over the mouth and secure with a rubber band, then poke holes in plastic wrap-they can get in but they can't get out. This get gross after a while. At night, pour some bleach down EACH drain in your house, and plug-that is where they breed. Good luck. :-)
Post by Connie(/font)
RE: Problem with Gnats
The best solution I have found for gnats in the kitchen is as follows: take a large glass or jar, put a little cider vinegar in the bottom and put saran wrap over the top, secure with rubber band. Make a very small hole in the top just big enough for a gnat to get through. They will come in to get the vinegar, but cannot find their way out. This works very well for me.
Post by Wanda(/font)
RE: Problem with Gnats
This is for the lady with gnats in her kitchen. Could they possibly be fruit flies?
Post by Karin(/font)
RE: Problem with Gnats
Place a piece of banana peel into an old ketchup bottle (long necked small mouthed bottle) lay the bottle on it's side at night. In the morning the flies should be in the jar enjoying the banana peel. Without moving the jar place the cap on, locking the bugs inside. You can toss out the bottle trap or just wash it out outside and reuse again if needed.
Mrs. Kathy Cohen Northfield, VT
Post by(/font) (userlink:ver1008159)kcohenvt(/userlink)
RE: Problem with Gnats
I would like to thank Wanda, Karin, and Connie for your help with my gnat problem. I am a single guy who knows nothing about plants but to water them and my aunt brought me plants with gnats on them and they had infested my entire home. I searched all over the internet before I found your remedies and I they all worked!
Thanks ladies
Post by Steve Herron(/font)
RE: Problem with Gnats
The Cider Vinegar with saran wrap and rubber band with small hole does not work for all gnats. I have little black gnats, not fruit flies or fruit gnats. Any other ideas I can use. Black Gnats just fly around cup, won't even land on lid.
Please Help,
Going "Gnaty"
Post by Shawn(/font)
Getting Rid of Gnats
Place a few chunks of a ripe banana in a large jar that has a lid that will fit it. Lay it on its side and leave it be. I usually lay it on my sink overnight and in the morning very gently put the lid on, turn on the Hot Water, carefully remove the lid part way and let the water go in. It kills the gnats.
The water must be very hot to work as the cold water only stuns them. It works every time. It might take several times but shortly your gnat problem will be under control. Warning: You must not leave the banana and jar unrinsed as the Gnats will lay eggs! Don't ask me how I know!
By Candi from Wheeling, WV
Answers:
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
To the person with who says they have little black gnats that are not attracted to the fruit remedies... I think those flies are called Sewer Flies. Cleaning all of the drains in the house with some enzyme eating chemicals is what I have seen work. Not an expert on this but at least you have the name of the black type of flies which is Sewer Flies. You can google that name on the internet and even see a picture to verify you have the right species and get suggestions for their removal. (03/30/2006)
By luv2spa.
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
A bowl of vinegar with a spoon of dishwashing soap,than gnats are attracted by the vinegar bet the touch of dish soap breaks the surface tension of the water so the gnat try to feed but end up drowning, it takes several days but it works! (03/30/2006)
By MICHELLE JADAA
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
Apple cider vinegar with a paper funnel in a glass or jar wins by a LONG SHOT! They WANT that vinegar! The kids are having a blast checking the jars in different rooms! (My youngest son apparently hid banana peels in many rooms of the house and bulked up the gnat population!) (04/02/2006)
By JOmm
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
i finally, after trying every remedy used rubbing alcohol from the store. I put a spray nozzle from windex on it of course cleaned it and they died on contact. I have a couple left tonight but need to head to bed. I must've had millions. This worked for me and I tried many, many, posts on the internet including some here. Good luck!!! (05/28/2006)
By vanessa
Getting Rid of Gnats
I am being inundated with gnats, house flies, and other pests, I don't know what they all are. I have tried apple cider vinegar, with soap and sugar, fly traps, wine bottles. Can someone tell me how I can get rid of them. I have killed a bunch but they keep coming. Thanks for your help.
Billie from Sharpsburg, GA
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
I went through this same problem recently - couple of tips that will help.
1. When you're not using your kitchen/bathroom sinks, put stoppers in the drains. This cuts off their water supply and their access - many of the gnats we had were coming in through the pipes.
2. Find a sweet wine - Riesling worked best for me - put some in a wine glass and just leave it sitting where ever you are having trouble. It takes some time, but eventually the sweetness draws them and ultimately they drowned. I changed my wine every couple of days - this helped a lot.
3. If you have pets - pick up and clean their bowls immediately after they eat. This is another bug food supply that I didn't consider until someone told me about it.
4. Then there's the obvious remedies - make sure your trash cans are all closed & sealed. Immediately put food away that is not being used and keep dry goods in Ziploc bags to limit access.
These are not foolproof and no single item will fix the problem. Just some helpful hints that might start to lower the number of invaders you're seeing.
Hope this helps! (07/19/2006)
By Donna
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats ... ZAP 'em
Hi, place a banana peel or some sweet skins in your Microwave. Leave the door open. After about 30 minutes check to see if the gnats found it. Then SHUT the door and Zap them. Hey, don't laugh, it really works!! The advice about washing the bananas when you bring them home is very good. It stops the gnats from hatching. (07/19/2006)
By Dorie
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
I heard if u use peppermint oil along the bottom of your walls or where u see them coming in from will stop them. Hope this helps. (07/21/2006)
By Elizabeth
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
If one can tolerate the odors of garlic in the kitchen, one should be able to tolerate the spray of garlic water(boil whole garlic pods in 1 cup of water 15 min.), cool and add 1/4 tablespoon Lemon Joy or Lemon OIL. This seems to work for a number of pests, and I'll bet it will be the same for the gnats!
They'll hide as far from it as possible and die of starvation! (07/22/2006)
By lyndagayle62
getting rid of gnats only in my bathroom
I have a problem with gnats but they are only in my bathroom and Im not understanding why. The bathroom is always kept clean and I don't know where they are coming from. They are more around in the mornings and every time I go in there there are dead on the walls, floors etc... please help (08/11/2006)
By Sisa
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
I tried everything everyone has suggested. But in the end the best thing for my kitchen was a pan with tomato sauce and a vacuum with a hose. Within 5 minutes the gnats went to the pan and I was standing by to suck them up. In ten minutes I have gotten somewhere around 25.~K. Weaver (08/16/2006)
By Kristen
Getting Rid of Gnats
How do you get rid of gnats?
Sher from Columbus, OH
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
A few years ago, I watched a gardening program with a guest who had written a book (can't remember his name) The host of the show asked him the best way to get rid of gnats in houseplants. The author told him #1 Do not over water! and #2 To put peeled and bruised Garlic Cloves in the soil.
I put 4-5 garlic cloves in one plant and change the cloves about once a month. It took me about 1 1/2 to 2 wks to totally get rid of the problem. Every now and than one will creep in but soon disappears!
(09/26/2006)
By SweetCali40
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
Hey... just to warn everybody... if you do the banana in the microwave trick... be careful because we learned that bananas are indeed flammable. The gnats definitely came into the microwave... but my Dad nuked them for 4 mintues and a few still flew out. We think they are now radiated super gnats.
So, we are doing the vinegar and dishwashing liquid thing too and that definitely is working.
Oh... and don't leave a banana peel in the trash can by your armchair... that causes gnat problem for sure (DAD!) (10/08/2006)
By Kelli Smith
Getting Rid of Gnats
How can I get rid of indoor gnats with a home remedy?
Suzy from Pigeon Forge, TN
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
Your gnats are coming from the soil in your house plants. Make a mixture of water and dish soap to water your plants, will kill them dead. The ones that are alive flying around your house will disappear in time. You've killed their breeding grounds. (10/23/2006)
By BJ-Houghton Lake, MI
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
Fill a bowl half full of apple cider vinegar, a little honey, three drops dish washing soap and set on table and when gnats appear, and they will. Fill your spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and set on fine mist, when gnats appear spray, kills almost instantly. Then clean up and be ready for them again tomorrow, this works I just killed five and am ready for more when they appear. (11/06/2006)
By Jimmy J
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
Be sure you are dealing with gnats. We thought we had a gnat or fruit fly problem and soon discovered we had drain flies. Looked it up on the internet and found that often used drains most commonly get them. Seemed to me like a less used drain would? (11/11/2006)
By Barbie
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
The great thing about sprinkling cinnamon on top of the soil is it allows you to see the little buggers running around and isolate which pots have the problem. I know I bought some cheap potting soil last spring and filled up one of my pots, but did not have a major problem with the tiny black flies till this season. Dunno. In any event, I seem to have isolated and gotten rid of the problem. Thank God for the Internet!!!! (06/06/2007)
By T
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
Has anyone tried beer? I heard if you put out a glass of beer they drown in it.
I am having a problem with them around my ferret cage and cat's litter box. (07/24/2007)
By jenny
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
I have a rubber plant that is infested with flying insects that look like gnats. I've tried everything that was suggested on the internet. However, it hasn't worked. Killing the ones flying around, the solutions are fantastic and works. But, how do you get rid of the the ones that are unhatched? If you are killing the ones that are flying around, what about the ones that are unhatched? To me it's a revolving cycle, therefore the problem will continue to exist unless the plant is thrown in the garbage. What do you think? Please help! I love my plant and don't want to get rid of it.
(b)Editor's Note:(/b) Take the top 1/2 inch of the soil off the plant with a spoon then cover the top of the soil with sand or new soil depth. If you see any gooey white stuff on the leaves, it is spider mites. Take a q-tip and wipe off the leaves with rubbing alcohol. (07/29/2007)
By Mammie
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
What I found really useful was using the vacuum nozzle for gathering up gnats. Just in case that doesn't work, I would like to mention I use a Rainbow vacuum, so the gnats drown in the water container.=o](b)(/b)(i)(/i)(u)(/u) (08/12/2007)
By Amber
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
For Drain/Fruit Flies,TRY this. I read on another website and people swear by it; pour ammonia down your drains at night and let it sit overnight before using your drain and get rid of all the fruit sitting out. GOOD LUCK!! (08/13/2007)
By Eric
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
Fight Fire with Fire I say! Or in this case, bugs with bugs. Gnats are annoying, but if you have an infestation of them in a small area, like a house plant for example, you can easily do this. Take the thing, whatever it is, and set it outside, then go to home depot and buy a box of ladybugs, bring them home and dump them on the infested object. They'll eat all the evil little gnats and then fly away, and you can have your beloved house plant back! Clean up the ones left inside with the vacuum, and then you'll have peace at last. (08/29/2007)
By
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
First I spent some time spraying rubbing alcohol all over the rooms with the problem to bring the population down. Then I set a little pudding dish of apple cider vinegar with dish soap in each room there is a problem. That should keep it cleaned up. The little buggers are black looking and very small i think it's gnats. I'll keep you posted if I remember. Thanks everyone. (09/08/2007)
By Rachel
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
Another trick that I have tried is getting sticky fly strips and dipping them in apple cider vinegar before hanging them up. This attracts them, then they land and can't get off just like flies do. I still suggest the other ideas here, but try this along with them. You will catch a bunch that way! (09/25/2007)
By Angel
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
Dust buster or vacuum with a hose and take outside right away. Also use rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. (09/29/2007)
By mike
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
My bro said gnats come from food debris left over in the garbage disposal (10/02/2007)
By deb
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
The advice about using apple cider vinegar and dish soap was RIGHT ON! I've had these pesky critters flying around in my kitchen, bathroom, and even 1 or 2 drifting into the bedroom and couldn't figure out where they were coming from. I did a little research based on these comments and they are (were!) drain flies. The minute I put out a little dish of the apple cider vinegar and dish soap they went nuts, congregating around the dish and then taking the final plunge. This was yesterday, and I only have 1 or 2 die hard flies still around. Thanks to everyone for the advice, this has been a great help!
(10/16/2007)
By G
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
Mine were fungus gnats, they originated in the soil of over watered houseplants. repotted them and then made sure I don't over water, voila! (10/21/2007)
By Flo
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
I read a lot of the suggestion and came up with my own. I took a 1/2 cup of white vinegar (because I didn't have cider vinegar) 1/2 cup of sugar and about 1/4 cup of apple sauce and mixed it together. I also put a piece of banana in the mixture to make sure they smelled it all. I didn't have a bottle or anything like that so I took a cool whip container and placed it all in there. Covered it with aluminum foil and poked some small holes in it. Those buggers started flying around it as soon as I put it out. By night fall there was about 20 floating in the mixture. As for the sinks, I poured rubbing alcohol down them at night> I also poured it around the base of the faucet and they were gone.
good luck (10/27/2007)
By nasty gnat
RE: Getting Rid of Gnats
I thought I was so cleaver when I lured the winged fellows into my microwave, with red wine, and slammed the door shut. But, alas, I found as others have, that those miserable monsters WILL NOT DIE in there!! I'm hoping there's a scientist out there who will tell us WHY? My inquiring mind went to other unwanted creatures. We live in the woods. A spider was an easy catch. He died in 20 seconds. What do gnats have going on that give them "super power"? Maybe the military needs to study them!!! :0) (10/28/2007)
By Rosie
Getting Rid of Gnats
Getting Rid of Gnats
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.
Getting Rid of Gnats
How do you get rid of gnats?
Getting Rid of Gnats
What would be a home remedy to get rid of gnats?
Getting Rid of Gnats
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
Getting Rid of Gnats
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.
By Poor But Proud
01/19/2011
By kerly87
04/05/2012
Do you have a tip, recipe or craft to share?
Getting Rid of Gnats