Gnats In My Home!

RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By Betsey (Guest Post) (09/14/2008) I just set up a bowl with vinegar and hand soap covered with plastic wraps and tiny holes in it. I set it up on the table with a lamp next to it in hopes they come for the light and stay for the trap. At this point I want them done more then anything else. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By katherinescott1948@hotmail.com (Guest Post) (09/06/2008) I Have used a number of items, vinegar/apple cider in coke lid with dash of dawn dishwashing liq. This worked for a while then you must change them. I put baking soda and wash trash can with ammonia good. I have had to take the trash can out of home. That means making a trip out side every time. So I use plastic bags from stores and wrap my trash up tightly. What did the people in the early day do? SEPT 4TH 2008 By Ms. Kitty Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By MO (Guest Post) (08/12/2008) Vinegar in shallow bowls was working slowly in our home, but skin so soft was a much quicker solution. I sprayed it on the window seals, sink and counter area. The gnats got weighed down by it and I was able to wipe up many of them right away. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By Anne (Guest Post) (08/07/2008) You might want to purchase "Knock Out Gnats". It is supposed to work really well. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By Madison (Guest Post) (08/07/2008) We always take a shallow bowl, fill it with apple cider and a few slices of banana with a little dishwashing liquid. We cover it up with saran wrap and poke holes or make a slit with a scissor.. they always go in there so I highly recommend this method. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By The Suburban Naturalist (Guest Post) (08/01/2008) Toxic contact sprays ("knock down" pesticides) and home remedies only treat a symptom by killing a few random adult gnats. They're pretty useless for curing the "disease" - i.e., poor cleanliness or dampness issues. Drain flies resemble miniature moths (fuzzy-furry looking bodies or antennae), so much so, they're also known as moth flies. The larvae live IN the scum & hairballs that collect on the insides of sink/bath drain pipes - from the U-trap up into the overflow space - that slime protects them from most anything poured/sprayed inside. Toxic drain cleaners, bleach or pesticides won't do it. Daily use simply flushes away most maturing nymphs, but populations get a foothold (so to speak) if a sink/tub drain or toilet is left unused for prolonged periods. An enzymatic product that dissolves the gunk, or STEAM delivered via a nozzle attachment inserted into the drain can eradicate existing larvae. Regular cleaning/steaming eliminates the problem at the source. Fungus gnats thrive in constantly damp potting soil. Allow soil to completely dry out to 1" depth. Try bottom watering. (caution- most plants hate wet feet, so pour out remaining water after an hour or so to avoid root rot) Or, try pouring water into disposable funnels made from cutting the neck and about an inch of the wider body from small plastic bottles. Force neck 1" into the soil surface, fill and it'll drain slowly. Gnats have a short life cycle, so while ripening fruit may attract them, they BREED in fruit and meat waste in kitchen garbage pails. That's more reason for hubby or kids to empty trash DAILY and scour the interiors regularly. Gnats in lower offices or basements that show up mostly in summer (warm periods) are probably breeding in damp corners or in the cracks between floors and baseboards, feeding on any mold/mildew that's present. They're often attracted to the light of a computer or tv. Any cure requires good quality dehumidifiers and a serious floor cleaning, incl. mildew-fighter sprayings along baseboard cracks to discourage hidden growth. Ventilate while spraying. Tiny fruit flies are larger than gnats, and along with house flies that sneak in through doors/windows, breed in kitchen garbage cans that aren't cleaned regularly. Just 1 female fly can create a major outbreak if meat bones or fruit peels or unrinsed cans are left behind in a warm house when you go on a 2-week vacation! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnat Traps: Evidence based efficacy Post By Colt (Guest Post) (07/28/2008) I am stuggling with gnats in my kitchen along with the rest of you reading this site. I reviewed contributors suggestions and then put them to the test. I set up a simple experiment more by accident than by design (see image). Gnats appear to prefer white wine as evidenced by the 12 insects that plunged to their death over a 30 minute time period. The red vino only lured one hapless victim and the funnel bottle with white wine technique captured nil in the same time period. Please note that equal volumes were used in each trap. Hence I am limiting my gnat snares to Pinot grigio. Report Spam or Abuse Caught gnats without trying to! Post By Alexis (Guest Post) (07/28/2008) My boyfriend and I had a huge gnat problem when we came home from vacation. The second day back we went to Panera Bread and he got a green tea with lemonade. There was a lemon inside the to-go cup, and when he finished, just left the cup on the table. The next morning there were probably about 10 gnats that went in and died since they couldn't get out! We left it and now there's 30+ gnats! I was going to try the vinegar remedy, but the lemon attracted them in, and the straw opening was too small for them to fly back out. Good luck to all that have the same problem. Now I just have to get rid of all the flies! HA Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By Lisa Reed (Guest Post) (07/21/2008) Ok, take an empty CLEAR bottle, place a piece of a banana peel in the bottom. Make a small funnel out of a piece of paper with a very small gnat sized hole in the bottom. Tape around the funnel so they can't escape. They are too stupid to go back out of the hole. This will catch them! I had a gnat problem until I put one of these in all of the problem areas. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By S (Guest Post) (07/20/2008) Using Dawn liquid dish soap with vinegar really does work, but I used lots of vinegar and soap. I filled up a small glass jar with vinegar and then squirted in quite a bit of dish soap. It felt like I was being wasteful, but it worked. My jar is sitting beside me right now and I have caught 15+ gnats in the last 5-6 hours. I noticed when I sit at my computer that the gnats like to drive me crazy so that is where I put my jar. It worked. This really does work, just more that the original amounts suggested. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By gnat killer (Guest Post) (07/09/2008) I suggest fly ribbon, if you can find it, because it can hold up to 145 gnats at a time and works great. However, it may be hard to find and is not a easy cure. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By Tonya (Guest Post) (06/29/2008) I had gnats last year and I received the best sure fire cure. Lemon scented spray. Any lemon scented spray you have in your home. I use lemon scented ammonia and spray it in the kitchen and around the windows a few nights a week and I have not had any issues since. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By Kristy, TN (Guest Post) (06/19/2008) How can I get rid of these things, I have got a bowl of vinegar & dishwashing soap next to me, but nothing, they are all over it but not going in, just walking on the outside, have saran wrap over w/ 1 corner open. Please help me, these things are driving me insane. I have even tried stale beer, to no avail. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By CHRISTINA (Guest Post) (05/27/2008) Well after reading all of your stories about gnats, I have no success. I removed trash cans out of my home.Placed pest strips, clorox-baking soda-dish washing liquid-etc down the drains, running water, drain stoppers day & night. It only works for temp, i have no plants or fruits sitting out, my house is zest fully clean along with Mr. Clean & bleach. I really want these gnats gone, I hate to eat & sit in my own house. I have tried everything & I am trying to avoid the foggers for flying pest but I went on and purchased plastic cover wrap for furniture so I can fogg this place out. I want to live, breathe and eat in the comfort of my house. It's like I pay rent for gnats Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By pestfreegogreen (Guest Post) (05/19/2008) Your biggest thing is to figure out where they are nesting at, More likely if they are in your home they are living a complete life cycle in your home (egg, larvae, pupa and adult. Check all your moisture areas. Crawl spaces, drains and house plants. More and likely they are mildew eating Gnats. If they are in your house plants stop watering and allow the soil to dry out, this will kill they complete life cycle, egg, larvea, pupa and adult. If they are in the crawl space use a dehumidifier to remove moisture, if in drain buy some product or lures to kill the adults so they cannot reproduce. Hope this works. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post by BonsterBonnie (8) | (05/13/2008) Profile | Contact I've often heard about Skin So Soft from Avon doing the job on many insects so I put a search on. Here's the link and what they say about their product (I would probably spray this directly on my screens if it doesn't smell obnoxious). http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.a ... 200811&dir_delivery=1&rep_delivery=1 Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post by Mythi (88) | (05/13/2008) Profile | Contact You can try this website which carries organic pest killers http://www.cleanairgardening.com/organicbuyers.html Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By (Guest Post) (05/13/2008) I just thought that if you cannot control them and they do come through the screen, I would try spraying Hair Spray over the screen. I would think they would get stuck and not be able to get through! Good luck, what a horrid problem. Monique Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post by ashleybunkin (33) | (05/10/2008) Profile | Contact They also can be found in houseplant soil. They are caused by a fungus. You will have to change the soil to get rid of the gnats. Look at the soil to see if they are crawling in the soil. If they are this is the solution. Sometimes you can get rid of them by letting the plant soil dry out but I do not like this method because it puts the plant under to much stress. Another method is to put a layer of sand on top of the soil. But again I still think changing the soil is the best answer. Hope this helps. ~Janette~ Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post By TracyInNH (Guest Post) (05/10/2008) We have two Venus Fly traps in the kitchen. They seem to work great - they are definately thriving! We have them on the counter where I put the fresh fruit and veggies. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post by stampingran (3) | (05/10/2008) Blog! | Contact I found one that really works, and it's cheap!! Put some apple cider vinegar in a small jar. Make a cone out of paper and put the small end in the jar. Don'd let it touch the vinegar. The gnats will go in, but they won't be able to get out. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Gnats In My Home! Post by theseamstress (375) | (05/10/2008) Contact Put water in a shallow container, and pour in white vinegar & dish soap detergent. They smell the vinegar and go to the water, the dish soap pulls them in. They drown, no more gnats! It works! but you have to make sure there is no food out for them to go too instead; no dirty dishes with food etc. This also works outside on the ground for fleas! Use tiny shallow ones for places like window seals etc like lids to mayonnaise jars or those aluminum pie pans etc anything shallow. The more vinegar you put in, the more they go to it. The more dish detergent you put the more it pulls them in. I usually use a lid and 1 teaspoon for that size, just barely putting enough water in it not to run over. When you pour it out later pour it outside not down your drain, you don't want dead gnats in there stinking. But it works try it. Lay them around where you are gardening or having a grill out they will go to it & not get out! Report Spam or Abuse Request: Gnats In My Home! Post by Sally_Admin (139) | (05/10/2008) Profile | Contact Do gnats come out of the sink drains, if not, where do they come from? Ed from Muldrow, OK Answers: RE: Gnats In My Home! They come from the fruit from the store, and can come in through your screens. (05/19/2007) By Andi6 RE: Gnats In My Home! As has been mentioned, gnats come from fruit (bananas and tomatoes especially), but can also come into the house through doors and screens. I have never heard of them coming up through drains. The main thing is not to leave fruits/veggies out that have started to soften. I've noticed several people here talking about eliminating the food. I can't personally do that because I don't refrigerate tomatoes or other fruits. I leave them out at room temperature (better flavor, and they stay fresh longer). That said, gnats are not a problem for us year round, only in the dead heat of summer. When we've become infested we put a small amount (roughly 1/4 cup) of wine into a glass. The gnats enter the wine glass, go into the wine and drown. Red or white, makes no difference. I personally will not use pest strips in my home, and I've never had any luck with the vinegar method, but I know others who swear by it. *I see it's already been mentioned, but there is a variety of gnat that can be traced to the wet soil of houseplants. (05/20/2007) By Anonymous RE: Gnats In My Home! A few months back I had the same problem it went on for a few weeks I tried everything mentioned above. One day my hubby asked about my liquid hand soap It was an Organic FRUIT blend! I pitched the soap and 24 hrs later the gnats were gone! (05/21/2007) By dottyj. RE: Gnats In My Home! Have you tried a Venus fly trap? (05/21/2007) By Red Gnats also caused from damp houseplants Just FYI, the gnat problem is also aggravated by damp soil in houseplants. (05/21/2007) By cjirby RE: Gnats In My Home! We get gnats in the summer because of our garden and what I've found to work is this light we bought at WalMart for under $20. It's not a zapper kind, the gnats are attracted to the light but when they get to close they get stunned and fall into this cup, and die. I put mine on every night and clean it out every morning and I've always caught a lot. It really helped for us. The vinegar and wine does work, but I have kids and cats that get into cups or bowls left on the counter so the light works the best for us. (05/22/2007) By bambi2003. RE: Gnats In My Home! Hi, North Texas has gotten a lot of rain this spring. I've never had a gnat or fly problem before. I read several posts, and what has worked for me is putting pest strips outside house entrances. sticky tapes on inside windows, and vinegar with a few drops of dish washing detergent is little bowls all over the house. I experimented with closing off the bathroom for two nights and stopping up the sinks to see if they were coming out of the drains. None did. That doesn't mean they don't. But when I checked the outside strips they were covered with gnats and a few flies. I have concluded that many get in from opening doors, accidentally letting them get into produce plastic bags from the grocery, and living near a wet area. Also, this is the first year I created a garden outside my front door and put down cedar mulch. So, after aggressive measures aforementioned, the problem is about 95% better. (06/21/2007) By Myra RE: Gnats In My Home! I tried alcohol in a spray bottle and it works the best about killing on contact however Im looking for something permanent.. (06/21/2007) By Kitten RE: Gnats In My Home! Are we talking about gnats or fruit flies? I know fruit flies are very small flies that have wings which you can see and they congregate on fruit. In FL we call gnats the tiny black specks that bite and are usually outdoors. Which one are we talking about? (08/17/2007) By Stngray RE: Gnats In My Home! Have these gnats in my bathtub and some in the toilet water. Tried baking soda and white vinegar to no avail. Will try apple cider vinegar w/soap. Help - any other suggestions? (08/29/2007) By Martha RE: Gnats In My Home! Help. I have gnats and I can't get rid of them. They are awful in my kitchen around my sink. I have tried bleach down the sink, but it doesn't seem to work. I don't have standing water or dishes in my sink either! HELP, they are nasty! P.S. Never had them before now either! (09/10/2007) By Renee' RE: Gnats In My Home! Help. I have bought hot spot gnat killer and also I have put bleach down all my drains. I have also spent money on some pest control gnat/ fruit fly traps which seem to be apple cider vinegar thats all in a little container and I put that out and now it seems I have more gnats then I started with PLEASE someone give me some advice I hate them and Im sick of them! Renee Thomas, Ohio (09/17/2007) By Renee RE: Gnats In My Home! Thank you so much for the apple cider vinegar and dawn soap suggestion. I tried it today and it works! (10/15/2007) By Kate RE: Gnats In My Home! I tried the vinegar and dawn and it worked but the smell was so strong, I couldn't stand it. I put a few ounces of Strawberry Margarita into a glass and covered it with a baggie. Then I poked a hole with my finger in the baggie and pushed it down almost into the drink but not quite all the way. It doesn't smell and it really catches them. I also tried the bleach, the vinegar and baking soda etc. None of them worked. I finally used straight ammonia and boiling water. That worked great. They are gone. Also, it helps to buy drain plugs for all of your drains. Keep them plugged in while not in use. It will help to keep the gnats out that were not in the drain when you put the ammonia in. (11/16/2007) By Leslieodonnell RE: Gnats In My Home! Help! I live in Mississippi and I have problems with gnats in my bathroom and I see them coming in my room and my living room but majority of them in my bathroom. I don't see any in my kids room or kitchen. (12/11/2007) By Freda RE: Gnats In My Home! I put ice cubes in garbage disposal several time. I put hot soapy water in drain. I used a vinegar trap. I have put ammonia, bleach, vinegar, you name it down the sink. That's where they come from. Why can't I eliminate where they are laying eggs? I got a product called Darin Gel that eliminates organic matter from drains, and it seemed to work. Used it 2 night yet still had some gnats, just fewer. Didn't do it last night and there were more of them.. I just cleaned my waste basket which does not seem to be attracting them, but am leaving no stone unturned. What can I do that I haven't tried? Insecticide won't kill them. (12/22/2007) By Kim RE: Gnats In My Home! I do not know exactly where the gnats came from. They were just here one day! I've tried flying insect sprays, etc. None of that worked. Tried waiting until it got extremely cold and I didn't turn my heat on hoping to freeze them out! They are still here! ugh! help, please! (02/20/2008) By Teri Report Spam or Abuse Request: Gnats In My Home! Post by lewis_admin (1321) | (05/19/2007) Profile | Blog! | Contact I have gnats lots of gnats in my kitchen it seems like they are coming out of my kitchen sink drain. I clean my kitchen every day. I don't leave dishes with food or standing water in my sink. I have tried ammonia and vegetable oil. It seemed to work for a minute but as soon as I stopped they came back. We only have one plant in the house but the gnats where in the house before the plant. I clean the litter boxes and animal cages twice a day. What am I doing wrong. I have even tried bleach,down all my drains.. If anyone has any advice please let me know. Thank you, Andrea from East Windsor, NJ Answers: RE: Gnats In My Home! To get rid of gnats, put 1/4 inch applecider vinegar in a quart jar, add a squirt of dawn dish soap. The cider attracts the gnats and the soap thickens the top and they cant fly back out. It works. Leave it in the corner of the counter and forget it, untill it gets ugly. It works. (10/27/2006) By Ariela RE: Gnats In My Home! I had the same problem, what worked very well for me was to put a small container (I used a pretty white one the size of a custard cup) filled with 1/4 inch of apple cider vinegar and a couple drops of Dawn dish detergent in it, set it on my window sill over the sink, yes, they like vinegar and go for it but when they go to drink it they get the soap and fall in and die. (10/28/2006) RE: Gnats In My Home! You need to spend the $6 or so for Gulf or Hot Shot Pest Strips. Homemade mixes take to long to work and there are always two more gnats to breed. Believe me within 24 hours the gnats are gone. Product works for 4 months. Sincerely, Judith at judyajudy AT yahoo.com (10/28/2006) By Judith Walker Report Spam or Abuse Request: Gnats In My Home! How do I get them to leave? Post by lewis_admin (1321) | (10/26/2006) Profile | Blog! | Contact I need these gnats gone! They are driving me crazy and they are nasty! We left for a few days and when we came back they were everywhere and they only thing i can think of where they came from is we left a tomato sitting out while we were gone and it split open. I have gotten rid of all the fresh fruits and vegetables in the house and I have cleaned everything! But they are still here! Please any idea would be great! How do I get rid of them? Erricka Answers: RE: Gnats In My Home! How do I get them to leave? You have taken the first steps in getting rid of the gnats - getting rid of all food. Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink, either. Take a small bowl and pour some vinegar into it, then squirt some dishwashing liquid in it. Leave it on the counter and the gnats will come. You may have to change this out several times a day-depending on how many gnats you "collect". You may have to keep this up until a freeze comes along. I live in W. TX and right now the watermelons are being harvested and that always brings them on-the gnats. Also, be sure to keep the trash emptied. Good luck. (09/10/2004) By Connie RE: Gnats In My Home! How do I get them to leave? You may need to clean down the drain on the kitchen sink, I think sometimes they live off the food down there. I would use baking soda and vinegar, after it bubbles for a while, rinse it down and then clean the garbage disposal if you have one by putting down some ice and salt and run the disposal. (09/10/2004) By tcaruso RE: Gnats In My Home! How do I get them to leave? I work for a vending company and we have gnat problems in our syrup pop machines in the summer, I find by spraying the overflow bucket with bleach keeps them away, evidently they don't like the fumes! (09/18/2004) By marroh RE: Gnats In My Home! How do I get them to leave? Vinegar is made from apples and will not kill gnats it just attracts them. The bleach OR ammonia does work. (10/16/2005) By Melissa Report Spam or Abuse