How To Get Rid Of Gnats Naturally

Published 9 September 2017

Despite being extremely small in size, gnats can become a huge nuisance if they are left to dwell in households and gardens. Gnats and fruit flies become even bigger problems once they start breeding. Gnats can cause great harm to your family at large as they feed on plants and blood. They also carry parasites and spread diseases in human and livestock. There are several important items you would need to consider when dealing with these pests, both indoors and outdoors. First, it is important to understand the different types of gnats that exist and the methods that you could apply to permanently get rid of the gnats in your home. Last but not least, you know preventive measures to take to ensure they do not appear in your home again in the nearest future.

Gnats look the same because of their sizes but they are tiny and usually black in colour. However, the most common type of gnat that most people will have to deal with is the house plant gnat. If the quality of soil is poor, then there is a greater likelihood for the house plant gnat to appear at home. Gnats usually live for around seven to eight days. Another common type of gnat is the drain fly and they can be so irritating. You will notice this type of gnat coming from your bathroom and kitchen sink. Keep in mind that these gnats reproduce really quickly so it should be in your best interest to get rid of them as quick as possible.

There are easy and ready homemade remedies that will get rid of these gnats in a few minutes. This DIY method is simple to carry out, it is eco and pocket-friendly too. Although, these annoying small insects can be prevented through the use of pesticides, the presence of toxic chemical compounds may be harmful to you as well as your other family members. Below are a few home remedies that you can use to get rid of gnats in your homes and outside.

Honey trap

The smell of honey attracts any type of gnats either indoors or outdoors. Bright colours and sugary smell attract insects towards them. A homemade honey gnat trap helps prevent frequent occurrence of these creepy creatures. All you need to do is cut a few pieces of yellow plastic and apply pure honey on it to make the fungus gnats stick to it. Place the plastics on or near the corners where they frequently stay to catch these annoying flies. If you do not have pure natural honey at home, you can also use petroleum jelly for giving that sticky effect, but honey is more effective due to its sweetness.

Ammonia and vegetable oil

Vegetable oil or any other oil is a wonderful source of attracting insects. While on the other hand, ammonia is known to kill germs and living organism beyond its smell. However, as an alternative to the foul-smell of ammonia, you can make use of a couple of spoons of baking soda. This mixture will eliminate the gnat with its larvae and eggs living inside your kitchen or bathroom drainage. Pour a small quantity of cooking oil in the sink to assemble the bugs at one place. When they collect in the sink, pour a small dose of ammonia on them. Make sure you don't use the sink after a few hours, making sure that the sink is properly cleaned as ammonia is also toxic to humans.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is known for controlling larvae and damping off. The powdered form of cinnamon is a natural fungicide as it helps destroy the fungus on which larvae feeds. Thus, it controls the growth of fungus gnats. The cinnamon method is very simple and stress free as all you need to do is sprinkle the cinnamon powder on the plantation area and watch out for its amazing results. Repeat this remedy weekly to maintain a healthy and safe home from gnats.

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Apple cider vinegar

The lovely aroma of apple cider vinegar easily attracts gnats and fruit flies towards it. This remedy is equally simple to carry out in your home. Gnats get fascinated to vinegar and die in the liquid. All you need to do is simply pour a little quantity of apple cider vinegar into a bowl and place where gnats instigate. The smell of acv (apple cider vinegar) will attract flies and in the process, they will drown themselves in the vinegar.

Maintain simple hygiene

Just like every other insect, gnats feed primarily on food scraps that you leave out in the open. To avoid these pesky tiny insects becoming a huge problem in your home, you must learn to maintain a clean and healthy environment. Never leave your food uncovered and always make sure to take out the trashcan as gnats like warm places. Keep fresh fruits in the refrigerator and take rotten ones out as quick as possible. The best solution to preventing gnats is not to "feed" them in the first place. Repair holes and cracks if there are any at home, this will keep them from flying into your home in search of habitat. Also do not leave wet clothes laying anywhere in the house.

Source: www.wikihow.com

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