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How to get rid of gnats: 12 methods to dispel ghastly gnats

what causes gnats in the house

In all reality, the main sign of a gnat infestation is several gnats flying through the air when you turn on the sink, move a house plant or disturb an old piece of fruit. These bugs don’t damage wood or leave trails of scat around, so take the first sight of these winged pests as a sign that there is an infestation. You may have noticed that there are a lot of gnats around your indoor plants. This is often because plant soil is moist, which can be a breeding ground for gnats.

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what causes gnats in the house

A buildup of moisture in the bathroom or kitchen can create a breeding ground for drain gnats. Inspect the pipes under the kitchen sink for leaks, and run the vent fan in your bathroom to prevent or minimize the buildup of moisture, and you’re less likely to get gnats. If you're dealing with a persistent gnat infestation, you can hire a professional pest control company to assist you. The best pest control companies are knowledgeable about treating both adult gnat and gnat larvae. In addition, they can help you with a customized treatment plan.

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How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs in Your House

Sudden increases in humidity or rainfall can contribute to a surge in the gnat population, according to San Tan Pest and Weed Control.in San Tan Valley. These tiny flying insects are a nuisance, hovering around faces and swarming in large numbers. When someone has a bug bite, they must avoid scratching the bite to prevent opening the skin which can cause a secondary infection.

Dilute bleach for drain gnats

Being proactive about repairing leaky windows and roofs can prevent gnats from entering your home in the first place. Unfortunately, gnats are a common pest for many homeowners and renters alike, and there are more types of gnats out there than you realize. A proper management system can help get rid of these pests and avoid their presence in the future. If you're having a difficult time managing these pests on your own, you can reach out to a pest control professional for more tips and tricks. The main issue you will have with fungus gnats is with your plants.

Biting midges are tiny flies that can deliver painful bites. They are most active during dawn and dusk and are often found near bodies of water, such as ponds, lakes or marshy areas. Their bites can be irritating and cause itching, redness and minor swelling.

Eliminating troublesome gnat infestations starts with identifying gnats vs. fruit flies. Although gnats are difficult to control, a combination of store-bought treatments, DIY solutions and preventative actions can work in both your home and your garden. Whichever methods you choose, you can find the supplies you need to get rid of gnats using The Home Depot Mobile App. Search by voice or image and let our app find products for you. Overripe fruits, veggies, decaying food matter and moisture in drains are all culprits.

Drain Flies vs. Fruit Flies: Which Tiny Winged Pest Is Invading Your Home?

If you suspect your houseplants’ soil is rife with gnat larvae, you may have to repot the plant. Trash the old soil, and wash the plant’s roots as best you can. Thoroughly clean out the container, and replant your greenery in fresh soil. For gnat problems on and around your houseplants, consider using diatomaceous earth.

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Price recommends placing a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a tablespoon of sugar in a bowl and then stirring the contents. "Set your bowl in an area where gnats are prevalent, like your kitchen or bathroom," he says. The gnats will be attracted to the sugar and vinegar, but the dish soap will coat their wings making them unable to fly away.

Bug Zappers

Houseplants attract fungus gnats, especially if the soil is retaining a lot of moisture or holds decaying plant matter. Fungus gnats are found throughout the United States and on other continents. These pests are most noticed during late fall and winter, mostly due to plants being brought indoors, out of cold weather. Also, because days are shorter and indoor temperatures may be cool, the soil stays moist longer, making it more attractive for gnats. Gnats are attracted to salt and moisture, but more specifically to produce, fresh flowers, houseplants, spilled food, and overflowing garbage cans. You may have unknowingly brought home a plant from a garden center that was infested with gnats—or brought freshly picked produce infested with gnats indoors.

Some of these products are even designed to sit in the soil alongside a potted plant to catch fungus gnats. Once the sticky side is sufficiently filled, toss it and add a new one. You can also try a bug zapper that’s aimed at catching smaller insects or, if the problem really persists, call a reliable pest control company. Most gnats are not harmful to humans, though some can give you bites a little, like mosquito bites.

The bad news is that they can lay about 200 to 300 eggs during their brief lives. Each egg matures into a larva, and then transitions into a pupa and adult. Depending on the species, a gnat’s entire life cycle can be completed in as few as 3 weeks. Whether they’re hovering by the hundreds around your fruit bowl, clouding your vegetable garden, or swarming your face—attracted to moisture and salt—gnats are unwelcome visitors. Fortunately, there are numerous remedies available to rid your home and yard of gnats. To kill drain flies and their eggs nesting in pipes, mix 1/2 cup of bleach in a gallon of water and pour it slowly down the drain.

Inside your house, use sterile potting soil to avoid unwanted problems and pests such as the Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix. This mix is designed to be less prone to gnats and contains no compost or bark, which can attract fungus gnats. This will cause exciting foaming to occur that is cleaning your disposal for you, and destroying fruit fly habitat. Lastly, run very hot water down the drain as you turn the garbage disposal on to rinse away the mix along with any leftover fruit fly eggs.

Instead, it’s a loose term for a number of different species of very small, flying insects. These flies lay their eggs in damp organic environments such as potting soil, pipe drains, or rotting produce. The reproduction cycle of fungus gnats, for example, only takes about 17 days, so one gnat can breed hundreds very quickly. They tend to swarm around sources of food and moisture including your fruit bowl, your drains, your houseplants, and even your body. There are several types of gnats known to become annoyances in homes.

Fill an empty spray bottle with lukewarm water and mix in a few drops of mild dish soap. Spritz this lightly on gnat-infested plants, but be sure to come back two to three hours later to thoroughly rinse the leaves. Note that commercially-available sprays designed for houseplants are less likely to damage the plants than homemade sprays, even with mild dish soap. First, we’ll show you how to identify the type of gnats you’re dealing with.

Peppermint oil is a great natural pest control option, especially when made into a bug spray with water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. From getting rid of mice to getting rid of cockroaches, peppermint has the wonderful ability to deter pests from entering your home and bothering you in the first place. Peterson recommends keeping your home – and especially your kitchen sink drains and toilets clean and clear. Dispose of any fruit or other produce past its prime, and do the same with any cut flowers. If gnats are near the sink in your kitchen or bathtub, you can dilute some bleach and pour a cup of the solution down the drains to eliminate the infestation. If you’ve tried these solutions with no luck, you’ll need to call in a professional pest control company to help address your gnat infestation.

One of the most effective methods for controlling and getting rid of gnats is by using a bug zapper. These devices attract gnats and electrocute them, causing them to die and collect in the bottom of the device. Many of the modern bug zappers on the market are safe for indoor use, so placing one on the counter or near plants can take care of a gnat problem quickly. 'Vinegar traps can be made by placing a small amount of apple cider vinegar in a clear bowl or jar. Cover the top tightly with plastic wrap and poke several holes in the top, which will allow the adult gnats to enter but will not allow them out. Whether they're in your home or outside, gnats are problematic.

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