How to get rid of minuscule gnats on white granite countertops

Ida33035577
by Ida33035577
Living on a little island guest/workers house in Florida. No house plants inside. Owner does not believe in killing any thing. Owner lives part time next door in a HUGE home but most of the time out of state. I have tried Terra little plastic holde. Eventually they are going there but it has not stopped their population. I do not want to harm the granite countertop. Lots of greenery outside that I can not touch. I have tried vinegar but nothing lasts more than 29 minute!!
Thank You.

  9 answers
  • Ana Bacallao Ana Bacallao on Apr 15, 2018

    That sounds a little strange. Do you have somewhere where they are getting inside the house? Check all window screens. Try to figure ou the source.

    • Ida33035577 Ida33035577 on Apr 15, 2018

      I am pretty sure from outside. I got rid of 99% of the flies with great pride, only to find these, in their place. Feels like a sitco! They are also in the bathroom and the hallway as well from one of the front doors. And maybe windows above the sink but not the sink. This is war‼️ And I intend to win. I even thought about bringing in those 🦎 geckos. But I am a big chicken! 😂 Thank YOU!!

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Apr 15, 2018

    Do you have any produce on your counters, like bananas, apple, oranges, etc. You frequently can get them in produce you purchase, no matter where you purchase them. They also like to hang out in the traps in the sink for the moisture. Put down boiling water to kill them. They look terrible, but the fly tape really works wonders to help get rid of them while you have a lot of them. Wash produce you keep on the counter as soon as it is brought in the house and don't leave thin skinned produce like berries, tomatoes, etc. out on the counter.

    • See 1 previous
    • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Apr 15, 2018

      Your very welcome! I have fought them too and have learned what works the best. Make sure you get rid of your garbage frequently, I have even found them in my garbage bag when it is in a sealed garbage can. They are frustrating, but you can get rid of them! The fly tapes hang from the ceiling and you pull them out of this little tube they come in. No need to eat out, just ignore it and put it where the tape won't touch anything, It will stick bad. Good luck, you can get them under control!

  • Alice Alice on Apr 15, 2018

    Are you sure they're on your counter tops & not coming out of the drain ? They could be a swarm of small, gnat-like creatures flying out of your sink overflow hole. Commonly known as drain flies, they lay their eggs in the gunk that builds up in the pipes. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the pipe sludge and dine on any available. It's not enough to kill the flies you see. To rid yourself of drain flies, you must also kill the eggs and the larvae that are hiding in the pipes.


    Step 1

    Spray any visible adults with a commercial pesticide formulated specifically for flying insects.


    Step 2

    Cover the overflow hole and any open drains with strips of masking tape. Check the tape daily to determine which drains are infested. If drain flies are present in the pipes below, adults will be stuck to the tape.


    Step 3

    Pull any visible debris from any affected drains with a pair of needle-nose pliers or large tweezers. Insert the bristle end of a drain stick into infested overflow holes. Slowly pull the drain stick from the hole while twisting to collect sticky residue.


    Step 4

    Combine 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of standard table salt. Insert a funnel into the overflow hole. Spoon the baking soda blend into the funnel, shaking it gently to move the powder into the pipe. Follow this mixture with 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Wait five minutes, and then add 1 qt. of boiling water. This will kill any eggs or larvae while dissolving greasy build-up and clearing the pipe.


    Step 5

    Pour 2 tbsp. of washing soda into 1 qt. of hot water and mix well. Funnel this solution down the overflow hole to remove any stubborn residue. Wait 10 minutes, and then flush the pipe with hot water. Repeat this process to clear any affected drains.


  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Apr 15, 2018

    they may be drain flies, if there are no plants or fruit .Pour white vinegar, or lemon juice down the drain

    • Ida33035577 Ida33035577 on Apr 15, 2018

      These teenie tiny things do not fly!

      I also have moths... not many that do fly. I poured amonnia down the kitchen sink but I will also give this a try. Thank You for sharIng. Very kind of you. These darn things can get all over the white granite counter tops. I do not want to ruin the counter. But I know some answer will come soon. I keep all food in fridge, except my 🍊 orange.

  • Lina Splichal Lina Splichal on Apr 15, 2018

    Clean out your drain by pulling out anything you can reach with tongs, needle-nosed plier or screwdriver. Pour in 1/2 cup baking soda, then vinegar until the bubbles reach the opening. Let it sit 1/2 hour, then rinse with boiling water. It is better to unwrap all produce from any plastic wrapper, but not wash it until you are ready to use it. If you keep produce on your counter top, place it in a covered pan or cake taker. Try maintaining a spearmint plant either on your counter top or near your house openings. You might also shred a minty smelling bar soap (Irish Spring) and place the shreds near your house openings (windows, doors and fans). Good luck.

  • Ana Bacallao Ana Bacallao on Apr 16, 2018

    You gotta love Florida, I have a resident gecko who lives in our terrace.

  • Helen Helen on Apr 07, 2021

    Granite and marble products have many advantages, but they also have some disadvantages. In particular, natural stones can absorb various colored liquids, resulting in stains on them. It should be remembered that before using different methods for cleaning painted stone surfaces, a careful approach to this issue is necessary, not all methods are suitable for any particular case. I ordered white granite for the kitchen, washing only with soap solution or soda. Unlike marble, natural stone granite is a more resistant material, but it is often used on the street, and therefore it is often subjected to mechanical damage, exposure to atmospheric precipitation, and becomes dirty. So for this type of breed, dirt is not a significant drawback

  • Goromir Goromir on Apr 13, 2021

    Granite and marble products have many advantages, but they also have some disadvantages. In particular, natural stones can absorb various colored liquids, resulting in stains on them. It should be remembered that before using different methods for cleaning painted stone surfaces, a careful approach to this issue is necessary, not all methods are suitable for any particular case. I ordered white granite for the kitchen, washing only with soap solution or soda. Unlike marble, natural stone granite like http://countertopshq.com/dallas-white-granite/ is a more resistant material, but it is often used on the street, and therefore it is often subjected to mechanical damage, exposure to atmospheric precipitation, and becomes dirty. So for this type of breed, dirt is not a significant drawback

  • Deb K Deb K on Oct 07, 2023

    Hello Ida, hope this helps you out.

    In a small bowl, mix a half cup of warm water plus two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, and about six drops of liquid dish soap. Gnats will be lured in by the sugary mixture, but once they dip in for a drink, the sticky dish soap will trap them.