How do I get rid of gnats in the house?
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Estelle
+7
I have been invaded by gnats (or fruit flies) in my home. Although they are all over the house, their presence is most noticeable in my bathroom. Could they be coming in through the sink drain pipe? I have a shallow container with apple cider vinegar covered tightly with plastic wrap and poked small holes in it with a tooth pick on the sink counter. Within 2 days the container has around 20 gnats trapped inside where they drown. So I know how to catch them, but, where are they coming from. I leave no fruit or food out. If they are coming in from the drain pipe, HOW do I get rid of gnats??????
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They probably are coming out of the drain. They like to breed where the drain meets the overflow. First clean the drain well. Use an old toothbrush or bottle brush. Pour hot water down the drain. Also clean the overflow hole by pouring vinegar down it then hot water. That is almost always missed and people complain about odors in their sink and think it's the drain. Also make sure the P Trap is holding water in it. If you smell sewer gas it's not holding water.
Hi Estelle, sorry you are having to deal with pesky gnats. Hope this is helpful.
Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar and approximately 20 drops dish soap with a couple of cups warm water. Mix well, dissolving everything. Place this gnat-killer liquid where you see the gnats flying around. They will be attracted to the apple cider vinegar smell and drink it.Dec 8, 2017
How to Kill Gnats in Your Bathroom? - Pest Wiki
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How to Get Rid of Gnats in Your Drains | Hunker
https://www.hunker.com/12002842/how-to-get-rid-of-gnats-in-your-drains
Here is a tutorial for you: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-gnats/
gotta know what they are first... Color: Fruit flies range from tan to black. Fungus gnats are dark gray or black.
Shape: Thinking about fruit flies or gnats in comparison to other pests can help identify them. Fruit flies have a rounded silhouette like a smaller version of the common house fly. On the other hand, fungus gnats feature dangling legs and long bodies that make them appear similar to a small mosquito.
Eyes: Fruit flies are easy to recognize by their big, red eyes, but fungus gnat eyes are so small they are hard to see.
Fruit flies do not come up out of drains but are drawn to the gross slimey stuff in drains & water everything wants water. Fruit flies are especially attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables in the kitchen. But they also will breed in drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash containers, mops and cleaning rags.clean everything really well using hottest water and bleach. Fungus gnats-----Get Mosquito Bits granules and put in all your house plants then water well let plants dry for 7-10 days then repeat .. these are non toxic not a chemical Mosquito Dunks and Mosquito Bits are made from naturally occurring soil bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis strain israelensis (for the rest of us: Bti) on bits of corn cob.They are one of the most effective products on the market today.
It takes a while to rid your house of them. They may have laid eggs somewhere in your house and they have hatched. Put out more vinegar traps. The flys should be gone in a week or so but leave the traps out until fall.
I had a terrible gnat problem and the vinegar traps worked perfectly! Simply place a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, a few drops of dish soap, and a tablespoon of sugar in a bowl and stir. Set your bowl in an area where gnats are prevalent, such as your kitchen or bathroom. This took care of my problem in just a couple of days!
Pour bleach down the drain.
These common pests came into your house on the fruits from the market. The gnats lay their eggs and when conditions are right, they hatch. To prevent this thoroughly wash them off and immediately refrigerate the produce, except bananas. Next is clean the sink drain with 1/2 baking soda followed by 1 cup of white vinegar, when the fizzing stops, rinse with a good amount of hot water, you may also want to keep the stopper in the sink drain until you have gotten rid of them.
Now for those hatchlings that are still buzzing around, take a sticky cardboard trap (you can get a pack of these from Walmart-they are in the pest control section). These are the same ones used to catch mice, lay it flat and peel off the protective layer, do not fold it up. Put a small piece of sweet decaying fruit in the center of it, the gnats will land on the sticky part and that will be the end of them.
Best to you.
Hi Estelle, hope this helps you.
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.
This is always so tough, I never find an option that works. Sometimes some wine with some fruit in a plastic cup covered in plastic wrap with a few holes catches a few flies. What has helped me is cleaning my drains and keeping them covered with silicone tub covers.