How can I get rid of gnat-like bugs in the kitchen?

Helen
by Helen
  4 answers
  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Nov 17, 2019

    Hi Helen,


    These are probably fruit flies brought in on the produce from the stores or markets. The fruit flies lay eggs on the produce and they hatch when conditions are right, so it needs to be washed right away and refrigerated, the exception is bananas, wash and keep at room temp. Also treat your sink drain to a bath of 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup of white vinegar, When the fizzing stops flush with hot water, you might want to cover your drains after the bath.

    For the ones flying around, I use a sticky pads from Walmart, put a small piece of decaying sweet fruit in the center of the pad, it will attract them and they will never fly in your kitchen again.

    Best to you.


  • DesertRose DesertRose on Nov 17, 2019

    They live in the drain. Spray it with Simple Green several times every day for a week to ten days, and they will move to the other drains in the house (any and all) so spray them good too for that time, then do once a week after that to keep them gone. They come in on your produce so keep it all put up (I don't like bananas in the fridge so I use my cake keeper for them)

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Nov 17, 2019

    make a trap with a soda bottle, 20 ounce. Cut the top about 2” down and invert. I side put apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish detergent. This will attract and trap.

    To deter, remove fruit and bread in the open.

  • Alberta Coulter Alberta Coulter on Nov 17, 2019

    Fruit flies do not live in drains. Drain flies do. they look like fruit flies but they are a little bigger and they are very hard to get rid of. Make sure you are not dealing with them rather than fruit flies. If they are drain flies they will not be attracted by the same thing that fruit flies are. You can start with commercial drain cleaner and the salt, baking soda and vinegar trick, but it won't kill them. It does work well to keep your drains from smelling though. You can try pouring boiling water down the drain, not one pan but several, every few days. We did all that but ended up taking the drain apart and scrubbing it out with a brush, bleach and hot water, then reassembling it. That's what finally worked.