Best DIY Ways to Get Rid of Gnats in Your Home

Do gnats live in your house? You might not want to know the answer. Gnats are small, pesky insects that can cause big problems for you and your family. These pests can transmit disease-causing organisms like Encephalitis or even Bubonic Plague. However, they also just make your home dirty with their excrement and larvae.

So, what is the most effective natural gnat repellant for your home? There are a few different things you can do to keep gnats out of your house. One is to make sure that there is no standing water around. This is where the gnats will lay their eggs, so getting rid of any water sources will help to get rid of the adult gnats. You can also try using some of these other effective repellant methods:

Dryer sheets
Cloves
Mint
Apple cider vinegar

Each of these methods is effective at repelling gnats. You can use one or all of them to get rid of the gnats in your home.

In this blog post we will show you how to make effective natural gnat repellants for home, what are gnats, why to get rid of them from my house. We will also share the best natural DIY gnat repellants.

What Are Gnats?

Gnats, or “true” flies, are a type of small flying insect. They are different from other types of flying insects like mosquitoes because they do not have a stinger. There are many different species of gnats, but most of them share some common characteristics.

They are very small – usually less than ½ inch long.
They have two wings that cover their body when at rest.
They often swarm around lights and can be difficult to swat.
They live for about one week.

What Do Gnats Look Like?

Gnat larvae look a lot like mosquito larvae, but they do not have a stinger. They are white and about ¼ inch long when fully grown.

What Do Gnats Eat?

Adult gnats can eat nectar from plants or rotting fruit, while the larvae feed on organic matter in wet soil or dirty water. In your home, you might find them feeding off of fruits and vegetables at your kitchen countertop because these foods attract their attention with fermenting sugars that produce alcohol as byproducts.

Signs of Gnats in Your Home

If you have a gnat problem, you will likely see the adults flying around. You might also find their larvae in moist areas like your sink or shower drain, or puddles of standing water.

There are several signs that you may have gnats in your home. Here are some of the most common:

Seeing them fly around your house. Seeing small larvae crawling on surfaces like window sills or kitchen counters.
Smelling a vinegar smell coming from an area in your home – this is the smell that adult gnats emit to alert other gnats of food sources nearby.
Tiny dark spots and smears near sink drains and garbage cans where you might find their tiny black droppings as well (a sign of more serious infestations).

Sometimes seeing fruit flies flying at similar times can be a sign that there are also gnat problems because they often share the same habitat and foods that attract them both.

What Do Gnat Bites Look Like?

Gnats do not bite people, but they can bite animals. If you have pets in your home, you may see them scratching or licking themselves more than usual. This is because gnat bites often cause skin irritations.

Gnats vs. Fruit Flies

While both gnats and fruit flies are small, flying insects, there are some key differences between these two pests:

Fruit flies have a pointed snout and red eyes while gnats do not.
Fruit flies lay their eggs in rotting fruit or on the surface of fermenting liquids while gnat larvae live in moist areas with organic matter like soil or dirty water.
Adult fruit flies usually die within a week but adult gnats can live for up to one month.
Fruit fly larvae are about ¼ inch long when fully grown while gnat larvae are only about ¼ inch long when fully grown.
Gnats emit an unpleasant smell that smells like vinegar while fruit fly larva eats away at your food.
Gnats tend to swarm around lights while fruit flies usually stay near their food source.

Why Get Rid of Gnats in Your House?

As we mentioned before, gnats can transmit disease-causing organisms to humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified gnats as one of the top ten carriers of disease.

Not only that, but they are annoying pests to have in your house! They can swarm around you and other members of your family when trying to eat or drink outside, causing them discomfort. And don’t forget about their excrement – it makes a mess wherever they land!

How To Get Rid Of Gnats In Your House?

So how do you get rid of these pesky creatures once and for all? There are many different ways to repel gnats from your home so they cannot return anytime soon. Here are some methods that have been shown effective at repelling gnats:

Banana peels
Apple cider vinegar solution
Garlic oil
Dish soap
Lemon oil

Each of these methods has been proven to work, but you might need to try a few different ones to see which one works best for your home.

Best Natural Gnat Repellants

Several natural gnat repellants are both easy and effective for use within your home.

Banana Peels

Gnats are very attracted to the fermenting sugars in banana peels. So if you have any lying around at home, place them near where the gnats are congregating. The smell will repel them and they will eventually go away.

Apple Cider Vinegar Solution

Another great way to get rid of gnats is by using apple cider vinegar. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar with water in a spray bottle and spritz it wherever you’ve seen the gnats. They won’t be able to stand the smell and will go away!

Cloves

Gnats are not very attracted to cloves, so you can sprinkle them around where you’ve seen gnat activity. If there is no activity after a few days, that means they won’t come back. You can also try placing bowls of cloves near their nests inside your home – this should keep them out for good.

Garlic Oil

If you have garlic in your kitchen or pantry at home, place it next to any gnat-infested areas like bananas or fruit peels.

The strong odor will repel the gnats from coming close again! And if you want something more concentrated, put some garlic oil in a spray bottle and spritz it around the areas.

Dish Soap

Another way to repel gnats is by using dish soap. Just mix some dish soap with water in a spray bottle and spritz it where you’ve seen them. The soapy mixture will stick to their wings and they will not be able to fly anymore!

Lemon Oil

Last but not least, lemon oil can also be used as an effective repellent against gnats. Mix equal parts lemon oil with water in a spray bottle and spritz the mixture wherever needed.

Not only does the smell of lemons work well to keep gnats at bay, but the oil itself is deadly for them! Try this method if all the others haven’t worked for you.

Are There Benefits to Having Gnats in Your Home?

Yes, there are benefits to having gnats in your home. While they might be annoying and a bit of an eyesore, they also play a role as decomposers too!

As we mentioned before, gnats can eat nectar from plants or rotting fruit – but most importantly they help break down organic matter into nutrients for other organisms who need them.

While their excrement is unsightly and causes messes wherever it lands, the bacteria that live on it are very helpful at breaking down soil particles so plants can absorb more nutrients needed for growth.

Did you know? There are over 200 different species of these pesky little flies called “gnats” throughout the world. In, some types of the fungus even need gnats to help spread their spores!

So while we may not like them and they can be a nuisance, it’s important to remember that they do have an important role in the ecosystem. Try to find ways to live with them instead of constantly trying to get rid of them – after all, they’re here to stay!

In Conclusion

So there you have it – some easy and effective ways to get rid of gnats from your home! If you’ve been struggling with these pesky creatures, try out one (or a few) of these methods and see how well they work for you. Happy repelling!

If you’re still seeing gnats around after trying some or all of these tips, it might be time to call in a professional. Contact your local pest control company for assistance.

Easy To Make and Effective Natural Gnat Repellents for Home