I think most everyone in our area are experiencing a problem with gnats in the house. They are terrible this year. I have two gnat traps that I use to catch them. They go right to it and it keeps the population of those pesky gnats down. I empty the trap weekly and start all over.
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Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
We have gnats which are taking over. What is the safest way to get rid of them? They are in our bedroom, as well as the rest of our home, but mainly concentrated in the kitchen and our master bedroom.
By Heather from Smyrna, TN
Try spraying with mouthwash. Place into spray bottle and put fine mist on them. I use Listerine on mosquitoes and flies on the carport and it works. Why not gnats?
Get some cups/styrofoam or plastic, and fill 2/3 full with apple cider vinegar. Drop in 2-4 drops of dishwashing liguid. This breaks the surface adhesion of the liquid.
The knats will dive for the vinegar, and drown. Sure Cure!
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I have fungus gnats (that do bite) and or biting midges, and they are wreaking havoc with biting me and my dog. My carpet was brand new 2 years ago and shampooed frequently and almost dry when finished. The gnats or other insects are also leaving larvae and gooey brown stuff and sticky runny stuff on my things. Everywhere.
What do I do and how do I get rid of them in my house and stop them from biting us? They are all over the place. I am not a dirty person either. My dog gets a bath regularly and is on all preventions. Thanks.
By Barbara from Richmond, VA
I HAD a gnat problem that was escalating. I used the vinegar & dish soap remedy suggested and I did see a few dead gnats. But I was underwhelmed and really didn't want guest to see or smell the residue. So I went to Home Depot to check out what they had available. I purchased for trial Hot Shot No-Pest Strip, they are not like those ugly fly strips, where you see dead fly corpses, dust and anything stuck on the trap, eww. The strip is placed inside a plastic container with open slants. It can be hung or free standing. I placed one in the kitchen on top of my cabinet in the rear.
Holicowola, it was like the gnats packed up and left town. The efficacy of the strip last for approximately 4 months. I know, I know "Is it safe for my family and me to inhale the toxins?" I'll be on the lookout for any adverse reactions or extra appendages. However, I can't smell anything and the gnats were driving us absolutely crazy plus the embarrassment. It works thoroughly and quickly! May not be everyone's cup o' tea, but just another option that happens to provide relief.
Our gnat infestation came courtesy of the 7 cords of firewood we brought into our basement for this winter's heating. Even though the wood had been "drying" outside for almost five months, it had been a wet summer. We used a combination of apple cider vinegar and dish detergent placed throughout the basement and upstairs rooms, fly paper strips, and up close and personal squishing!
What seemed to work best was the fly strips hung in windows, with as many as six strips forming a curtain. (The gnats seem to favor light and would congregate during the day in sunlit windows; at night they'd flock to light bulbs.) Regarding Hot Shot Pest Strips (as with most chemicals): the instructions on the package are clear in their warnings about their danger to all living things and food; just because you can't smell it doesn't mean it's safe! Take the time to pursue pests with safe products.
My plan was to add information to my existing post on trapping gnats. I decided the information was good enough to warrant a post of its own.
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I have a gnat problem; in my bedroom. I have not seen any in the kitchen. They come out in the evening when the lights are on, or on my computer.
I would like to know where gnats come from. What causes gnats to come in your house?
Is there a home remedy for getting rid of little flies (gnats) around our house?
What can I do to get rid of gnats that are in my houseplants, flying all over the house, and getting into our food?
Do gnats come out of the sink drains, if not, where do they come from?
I have gnats lots of gnats in my kitchen it seems like they are coming out of my kitchen sink drain. I clean my kitchen every day.
I need these gnats gone! They are driving me crazy and they are nasty!