Homemade gnat killer spray: A mixture of half a cup of water, half a cup of isopropyl alcohol, and a teaspoon of dish liquid can be filled in a spray bottle. This mixture can be sprayed on the gnats directly to kill them.
Pour a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a bowl or jar, then stir in a few drops of dish soap. The bugs will be attracted to the sweet smell, and the sticky soap will prevent them from being able to fly away. Some people also like to mix in a little sugar, as well, to really amp up the sweetness.
Peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, vanilla, and lavender essential oils all have scents that gnats dislike. Place a few drops of any of these essential oils on cotton balls and set around entryways to your home or areas where gnats are a problem.
Similar to our bowl trap, we're going to want a sugary substance to attract the flies. You can use the aforementioned apple cider vinegar or wine, but you can also use beer, red wine vinegar, or even rotting fruit if you've got any lying around.
Mash an overripe banana or two in a bowl and cover the top with plastic wrap. Secure the plastic wrap with a rubber band, then poke a couple small holes in the plastic with a toothpick or wooden skewer for the gnats.
If you don't have vinegar at home, bleach will kill drain gnats, but it's a potent environmental pollutant, so you're better off running to the store for vinegar, which is actually more effective for cleaning your drain pipes.
Cinnamon – use cinnamon as an air freshner, as flies hate the smell! Lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils – Not only will spraying these oils around the house create a beautiful aroma, but they will also deter those pesky flies too.
Conclusions. Based on the results obtained from our study, it is evident that Bounce original brand fabric softener dryer sheets repel fungus gnats.
Additionally, houseplants can harbor gnats, particularly fungus gnats, which lay their eggs in moist soil. The larvae then feed on organic matter in the soil, potentially harming plants and causing an infestation. Overwatering plants only makes this situation worse.
All you will need is a spray bottle, dish soap, water and/or baking soda and vinegar. You just need to use a few drops of dish soap and a table spoon of vinegar for each cup of water. With this these destructive gnats will parish with just a few spritz of your new chemical weapon.
Citronella is a natural bug repellent and will help to ward off more than just gnats. If you don't have or don't want to buy a tiki torch, try using lavender or lemon-scented candle. It could be just enough to keep gnats from interrupting your outdoor gathering.
Inside the home, gnats can be attracted to unsealed produce, fresh flowers, houseplants, food spillage and open or overflowing garbage cans. Gnats may also live in sink drains where food residue can collect. Dirty kitchen sink drains can provide food, water, shelter and breeding sites to many fly species.
Choose from either chemical sprays, household cleaners, or hairspray. Chemical sprays kill flies instantly upon contact, though they contain harsh chemicals. You can also spray the flies with household cleaners, like Windex or Formula 409, or with an aerosol like hairspray. All of these sprays will help you kill a fly.
Like many fly sprays, Pine Sol contains a stinky plant pine oil – pine. Flies hate it. Don't use Pine Sol straight from the bottle, though. To make your Pine Sol fly repellant mix ⅓ water, ⅓ vinegar, and ⅓ Original Scent Pine Sol.
“Flies tend to avoid certain strong scents, many of which come from natural sources,” says Harlow-Ellis, who recommends these proven fly-repelling scents in diffusers, candles, sprays, or even plant form: Lavender. Eucalyptus. Peppermint.
Top Method: The Vinegar & Soap Trap
The most popular homemade gnat or fruit fly trap combines vinegar, sugar, and dish soap in a container and lures the gnats into the mixture. Here's how: Mix vinegar (white or apple cider) with sugar and several drops of dish soap in a bowl. Add 1/2 cup of warm water to the bowl.
This includes virtually anything that gives off a sweet scent, including sugar, fruit, sucrose, honey and even flowers. Gnats are even attracted to soaps, perfumes, lotions, and other personal hygiene products. If it reminds them of sugar, gnats will be eager to get at it. Moisture.
The only way to get rid of gnats without killing them is to repel them with scents they don't like: vinegar, vanilla, pine oil, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, and lavender. Even dryer sheets could help. Of course, the first line of duty would be to get rid of the infestation's root cause.
Gnats come to find a breeding ground and place to lay their eggs. They seek out moist places, decomposing organic matter and damp soil of houseplants, and can be found around your trash or recycling bin.