What scent do gnats hate the most?

Author: Fiona West  |  Last update: Thursday, May 8, 2025

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.

What smell keeps gnats away?

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.

What gets rid of gnats asap?

Use a small saucer to mix a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a few drops of dishwashing soap and a little sugar. Put the saucer near the gnats. Use more than one saucer, if needed. The gnats will be drawn to the sweet solution, fall in and get trapped.

Do dryer sheets keep gnats away?

Conclusions. Based on the results obtained from our study, it is evident that Bounce original brand fabric softener dryer sheets repel fungus gnats.

What can I use to keep gnats from biting me?

Insect Repellent: Use a good-quality insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Apply it to your face and exposed skin, avoiding the eyes and mouth. Wear Light-Colored Clothing: Gnats are attracted to dark colors, so wearing light-colored clothing can help reduce their attraction.

What smell do gnats hate?

How do you stop gnats from flying around you?

You can use nearly any type of cooking oil to keep gnats away. Choose olive oil, coconut oil, or vegetable oil for instance. Then, soak a cotton ball in the oil, and dab it over your forehead, behind your ears, and down your neck. The oil masks your scent from the gnats so they are less likely to notice you.

What is the best gnat repellent?

10 Best Gnat Repellents June 2021
  • Insect Repellent 100% Natural With Fresh Lemongrass, Peppermint And Sweet Orange: Repels Biting.
  • Dr. ...
  • Sawyer Products Picaridin 20% Spray Repellent Mosquito Ticks Gnats Biting Flies.
  • Buggins Natural Insect Repellent.

What can I wear to repel gnats?

Insect Repellent Hats

Help keep mosquitoes, flies, and other biting bugs away from your face, head, and neck with Insect Shield Bug Repellent Hats. Our insect repellent packable hat, brim hat, sun hat, and caps also repel gnats and midges (no-see-ums).

Does deodorant repel gnats?

Does Deodorant Repel Gnats? Deodorant may not effectively repel gnats as it is not specifically designed for that purpose. Gnats are typically attracted to scents, and deodorants often have fragrances that could attract them.

Is vinegar a gnat repellent?

Homemade gnat repellent spray: A mixture of dish soap, water, baking soda, and vinegar can be filled into a spray bottle. The mixture should contain a few drops of dish soap, a tablespoon of vinegar, and baking soda per cup of water. A few sprays of this mixture is an effective gnat repellent.

What spray do gnats hate?

Summit Mosquito and Gnat Barrier spray contains permethrin, a proven residual insecticide that has been used in mosquito control for many years. In addition to mosquitoes, it also controls a wide variety of outdoor insect pests including ants, fleas, ticks, earwigs, and more.

How to figure out where gnats are coming from?

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.

What is the best gnat trap?

Combine equal parts vinegar and soap and then add a few tablespoons of sugar – once you mix it all together you can place the bowl wherever the gnats have been gathering. They will be attracted to the sugar and vinegar and drown in the mixture. Traps can also be made out of red wine and dish soap, or rotting fruit.

What makes gnats go away fast?

They also are attracted to unsealed produce, flowers, and house plants. How do I get rid of gnats quickly? The quickest solution to getting rid of gnats is to clean your space and remove any trash or unsealed food. Wipe down counters, clean drains, and make sure there is no standing water in your sink.

Does pine sol deter gnats?

✌️ Did you know you can use baking soda and pine-sol to get rid of those pesky drain flies? #gnats #drainflies #hacks #cleaninghacks #cleantok #thingsishouldhavelearnedinschool.

What color do gnats hate?

Bugs are naturally attracted to bright colors like white, yellow or orange. Colors like green and blue won't register as vividly when seen in the UV spectrum, deterring bugs away from these colored objects.

What scent kills gnats?

Repel them with Scent.

Try Lighting citronella candles using lemon or vanilla sprays. While gnats are a fan of sweet-smelling fruit, they can't seem to stand vanilla, lemon, or even lavender. A little spritz can at least keep them at bay.

What annoys gnats?

First, gnats hate the smell of vinegar. You can use apple cider vinegar to your advantage. Put some in a small dish and add a few drops of dish soap. This traps the gnats and keeps them away from you.

Why do gnats fly around my face?

Breath, Sweat & Tears

A gnat is always searching for moisture and salt, which are found in sweat and tears. Unfortunately, the pests are vectors for pink eye. They are also drawn to the smell of bad breath and to the carbon dioxide people expel when exhaling.

Do dryer sheets repel gnats?

Bounce dryer sheets show potential for fungus gnat control in a greenhouse due to the compound linalool, which repels adult fungus gnats. Ornamental greenhouse growers are familiar with fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.), which are a common nuisance in production areas (see photo).

What can you put on your body to keep gnats away?

So what keeps gnats away?
  • Vanilla extract: Dab it around the wrists , neck and head area; if you don't mind smelling like a freshly baked dessert, soak a rag with vanilla and rub it on. ...
  • Buggins Natural Insect Repellent (a Deet-free spray): A four-ounce spray can cost up to $6.

What makes gnats worse?

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.

What stops gnats from biting you?

The best way to avoid getting bitten by gnats is to wear an insect repellent.

What is the best indoor gnat control?

Getting Rid of Houseplant Gnats
  • Mix one tablespoon of lemon-scented dish soap with two liters of water. ...
  • Spray the infested houseplant liberally with the soap mixture. ...
  • Leave the mixture on the plant for one to two hours, then spray the plant with plain water to rinse off the soap.
  • Allow the plant soil to dry out.

What spray kills gnats immediately?

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.

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