Indoor Gnat Infestation Prevention and Information
January 24th, 2010 Posted in Flies & Gnats
Gnats are a nuisance that nobody wants around, especially not inside the house. Unfortunately for many of us, with summer comes a gnat infestation. The most common of these tiny, black, flying insects pose no real threat to humans, but they can be incredibly annoying and difficult to exterminate.
Gnats are drawn to fungus, which tends to grow in moist areas.
Common gnat attractions found inside the home are:
- Overripe fruit
- Old, softening potatoes
- Over-watered indoor plants
- Indoor compost buckets
Although the sources are fairly easy to identify, actually getting rid of these pests often seems impossible. This is because gnats have a life-cycle lasting around 4 weeks, and females can lay as many as 300 eggs in small batches on virtually any source of fermenting or decaying organic matter.
This incredible potential for local population growth causes many homeowners to become virtually overrun. By the time you notice that you have a gnat problem, there may already be thousands of eggs ready to hatch and make your life miserable.
Given the difficulty of overcoming an infestation, prevention is often your best bet.
- Don’t leave fruit or vegetables lying around, especially if they are getting old. Put them in the refrigerator if necessary.
- Don’t over-water plants, and drain indoor plants after watering to avoid the possibility of root-rot, which, added to the moisture, is attractive to gnats.
- Move compost systems outside, the decaying matter provides a feast for gnats.
If you seem to run out of options, then finding the source of the infestation is the last-ditch effort.
Luckily for us humans, if it comes down to all-out war with these gnats, there are a few simple yet effective traps that anyone can make at home for free.
- A solution of 1 cup balsamic vinegar and 2-3tbsp dish soap poured into a small cup will attract the gnats, and the soap will kill them.
- Fill a jar with vinegar and cover the top with plastic wrap, and then poke holes in the covering. The vinegar will attract the gnats into the jar, and they won’t be able to get back out.
- You can also put a piece of rotting fruit in a cup with a solution of water and dish soap, which will attract and kill the gnats.
- For a momentary fix in the kitchen, pouring ammonia down the drain will dissuade gnats from gathering around the sink. Just let it sit for a while so the smell does not immediately dissipate.
Pesticides are generally effective against gnats, and some pesticides designed specifically for gnat infestations are available on the market; however some of these products can be dangerous for children and pets. EcoSMART Home Pest Control is an all natural pest control option that kills gnats without any risk to your family or the environment.
9 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By D. McPherson on Jan 27, 2010
We had a tomato drop behind the microwave undetected. That was the beginning of our problem. Because of the number of newly started herbs I had in the house, the fungus gnats took over killing some of them. It has been a long process (3 months), but I have them down to a few strays that appear here and there. Wonder if your spray would help eliminate the rest of them? It would also be interesting to see the spray works on our wasp problem around the shed during the summer.
By Sandi on Jan 28, 2010
I don’t know if I have gnats but I havehad these little black bugs in my house for months that NOTHING seems to get rid of. I have tried this product and am hopeful that it is working.
By Leslie Barnett on Mar 17, 2010
I have had a persistent problem with tiny flying insects (what look like gnats) for the past 2 months. I was out of town for almost 2 months and when I returned, I returned to this problem.
They seem to accumulate mostly around my bathtub and kitchen area.
I’m going to try the vinegar solution, but I would be interested in testing your EcoSMART product.
By Amy on Mar 24, 2010
I repotted an indoor plant with some organic potting soil that had been sitting on my patio for a couple of months. Apparently, these gnat type bugs were in the soil & when I brought the repotted plant into the house, I brought the gnats too! Now, I can’t figure out how to get rid of them (they seem to be living in the soil).
By Dee on Apr 17, 2010
Somehow we have developed gnats that mainly enjoy the den and family room areas. They can be found near lights and on the walls resting. They fly around and disrupt the family and are a general nuisance. I would love to test a natural product and see if it alleviates this problem. Thanks very much and hope to hear from you. I would be happy to share any and all results/experiences.
By Sarah Charney on May 7, 2010
I just realized that gnats have infested my house instantly overnight pretty much. I am going tomorrow to Home Depot and buying Eco Smart Pest Control and getting down to business in this darn kitchen here. I’m going crazy trying to smush all of them. The only thing I can think of was that I had bananas on the counter and didn’t have the air conditioning on all that much while I was at work. Well I turned down the air conditioning and sprayed an Eco Smart product I wasn’t really supposed to use indoors oh well I needed a quick fix lol. Anyways on to my next project tomorrow……crossing my fingers.
By bill hornby on May 30, 2010
i have an in door garden. i am usung organic soil, think i picked them up when i had to put all my plants outside… tried vinegar and soap. what should i do , repotting a last alternative… help
By Jake on Jun 12, 2010
I have 392 plants in my house these gnats used to be a problem but I have spiders who help a lot.
By Kiana on Jul 6, 2010
I have a gnat infestation..I don’t know the source but they are a major headache..I need help ASAP!