How to Prevent Gnats

Gnats, the microscopic flying bug that invades homes every summer, are not dangerous. Gnats swarm in groups at dusk in warm temperatures and can annoy those around them. They tend to congregate in warm temperatures regardless of what the region's typical climate is. So summer months are the prime season for gnats in the United States.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic bottle
  • Vinegar
  • Soap
  • Old fruit
  • Plate
  • Bug spray
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Instructions

    • 1

      Empty and clean out a small plastic bottle, such as a personal bottle of soda or a food container. Fill the bottle halfway with vinegar and screw the lid on tightly. With a sharp object like an ice pick or nail, make several small holes in the top. Gnats are attracted to vinegar so they will climb inside. However, they will not be able to escape.

    • 2

      Pour vinegar into a bowl and squirt a small amount of dish soap in as well. Mix the soap evenly through the vinegar. The gnats will be drawn to the scent. But the vinegar will coat them and make it difficult to fly, trapping them in the bowl for you to throw out.

    • 3

      Disinfect overwatered plants throughout your house. Moisture is a breeding ground for gnats, so a moist plant is a good place for a colony to begin. Disinfection will kill the gnats and keep them from starting new families there.

    • 4

      Take a few pieces of rotten fruit and set them on a plate. Place this place outside an open window or door and let it collect with gnats. The gnats will be drown from the house to the fruit. Once it is teeming with gnats, coat them in bug spray to kill them.

    • 5

      Remove any standing water from your house. Standing water is another breeding ground for these insects. One popular place is a sink full of dishwater that hasn’t been taken care of in a few hours.

    • 6

      Take out your trash regularly and keep it covered outside. Gnats are attracted to old food. If you don't want gnats on your property, properly secure your trash.