How to Kill Household Gnats
- 1). Remove all sources in your home that attract gnats. Gnats are drawn to moisture, light and organic material. Avoid over watering your houseplants and remove any dead debris from them. Always store fruits and vegetables in your refrigerator. Do not leave garbage inside of your home overnight. Dry sinks, counters, bathtubs and other wet surfaces after each use.
- 2). Place insect traps in areas near gnat infestations. Sticky traps are available at most stores that sell pest control products. Gnats land on the trap, get stuck and eventually die. If you prefer, you can easily make your own sticky trap by applying double-sided tape or petroleum jelly to a piece of cardboard. Replace traps as needed. Although traps will not prevent new larvae from hatching, they can control the adult gnat population.
- 3). Pour apple cider vinegar into a shallow dish and add a few drops of dish detergent and 1 tsp. of sugar. Place the container where gnats are commonly found. The apple cider vinegar and sugar attract gnats, while the detergent kills them.
- 4). Pour ammonia down drains and insert stoppers before you go to bed. Gnats or eggs living in the drains will die. Do not unstop or run water down the drains for several hours. After some time has passed, rinse and dry out the sink to remove any remaining toxic residue from the ammonia.
- 5). Purchase an indoor pesticide specially formulated for gnats or flying insects. Carefully follow the directions on the container and spray gnats and larvae. You may need several applications to completely rid your household of gnats. Use caution when using pesticides near animals, children or food.
