If you’ve noticed that you suddenly have a swarm of tiny flying insects buzzing around your indoor plants and trash cans, it’s safe to say you probably have a gnat problem. Fungus gnats and fruit flies can be a bit of a nuisance, and if not dealt with immediately with a homemade gnat spray, your small problem can quickly turn into a gnat infestation.
These tiny insects are often found, in mass, around houseplants, because the gnat larvae feed on the organic matter until they metamorphosis into adult gnats.
You can significantly reduce their presence in your house by eliminating the conditions that gnats find attractive, as well as using home remedies to kill gnats.
- Can I Kill Gnats with Dish Soap?
- How Can I Get Rid of Gnats with Vinegar?
- What Can I Spray to Keep Flies Away?
- Recipe for Homemade Gnat Spray
Can I Kill Gnats with Dish Soap?
You can quickly get rid of gnats with a soap spray, by far the best DIY insect killer spray you can find. You can treat the leaves of your plants that are infested with gnats by making homemade insecticidal soap and DIY fungus gnat spray.
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DIY Insecticidal Gnat Spray
- 2 tablespoons liquid Castile soap
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 gallon of water
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Before your gnat problem will turn into a gnat infestation, add the ingredients to a one-gallon container. Replace the top and shake the bottle to mix. Transfer some of the bug spray into a spray bottle.
Spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves to kill and prevent additional gnats. It may be necessary to repeat the process daily for several weeks to completely rid your house of gnats, but it is an effective gnat control solution.
Use this DIY mosquito spray for your yard, too. It eliminates gnats, mosquitoes, and other unwanted flying insects. It’s also a great fruit fly killer spray. Keep a bottle handy for flying bugs you find in the house.
How Can I Get Rid of Gnats with Vinegar?
One of the best ways to get rid of house flies with vinegar is to create a gnat trap using apple cider vinegar or red wine. Black flies, or gnats, are attracted to the sweet smell of the vinegar.
To trap gnats, pour an inch of apple cider or white vinegar into a small container, like a Mason jar. Add a few drops of dish soap to the liquid. Cover the opening of the jar with plastic wrap and secure it with a rubber band.
Use a toothpick to pierce small holes through the Saran wrap, giving the gnats a way to get to the vinegar trap. When the gnats fly into the container, their wings and legs will become covered with dish soap, leaving them unable to fly back out.
What Can I Spray to Keep Flies Away?
To answer the question “What can I spray to keep flies away,” we need to turn to essential oils. Essential oils have long been used to repel insects, including drain flies and gnats. There are several essential oils that you can use in your gnat repellent.
Some of the best gnat repellent on the market contain essential oils. The best essential oils to use to repel gnats are peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, cedarwood, tea tree, geranium, patchouli, and neem.
Dealing with gnats in and around your home can be incredibly frustrating because of how quickly they reproduce. With these simple gnat repellent solutions you can get your gnat infestation under control and finally rid your home of these pesky flying insects.
Recipe for Homemade Gnat Spray
Materials
- 1/2 gallon tap water
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper powder
- 1 tbsp canola or other oil
- 1 tbsp liquid natural soap
Tools
- 1/2 gallon container with a lid
- 16-ounce sprayer
- Teaspoon
- Tablespoon
Instructions
- Mix the liquids in the container.
- Replace the lid and shake to combine.
- Pour some of the gnat repellent into the sprayer.
- Spritz flying bugs.
- Add more liquid to the sprayer as needed.
Notes
Castile is a trusted natural soap.
We hope you enjoyed learning about how to make a homemade gnat spray to take care of the gnat problem in your home. If you found the information useful in this article, please don’t hesitate to share it with your friends and family.
FAQs
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 is the best homemade spray for gnats? ›
If you just have a couple scouts checking out the accommodations—as in, the gnats aren't swarming yet—fill a spray bottle with a cup of water, a tablespoon of vinegar, and a few drops of liquid dish soap and give it a good shake. Spritz gnats in flight to put an end to the infestation before it begins.
What is the fastest home remedy to get rid of gnats? ›
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.
Will vinegar spray kill gnats? ›
Vinegar itself does not get rid of gnats, but it is a good luring tactic to attract gnats into a trap. Vinegar smells sweet, so gnats will fly into a trap to get a drink. Using another substance like liquid dish soap helps to trap the gnats, that way they end up dying in the vinegar mixture.
How to make no gnat spray? ›
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.
What scent do gnats hate? ›
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.
What ingredients kills gnats? ›
In a small bowl, mix a half cup of warm water plus two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, and about six drops of liquid dish soap. Gnats will be lured in by the sugary mixture, but once they dip in for a drink, the sticky dish soap will trap them.
What really kills gnats? ›
Place a bowl near the infestation and fill it with vinegar before adding a teaspoon of plain sugar, which is what the gnats will be drawn to. The vinegar is what will ultimately kill them, but you also need a way to keep them in the bowl long enough for that to happen.
Why am I getting so many gnats in my house? ›
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.
What draws out gnats? ›
Body heat and moisture also play a role. Many species of gnats and flies are attracted by body heat. Others are in search of moisture. Not only are they drawn to perspiration, but also the mucous around your eyes and nose that can be a source of moisture.
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.
Does hydrogen peroxide kill gnats? ›
Additionally, hydrogen peroxide acts as an insecticide, killing the fungus gnats on contact. To get rid of fungus gnats, mix a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide with four parts water. Pour the mixture onto the soil around the infested plant.
What keeps gnats off of you? ›
Cover Up - Wearing Long Sleeves, Head Nets and Long Pants to reduce bodily exposure to biting gnats is helpful. Repellents - Using insect repellents approved for biting gnat prevention is only marginally effective and usually is nowhere near as successful as when used to repel mosquitoes.
Do dryer sheets deter gnats? ›
Dryer sheets can also be used to protect houseplants from annoying pests. Since they have been proven to repel fungus gnats, placing several dryer sheets near your houseplants could protect them from these root-eating pests.
What is the best natural remedy for gnats? ›
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.
What is the best homemade bug spray for a house? ›
Make an All-Purpose Insect Repellent
- 2 cups witch hazel, ½ tsp. Lemongrass or citronella oil, and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar.
- 1 cup isopropyl alcohol, 1 cup water, ½ tsp. catnip oil.
- 1 cup alcohol or witch hazel and 10-20 drops of essential oils such as lemongrass, peppermint, or lemon eucalyptus.
- 1 qt. vinegar, ½ tsp.
Allow the lawn and garden beds to dry more thoroughly between waterings. Hang gnat traps in areas you notice gnat swarms, and change the fly paper frequently. Electric or flame torches can help repel gnats and other insects from your outdoor spaces. Use outdoor gnat spray or DIY gnat spray on plants that attract gnats.
What to spray on screens for gnats? ›
Easy Steps to Banish Bugs for Good
One solution is to apply citronella oil around and on your doors and window screens. Citronella Oil has been used for many years as an insect repellent.
What kills gnats in drains? ›
✓ Boiling Water: Pour boiling water down your drains to wash away gnats and their eggs. ✓ Baking Soda Solutions: Use a mixture of salt, baking soda, and white vinegar to foam away bacteria in your pipes. ✓ Chemical Cleaners: For intense infestations, consider using a chemical cleaner like Drano.
