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 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.
What is the best homemade spray to kill gnats? ›
You can certainly use vinegar to kill gnats, but don't just pour it directly on your plants! Instead, you'll want to make an apple cider vinegar trap, or a 50/50 spray of white vinegar and water.
What kills gnats immediately? ›
One method includes setting a bowl near the infestation and pouring apple cider vinegar, a teaspoon of sugar and a teaspoon of dish soap into the bowl. The sugar will attract the gnats, the dish soap will prevent them from escaping and the vinegar will kill them.
What smells make gnats go away? ›
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 is the best gnat repellent spray for humans? ›
Picaridin 20% is the safe and effective alternative to DEET and protects you for up to 12 hours against tickets, mosquitos, and other biting insects.
How do you stop gnats from flying around you? ›
Essential oils such as lemongrass, lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint work great to keep gnats out of your face. To make your own spray, fill a 4 oz (118 mL) glass spray bottle about halfway with distilled water, 1 oz (30 mL) of witch hazel, and 50-75 drops of any essential oil combination you'd like.
How do you make vanilla spray for gnats? ›
Simply add a few drops of vanilla extract to a small spray bottle of water. Play around with it and see what works for you. I've heard about 6 drops of vanilla extract per 8 ounces of water will do the job, then spray on all areas of your exposed body.
Do dryer sheets keep gnats away? ›
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 kills gnats and their eggs? ›
Hydrogen Peroxide
A peroxide solution apparently kills larvae and eggs on contact, effectively killing off all infant gnats and disrupting the lifecycle. You should be able to buy hydrogen peroxide from any high street pharmacy or online. Mix 1 part 9% hydrogen peroxide with 6 parts water.
What does baking soda do to gnats? ›
Baking Soda
Fungus gnats are also sensitive to baking soda. An ideal household remedy. Sprinkle some baking soda on the soil and then moisten it. The larvae that are in the soil absorb the baking soda and die over time.
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.
Why am I getting so many gnats in my house? ›
Clean up Sources of Organic Material
Gnats and many of their lookalikes are attracted to rotting organic materials. Whether it's damp potting soil and plant matter, scummy residue in drain pipes, or rotting food in a compost bin, these sources must be addressed if you want to get a handle on the issue.
Does Vicks help with gnats? ›
Does Vicks Vapor Rub help keep bugs away, flies away, and mosquitoes away? - Quora. No, it works only as a people repellent.
Can you spray for biting gnats? ›
Treat clothing with PERMETHRIN AEROSOL for added protection. This product is repellent to most insects and is a great help at keeping ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes, gnats and most any biting insect away. Its odorless and designed for use on hats, shirts, shorts, pants and shoes.
Will just vinegar kill gnats? ›
First, it is important to identify which pests you have in your home. Vinegar will work best for fruit flies, the most common gnats we find in our homes, but won't work as well when getting rid of fungus gnats, points out Tom Dobrinska, a board-certified entomologist with Ehrlich Pest Control.
Will rubbing alcohol kill gnats in plants? ›
An alcohol spray is effective for killing red spider mites, mealy bugs, whiteflies, aphids, fungus gnats, and scale. To make the spray, mix 1/2 to 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 1 quart of water in a pump-spray bottle. It's a good idea to test spray one leaf of an infested plant and wait a day to check for damage.
What gets rid of fruit flies and gnats? ›
Fill a microwave-safe bowl with apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish soap. Microwave the bowl so the mixture becomes even more aromatic. Leave the bowl out uncovered as fruit fly bait. The soap will reduce the surface tension, causing any fruit fly that lands on the surface to drown.
