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 to kill 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 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 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.
What is a homemade gnat catching solution? ›
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.
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.
Can I spray my plants with vinegar to get rid of 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 do gnats hate the most? ›
Or, you can switch up your favorite scent with something they don't like. Try Lighting citronella candles using lemon or vanilla sprays. While gnats are a fan of sweet-smelling fruit, they can't seem to stand vanilla, lemon, or even lavender. A little spritz can at least keep them at bay.
What can I spray outside for gnats? ›
To get rid of Gnats outside, remove moisture around your home and then apply a combination of Flex 10-10 Insecticide and Martin's IG Regulator. Flex 10-10 is a pyrethrin-based insecticide concentrate that is known for a long residual and quick knockdown of a variety of pests, including gnats.
How do you make homemade gnat repellent for humans? ›
Simply combine equal parts pure vanilla extract and water to make a topical gnat repellent. Store in the container of your choosing. You can then dab the repellant on your face or skin with a reusable cotton round or cloth. Plus, you'll smell like a walking bakery.
It is possible to apply pest control methods that eliminate the gnats without damaging your indoor plant collection. Mix one tablespoon of lemon-scented dish soap with two liters of water. Pour into a spray bottle. Spray the infested houseplant liberally with the soap mixture.
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.
How do you use peppermint oil for gnats? ›
How to get rid of fungus gnats on house plants: In a 2 oz spray bottle: ➡️Hydrogen peroxide ➡️ water ➡️ 10 drops of peppermint oil Spray on the soil twice a day until the gnats are gone - have you tried this before?
Why am I getting so many gnats in my house? ›
Gnats are attracted to anything that smells fruity and sweet. Therefore, fruit-scented hygiene and beauty products tend to draw gnats into the house. Rotting food in the drain. A buildup of food in the drain would, over time, result in an infestation of house gnats.
What can I use instead of vinegar for gnat trap? ›
You can make a homemade fruit fly trap without apple cider vinegar. We find that apple cider vinegar works best, but you can substitute beer, wine, fruit juice, or a piece of old fruit like banana or apple. Fruit flies are attracted to any fermented smell.
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.
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.
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.
How do I get rid of drain gnats permanently? ›
Clean Your 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.
