Gnats are one of the most annoying creatures on this planet.
As I type this article, one is flying around in my office. Now and again, it will fly past my face, causing an involuntary swipe of my arm in a futile attempt to kill it.
I have a can of fly spray within reach, though.
As gnats are attracted to fruit, vegetables, and other food types, it is no surprise that you will find them in your kitchen.
Sometimes, having a can of fly spray nearby is not enough because you don’t want to contaminate any food. It would help if you had another solution.
How do you get rid of gnats in the kitchen?
Here are ten tricks and traps!
10 Tricks You Can Use Today To Rid Your Kitchen Of Gnats
Apple Cider Vinegar
Gnats are attracted to the scent of fruit (fruit flies), so using apple cider vinegar is obvious.
This vinegar trap is easy to set up, and the gnats get stuck inside!
Get a small tub, and fill it with apple cider vinegar. Cover the top with cling/plastic wrap and poke some small holes with the tip of a pen. The holes need to be big enough for the flies to get in.
There you have it! A fully working, homemade gnat trap in your kitchen.
Wine Trap
This trap is precisely the same as the trap above but instead of using apple cider vinegar, you use wine (if you can spare some)!
Red wine works best for catching gnats.
To repeat what I said above:
Get a small tub, and fill it with red wine. Cover the top with cling/plastic wrap and poke some small holes with the tip of a pen. The holes need to be big enough for the flies to get in.
Homemade Gnat Killing Spray
This is what you need for a homemade gnat-killing spray:
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup of isopropyl alcohol
- A couple of drops of dish soap
Mix these in a spray bottle, and voila! You have a homemade gnat-killing spray.
Fly Zapper
At the start of this post, I mentioned I have a gnat flying around in my office.
It would not be flying around for long if I replaced the batteries in the bug zapper I have sitting on my desk!
Bug zappers are also a ‘set and forget’ gnat killer. Switch it on, and it attracts gnats and other flying insects. As soon as the gnat hits the zapper, it is killed.
Just don’t forget to replace the batteries!
Flypaper
Flypaper is an excellent way of getting rid of gnats in your kitchen!
They are a ‘set and forget’ trap that hangs on the wall or window and attracts gnats. As soon as the gnat lands on the flypaper, it is trapped.
Get yourself some flypaper today! You can always stick it out of sight. The scent will still attract gnats to it.
Candle Trap
You will get some success by using candle traps in the kitchen to get rid of gnats.
Its a bit tricky to use if you are in the kitchen, but this is what you need to do:
- Place a candle on a candlestick
- Fill a small pot with water
- Place the candlestick in the water
- Light the candle
- Switch off the lights
The gnats will be attracted to the candle and die from contact with the flame or in the water underneath.
It’s not very practical, but it does kill gnats.
Please do not leave a lit candle on its own. Observe until you have killed the gnats and extinguish the candle.
As I said, it is not very practical!
Chemical Spray
If you want to get rid of gnats in your kitchen, you can use a fly spray!
It sounds obvious, but it is one of the most convenient here.
Just ensure that you do not contaminate any food with the spray.
Drain Treatment
Many kitchen-based flies come from drains, called drain flies.
It will help if you treat your drains with proper drain cleaner or diluted bleach.
That way, you will kill all the drain flies that might be in your drains before they come out and annoy you!
Potato Chunks
It’s a bit extravagant, but you could consider using potato chunks to help control flies in your kitchen.
Why? Because the tiny annoying flies might be fungus gnats, and they might be coming from the plants you have in your kitchen.
Lay down some potato chunks in the soil of any plants in your kitchen. Potato is a massive attraction to fungus gnats!
Please wait a few days; the potato chunks should have attracted the fungus gnat larvae to them. Lift them out of your plants to reduce the number of larvae that will develop into flies.
Hiring A Pest Control Firm
If all else fails, and you find an infestation in your kitchen, speak to a local pest control firm.
Sometimes, you can deal with a small infestation using DIY pest control methods, but sometimes it is too much. If that is the case, then leave it to the experts!
A pest control company will come out and sort it for you.
Conclusion
Being as annoying as they are, it is easy to see why you want to eliminate gnats in your kitchen. The ten tips and tricks on this page will help you achieve that!
As with all DIY pest control advice, these tips will help, but if it gets too much and you need some expert help, engage with a pest control service.
These companies know what they are doing and will help you get rid of pests quickly and efficiently.
It is rare to have a gnat infestation but not impossible, especially considering the number of ways flies can get into your home!
The ideas on this page will help you to get rid of them.
Good luck!
