How to Drive Away Gnats for Good: Easy DIY Methods

Download Article

Get rid of the gnats in your house fast with these simple home remedies

Co-authored by Kevin Carrillo and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: November 21, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

Dealing with Infestations

|

Preventing Infestations

|

Repelling Gnats

|

Video

|

Expert Q&A

|

Tips

While gnats aren’t necessarily harmful, they sure are annoying! Luckily, there are lots of ways to trap and exterminate these pests without having to resort to using expensive commercial products. Best of all, most of the supplies you need, you probably already have! Whether you've got an infestation on your hands, you're looking to prevent one from occurring, or you just want simple tips for keeping gnats away from you, keep reading: we've got everything you need to know!

Things You Should Know

Trap the gnats in a bowl of vinegar, sugar, water, and dish soap, or put a vinegar-soap-water mixture in a spray bottle and spray the gnats when you see them.
Deter gnats from gathering in your house by maintaining a clean environment, free of dirty dishes or rotting food.
Keep gnats away from you by wearing scents gnats hate, like peppermint, vanilla, or lavender.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Dealing with Gnat Infestations

Download Article

1
Mix apple cider vinegar, water, sugar, and dish soap to trap gnats. Use 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon (12 grams) of sugar, ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 mL) of dish soap, and ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of warm water. Combine everything in a small bowl and place it in the infected room. Leave it overnight and clean it out in the morning. Repeat this process as many times as you need.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- The scent of the sugar and apple cider vinegar will attract the gnats to the bowl. When they get close to the bowl, the soap suds will trap them and pull them down into the water.
Tip: You can also use red wine and dish soap to the same effect. Gnats will be attracted to the scent of the wine and will get sucked down into the glass or bowl by the soap.
2
Cover a bowl of mashed banana with plastic wrap to attract gnats. Gnats love rotten fruit, so you can use this to your advantage to trap them. Simply mash up a banana, place it in a bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and poke little holes in the plastic with the tines of a fork. The gnats will enter through the holes to get to the banana but won’t be able to get back out again.
- Because this method doesn’t necessarily kill the gnats, make sure to dispose of the banana and the plastic wrap in the outdoor trash. You may even want to use a disposable bowl so you can just throw the entire trap away.
Advertisement
Dilute bleach and pour it down the drains if gnats congregate near them. Use ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of bleach to 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water and slowly pour it down the drain. The diluted bleach should kill any gnats that are living in the drain. Repeat this process daily until you no longer notice any gnats.^{[2]
X
Research source}

Warning: Wear a mask and protective gloves when you work with bleach. It also isn’t a bad idea to wear old clothes, just in case you accidentally splash some on yourself.
4
Spray gnats with a mixture of water, isopropryl alcohol, and dish soap. Mix ¹⁄₅ cup (47 mL) of water, ¹⁄₅ cup (47 mL) of isopropryl alcohol, and 1 teaspoon (4.9 mL) of dish soap in a clean spray bottle. Whenever you see gnats flying around, spray them with the mixture: they'll drop to the floor and die.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- This is a great non-toxic way to deal with gnats. It’s unlikely to harm any of your belongings, and it won’t hurt your plants, pets, or kids.
- Need ideas for getting rid of fungus gnats? Get tips from wikiHow users at our Need advice on getting rid of fungus gnats forum.
Place a candle in a bowl or on a tray that is partially filled with water. Light the candle, close the curtains, and turn off all the lights. The gnats will be attracted to either the candle or the candle’s reflection in the water. The candle itself will burn their wings, while the water will trap them.^{[4]
X
Research source}

Warning: Always practice fire safety. Never leave a burning candle unattended, and don’t place this trap near any loose fabric or somewhere it could easily get knocked over.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Things That Attract Gnats

Download Article

1
Throw out fruit that has started to rot or keep fresh produce in the fridge. Gnats love fruits that have started to get a little ripe—the sweet smell attracts them by the dozens. When you can, store fruits in the fridge. If you notice that fruit on the counter is starting to rot or attract bugs, throw it out or compost it.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.}
- Similarly, if you collect food scraps for composting, don’t leave the bucket or bowl exposed in the kitchen. Use a covered container, or take scraps directly outside to the compost heap.
2
Keep your sink clean and clear of dirty dishes. Gnats love moist areas, especially if any food bits are laying around. Make it a goal to wash your dishes or load them into the dishwasher right after you eat. At the least, make sure to clean the dishes and your sink at the end of each day to prevent dirty dishes from attracting gnats.^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.}
- Don’t leave prepared food sitting out on the counter for longer than 30 minutes. Store food in reusable containers and put them into the fridge as soon as possible.
- If you have a garbage disposal, make sure to run it after rinsing off your dishes so that food scraps don’t accumulate in there.
3
Empty the trash bins in your home daily if there are food scraps in them. The longer old food sits in the trash, the more likely it is to attract gnats. You may not need to do this in rooms where food isn’t getting thrown away, but in your kitchen, it can definitely help keep away gnats to take the trash out at the end of each day.^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.}
- Similarly, if you have open trash cans outside, make sure they aren’t located next to any windows. The gnats could be attracted to the trash and then find their way indoors through the window.
Tip: Invest in a trash can with a lid that seals. An open trash can is an open invitation to gnats. But a trash can with a lid that firmly closes can keep gnats away from the food and waste inside.
4
Move potted plants with damp soil outdoors if they’re attracting gnats. If you notice gnats congregating around your favorite houseplant, that might mean its soil is too damp and needs to dry out a little bit. Set it outside or in a garage or shed for a few days until the soil starts to dry out. If this doesn’t work, you may want to repot your plants in fresh soil.^{[8]
X
Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.}
- On the flip side, there are a few plants that repel gnats. These can be potted and kept indoors, or you can plant them outside if you struggle with gnat infestations outdoors. Try growing geraniums, lemon thyme, lavender, and marigolds; these are the best natural repellants.^{[9]
  X
  Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Keeping Gnats Away from Your Body

Download Article

1
Keep a scented dryer sheet in your pocket to repel gnats while you’re outdoors. Dryer sheets are often scented to smell like lemon balm, geranium, lavender, and other fragrances that repel gnats. Simply put a scented dryer sheet in your pocket or wrap it around a belt loop to naturally keep gnats away.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- In addition to keeping away gnats, the dryer sheet may also help repel mosquitos.
- If your outfit doesn’t have a pocket or belt loops, you could pin it to your clothes. It might look a little silly, but it should help!
2
Dab on a few drops of vanilla extract before you head outside. It turns out that gnats hate the smell of vanilla! Mix together ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 mL) of vanilla extract and ¹⁄₂ teaspoon (2.5 mL) of water. Put the mixture onto a cotton ball and rub it on your neck, wrists, collarbone, and ankles.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- If you’re going to be outdoors for a long time, bring a small container filled with extra extract to reapply throughout the day.
- If you have vanilla absolutes or fragrance oils, these may also work—just make sure they contain real vanilla!
3
Apply peppermint cream for a minty, natural gnat repellent. Peppermint is another one of those scents gnats just don’t like, and you can make your own cream using essential oils and shea butter. In a small, clean container, mix together ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of shea butter and 4-6 drops of peppermint essential oil. Rub the cream onto your hands, neck, legs, arms, and any other areas of exposed skin.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- If you don’t have shea butter, use another moisturizer that doesn’t have added scents.
Tip: Rosemary, cedarwood, and geranium oil have similar effects to peppermint oil.
4
Wear sunglasses and a bandana when walking through infested areas. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to avoid it, you might end up walking through a heavily infested gnat area. To keep them away from your eyes, mouth, and nose, wear a pair of sunglasses and wrap a bandana around your face. Once you’re away from the area, you can remove these items.
- Gnats won’t harm you—they don’t bite or transmit diseases—but they are annoying and can ruin a nice day. Do your best to be prepared when you go outdoors, especially if you’ll be near still water sources.

Join the Discussion...

Need advice on getting rid of fungus gnats

16

WikiDesertJumper764

I have fungus gnats in every single one of my poor plants!! I desperately want to get rid of them. What's the most effective way to get rid of th... Read More

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

The fastest way to get rid of gnats is going to be to figure out what it is that is attracting them and get rid of it. With flying insects, it's... Read More

WikiDesertJumper764

I know that damp soil can lead to gnat infestations, so I've been bottom watering my plants because it doesn't leave the topsoil wet. I just plac... Read More

See all 5 Replies and

Read Discussion

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

What causes gnats to be in your house?

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC
Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

Kevin Carrillo

Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Answer

Gnats are generally attracted to decaying organic matter and moisture. Either of these will attract gnats into your home, so don't leave any rotten fruit out, take your trash out on time, and clean up any spills or moisture whenever you spot a problem. So long as you keep your home relatively dry and you don't leave rotting fruit out, you shouldn't run into a big problem with gnats.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 8

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

The best way to deal with gnats is to prevent them from appearing. But, if they do appear, it will likely only take 2-3 days to completely rid your house of them.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If your pet is bothered by gnats, try spraying your pet with an apple cider vinegar and water mixture. Make sure to cover their eyes so they don’t get irritated!

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Gnats like damp areas, so run a dehumidifier in your home if there's a lot of moisture in the air.
Clean up any dirty dishes in your sink each night so gnats don't find any food scraps.

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!