Gnats sure are pesky. They always seem to appear together at inconvenient times, such as when you’re busy in the kitchen or hard at work in the office. Fungus gnats in particular can be bothersome; they enjoy damp spots, which sadly can include your plants. As gnats can harm your experience at home - not to mention the customer experience at a commercial property - the question arises: How do you get rid of gnats?
Check out some details about gnats below and tips for how to get rid of them. And if you’re experiencing a bad gnat infestation, get in touch with Western Exterminator’s pest control experts. We’ll help eliminate gnats in your home.
These tiny flying bugs are more than just a minor annoyance. The term "gnat" can refer to several small flying insects, including fungus gnats and fruit flies. Most of the time, you’ll find them around rotting organic matter, overwatered plants, or areas with high humidity.
Fungus gnats are especially common indoors, where they can lay eggs in damp soil and quickly become a nuisance. Even though they’re small, gnats can have a big impact on comfort at home or at a commercial property.
Most adult gnats are about one-eighth of an inch long, with long legs and delicate wings. Their bodies are usually gray or black, and their wings can appear clear or slightly veined.
One way to tell the difference is that gnats tend to fly in swarms and hover near moist soil or food waste. If you're noticing small insects around your plants, drains, or food scraps, you might be dealing with gnats.
Some types of gnats, like biting midges, can bite humans, but indoor gnats, like fungus gnats, do not bite. Still, their presence can be irritating, especially when they gather near your face or food. If you're getting small, itchy marks, it's more likely from a different insect, like a mosquito.
Fungus gnats are drawn to moisture, rotting organic material, and light. Standing water in a sink, damp plant soil, or uncovered compost gives them both a food source and a place to breed. Even leftover produce or spills can invite gnats indoors. Reducing these attractants is a key part of preventing gnats from becoming a larger issue.
Fungus gnats lay eggs on moist potting soil or organic debris. Larvae mature in the soil. You may notice fungus gnats in houseplants that have been overwatered as well as greenhouses. Locations such as hotel lobbies and commercial building atriums may also contain fungus gnats. Light attracts fungus gnats and you may see them on glass doors and windows. Fungus gnats may also be found around lawns that have been overwatered, along with areas that have recently been mulched.
Additionally, fungus gnats may also be found on building roofs that fail to drain correctly. It can create a problem when an air handling system pulls fungus gnats into a building.
If you're dealing with gnats, you're not alone. Many people struggle with them in homes, offices, and outdoor areas. So, how to get rid of gnats? It depends on where you're seeing them, but the goal is the same: stop them at the source. Focus on removing their food source, drying out areas with excess moisture, and using tools like sticky traps to catch adult gnats.
Whether you’re dealing with a gnat issue in your sink, around your plants, or even outdoors, the sooner you act, the better. DIY methods, like using a dish of apple cider vinegar and dish soap, or covering baited containers with plastic wrap and poking small holes in the top can be helpful, but will not address the root cause. For long-term relief, contact our team for professional fly pest control.
It’s always frustrating to see gnats flying around in your yard when you’re trying to enjoy a relaxing weekend afternoon, and it can be even more frustrating if you don’t know how to get rid of gnats outdoors. To improve the situation, try to decrease your mulch so it is less than two inches deep, as moisture in mulch will allow gnats to breed. Western Exterminator can also apply spot treatments to the soil to help with the issue, so contact us if you’ve got a gnat problem.
When you’re cooking dinner and gnats are flying around your head, this can distract you from the work at hand and time with family. Plus, these pests will make your home unattractive to guests, and we know you are eager to avoid that problem.
You should first try to tell what kind of pest you’re looking at - for example, whether it’s a gnat or a phorid fly. The creature’s small size may make it a little hard to distinguish what it is, but phorid flies have flattened parts of their back legs.
If gnats are emerging from your garbage disposal, try putting some ice down the disposal, which could wear down organic matter there.
Every once in a while, you might spot gnats or drain flies in your bathroom. Gnats require moisture to reproduce and thrive, and what better place to find moisture than the bathroom? Also, soap scum and other materials often build up in drains and grout. Any fungus or decaying matter provides a meal that gnats love. To keep gnat populations under control in your bathroom, clean it frequently. You can also pour bleach or other type of cleaning agent down your drains to clear things out and remove the gnat-attracting build-up.
The office is another place where gnats can be a big problem. If you’re already stressed with all of the tasks on your plate at work, nothing is more vexing than tiny insects that won’t go away. These gnats may be coming from potted plants. If this is the case, simply try some of the plant strategies already discussed below in order to say goodbye to gnats.
Plants can enhance a space and create a positive atmosphere - but plant pests can definitely put a damper on that. Gnats are no exception. Fungus gnat management should focus on young fungus gnats rather than adults.
Once you’ve gotten rid of them, it’s important to learn how to prevent gnats from coming back. The first step is to stop overwatering plants. As we’ve seen above, too much watering creates moist soil where fungus and bacteria can grow, which is where gnats lay their eggs. Also, keep an eye on compost bins and always cover food scraps tightly.
Clean drains and garbage disposals frequently. Pouring boiling water down your sink can help wash away the organic material where gnats may breed. Keeping your home or workplace dry and clean reduces the places where gnats can reproduce and feed. And remember: while DIY methods might help short term, our pest control services are designed to provide effective, long-term solutions.
Sometimes, no matter what you try, gnats stick around. If you've used traps, cleaned up your property, and they’re still a problem, it's time to call in the professionals. A persistent infestation often points to a hidden food source or breeding area that’s easy to miss. We’re here to help. Our fly pest control service can tackle even the toughest gnat problems.
If your business is struggling, our commercial pest control team can work with you to protect your space and reputation.
Our technicians know how to get rid of gnats and can help you eliminate the problem. We can apply spot treatments to tackle the problem or install light traps to catch gnats. We are the local experts, and will make sure gnats and other flying pests stay out of your property.
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