Got A Gnat Problem? Here Are Some Tips On Getting Rid Of Them

It's one thing to deal with mosquitoes, but this plague of gnats that we're currently experiencing here in Northern Illinois is getting on people's nerves.

I don't know about your place, but mine (and many others I've talked to) seems to swarming with gnats. No, they don't repeatedly stab you with their noses like our old friend the mosquito, but they're just everywhere in their little clouds of annoyance.

They fly around your face, they get into your hair and ears, they swarm your pet's eyes, ears, and...other spots.

It's pretty amazing how something so small that doesn't bite can be such a colossal pain in the butt.

I'm not going to waste your time and mine by getting into the hows and whys of gnats being here, rather I'd like to get right to it with some tips on getting rid of them.

CountryLiving.com:

Use fly paper:

There's really no solution more trustworthy—or oddly satisfying—than fly paper, which simply catches flying bugs on its sticky exterior. You can either hang "ribbon fly paper" from areas in your home that get a lot of gnat traffic or try window fly paper, which will cover an entire window in an adhesive sheet.

Try a bug zapper:

Though it works better with larger bugs (such as mosquitoes), a bug zapper is always an option. And nowadays, there are plenty of brands and designs that are safe to use indoors and out.

Try making a trap using apple cider vinegar:

A half cup of warm water plus two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of sugar, and about six drops of liquid dish soap just might be able to cure your gnat woes. They'll be lured in by the sugary mixture, but once they dip in for a drink, the sticky dish soap will trap them. Simply mix the solution together in a small bowl, place it in the areas where you've noticed the most gnats, and wait for results.

Use a wine trap:

Don't worry; we're not asking you to sacrifice your wine collection just to kill a few gnats! Instead, for this nifty trapping trick, you'll want to use an expired wine—one that's nearly turned into vinegar. You can use it in nearly the same way that you used the aforementioned apple cider vinegar trick: Pour out some of the stale wine into a small vessel, add in a couple drops of dish soap, then place the mixture in gnat-filled areas of your home and wait for the bugs to drop in.

Set a candle trap:

Here's a trick that seems almost too good (and easy, and old-school) to be true: Place a tall candle into a candlestick, then place the candlestick into a small pan filled with water. Turn off all the lights, then light the candle and wait for gnats to make their way to the flame. They'll either hit the flame itself or fall into the water below. As with any lit candle though, you must stay in the room and attend to the flame with caution until it's time to blow it out.

Lure them with rotten fruit:

Yes, the very thing that caused the infestation in the first place might be your best bet when it comes to ending it. Add a few pieces of overripe fruit to a large bowl, then cover with plastic wrap and use a rubber band to keep it firmly in place. Use a toothpick to poke a few holes in the top. Soon, gnats and fruit flies will flock to the fruit, making their way in through the tiny holes—but they won't know how to reemerge.