How to Help Get Rid of Gnats Indoors

Whether it’s fruit flies in the kitchen or fungus gnats around your house plants, small fly infestations can be annoying and feel impossible to deal with. Thankfully, indoor gnat control isn’t as hard as you might think! Check out these steps to help you get rid of gnats indoors.

Where Do Gnats Come From?

One day your home is pest-free, the next it's buzzing with gnats. But where did all these small flies come from? Typically, gnats are pests that are either brought in accidentally on infested fruit or plants, or they're lured into our homes by excess moisture and allowed inside through unintentional entry points. To avoid inviting gnats inside, be sure to wash fruits and vegetables and allow them to dry thoroughly, change the soil on any new houseplants you bring in, and inspect your home for moisture issues and unwanted gaps, cracks, and crevices to address.

Gnats feed, breed, and hang out in sludgy, moist substrates. Gnats love to hover and are often seen flying just above their food source. The key to gnat and small fly control is to identify these problem areas and reduce or remove them as much as possible.

Indoor Gnat Control

The key to controlling any small fly problem is to find the source of the infestation. Flies feed and breed on moist, decaying organic matter. So, an overwatered house plant, the sludge building up in your sink, and even that cherry tomato that rolled under the fridge last week can all be viable sources for gnat problems. If you notice more gnats after a major home renovation or heavy rainstorm, it could indicate a structural moisture issue attracting and amplifying these pests. Identifying the kind of gnat you’re dealing with can help you determine what they’re feeding on. Once you find the source, removing it and cleaning the area around it can help drastically reduce gnat problems.

To recap:

Identify the Gnats

Fungus gnats prefer overwatered soil, fruit flies prefer fermenting foods, and phorid flies prefer grease.

Locate their Feeding/Breeding Source

Check waste bins, kitchen counters, sinks, drains, gutters, and house plants for signs of excess moisture or decaying organic matter.

Remove it and/or Address Major Moisture Issues

Removing the source removes the pests! For large home projects, like irrigation issues, pest populations will reduce gradually as these problems are fixed.

Gnat Prevention

To avoid a future gnat infestation, remember how gnats get inside: we invite them in. Be sure to wash fruits and vegetables brought into the home to remove any small fly eggs that might be on them. Take time to inspect your home for any unwanted entry points letting flies inside. And consider adjusting your home habits, like leaving windows open or doors left ajar, to keep flies and other pests out. Finally, connecting with a pest management professional, like Mosquito Squad Plus, can give you an additional layer of protection against gnats and other pests lingering just outside your home. Fly problems can be frustrating to deal with by yourself, especially if their food source is difficult to find.

Not Today, Gnats!

Got small flies? Not for long! Tell gnats to buzz off and call Mosquito Squad Plus today! Our Squad Fly Control pest package is the best defense against flies, and our team of techs is ready to answer any questions you have about managing flies. To learn more about Squad Fly Control and get a free quote on your service, call a Squad near you today! Services vary by location.