Sometimes something gets stuck in your garbage disposal and attracts teeny tiny bugs. When that happens, you need to know how to get rid of them. Here’s how tot get rid of gnats in a garbage disposal.
Get Rid of Gnats with Vinegar
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Vinegar is an excellent component to catch gnats, fruit flies, and other bugs. The reason for this is its alluring scent. We can use this amazing household item in a lot of different ways. The selection of a suitable method is dependent on the intensity of the bug attack and the place where it is to be used.
For instance, if gnats are flying anywhere and everywhere inside your kitchen, you may have to use multiple cider vinegar traps (will be discussed later). On the other hand, if there are a few of these bugs in your living room, you can use a less extreme strategy. One such technique is explained below.
Materials Needed:
- Water
- Vinegar
- A spray bottle
- Dish Soap (optional)
Instructions
- Pour one cup of water into the spray bottle.
- Now, add one tablespoon of vinegar into it.
- In order to increase the efficiency of this mixture, you can add a few drops of dish soap.
- Shake the bottle to make sure that all the ingredients have been mixed.
- Keep this spray bottle near you and zap it on any flying gnat you see.
Important Note: This technique is safe for indoor plants and can be used in your living rooms.
Get Rid of Gnats with Dish Soap
Dish soap is an essential ingredient of various gnat traps because it prevents these tiny insects from flying out. One of these gnat traps is called the ‘Wine Trap’. Given the fact that wine is a sugary beverage, it lures gnats towards their death. You can use these traps alongside cider vinegar traps in case of heavy gnat infestation.
Materials Needed:
- A glass/bowl
- Wine (preferably stale wine)
- Dish Soap
Instructions
- Pour some wine into a glass.
- Add a few drops of liquid soap dish into the glass.
- Place the glass in an open place that is easily accessible.
Get Rid of Gnats with Vinegar and Dish Soap
Although gnats generally don’t harm (bite) us, they can be pretty irritating. Once they are inside your home, they will spread anywhere and everywhere. Consequently, you will find them in your kitchen, food, and even garbage disposal.
These persistent flying insects will keep making your life miserable if you don’t devise a suitable strategy against them. The ‘Cider Vinegar Trap’ is one of the most efficient solutions for this problem.
Materials Needed:
- Water
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Sugar
- Dish Soap
- A tablespoon
Instructions
- First of all, we need to remove the source of the gnats (a fruit or beverage can).
- Then, pour 1-2 cups of warm water into a bowl.
- After that, add a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in it.
- Once you have done that, mix a tablespoon of sugar into the solution until it dissolves. The scent of sugar will attract gnats towards this death trap.
- Lastly, add 4-6 drops of dish soap in the bowl to complete the preparation. This will prevent the insects from escaping the bowl.
Important Note: These traps are completely safe for children and pets.
Get Rid of Gnats with Bleach
Contrary to popular belief, bleach is not a cleaner and cannot clean dirt and other substances on its own. Having said that, it can provide the finishing touches if you scrub and rinse the surfaces first.
Bleach is an excellent disinfectant that is really good at killing germs. Similarly, it is pretty effective against tiny insects like gnats. This technique of eliminating gnats with bleach is generally used in bathrooms, where wine and vinegar traps fail.
Materials Needed:
- Water
- Bleach
Instructions
- Before starting the bleaching process, pour a gallon of boiling water into your drain. This will kill the majority of the gnats and eggs.
- After that, make a bleach solution by mixing a half cup of bleach in a gallon of water. The quantity of both these commodities can vary from case to case.
- Now, pour this mixture into the drain to eliminate the gnats that survived the boiling water.
- Keep repeating step 2 and step 3 until there are no more gnats in your drain.
Important Note: Don’t forget to wear protective gloves and mask.
Get Rid of Gnats with Essential Oils
Essential oils, extracted from different flowers and trees, are quite handy against gnats and other insects. The strong smell of these oils doesn’t suit these tiny creatures (nose, eyes, or throat irritation). As a result, they repel essential oils and stay away from these scents.
Even though a large variety of essential oils are available in the market, we have discussed a couple of home-based ones that yield the desired results.
Citronella Oil
The smell of Citronella is an ideal method to deter gnats away from your homes. The method of making a home-based Citronella oil gnat spray is explained below.
Materials Needed:
- Citronella Oil
- Water
- Dish Soap
- Spray Bottle
Instructions
- Firstly, pour two cups of water into the spray bottle.
- Then, add two teaspoons of Citronella oil and a few drops of dish soap into the water.
- Replace the lid of the spray bottle and shake it gently to mix all the materials.
- Spray the mixture in all parts of your home. Don’t forget to give special attention to your indoor plants, trash bins, and kitchen.
Neem Oil
Just like Citronella oil, Neem oil is an amazing option to tackle gnats. Not only is it a gnat repellent, but it also has the ability to destruct aphids. Consequently, it can offer a long-term solution to the gnat problem by disrupting the development of larvae. This essential oil is incredibly important for those people who are fond of indoor plants.
Materials Needed:
- Neem Oil
- Castile Soap
- Water
- Spray Bottle
Instructions
- Start the process by pouring a cup of water in a spray bottle.
- Then, add a couple of tablespoons of Neem oil in it.
- Follow it up with a tablespoon of Castile soap and close the lid of the bottle.
- Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients and spray it around the roots of the infested plants. You can also spray on leaves to counter fruit flies.
The Bottom Line
Although gnats are not harmful to humans, they are unavoidably frustrating once they enter the premises of your kitchen. From fruit baskets to garbage disposal, they will spread everywhere and will always be in your face. In these circumstances, you have no choice but to eliminate these irritating insects. These techniques ensure that you are ready and well-equipped for the hour of crisis.
