Gnats might be small, but if you’ve ever had them show up around your kitchen, houseplants, or sink, you know how annoying they can be.
The trick is to go straight to the source. Swatting the ones you see isn’t enough, and honestly, sometimes a simple trap just won’t cut it. Let’s read our complete guide on how to get rid of gnats in house.
1. Make Sure You’re Dealing With Fungus Gnats First
Before you start trying to get rid of those tiny flying bugs around your houseplants, make sure they are actually fungus gnats.
- Adult fungus gnats are super small and dark, usually about 1/8 inch long. They have skinny bodies, long legs, and clear wings, so they kind of look like little mosquitoes. If you see them flying slowly around your plant pots or crawling on the soil, that’s probably them.
- The larvae look totally different from the adults. They are tiny, legless, and kind of wormy, with pale or see-through bodies and little dark heads. You’ll usually find them hanging out in damp potting soil, munching on fungi, old plant bits, and sometimes even your plant’s roots.
It’s easy to mix up fungus gnats and fruit flies, but they like different things.
- Fungus gnats love hanging out around your houseplants and damp soil, while fruit flies are all about ripening or rotting fruit, food scraps, and anything sugary.
- Fungus gnats look more like tiny mosquitoes and stick close to your plants. Fruit flies are rounder, usually tan or brown, and you’ll spot them in the kitchen more often.
The biggest reason you’ll get fungus gnats is if your potting soil stays too wet.
Overwatering, not enough drainage, or old organic stuff breaking down in the soil all make it the perfect spot for larvae. If you tend to water your indoor plants a lot or keep them in humid spots, they’re more likely to attract these little bugs.
2. How to Get Rid of Gnats in House: 5 Best Ways That Work
If you see small flies around your houseplants, you need to control both the adult fungus gnats and the larvae in the soil.
#1. Catch Adult Gnats With Sticky Traps
Yellow sticky traps are an easy way to catch adult fungus gnats.
How to get rid of gnats in house with these traps:
- Place sticky traps on or just above the soil near the affected plants.
- Sticky traps help reduce flying adults and can stop some females from laying eggs. They do not kill larvae in the soil, so use them with other methods.
#2. Use an Apple Cider Vinegar Trap
Apple cider vinegar traps are a common home remedy for small flies.
- Place the trap near where you see gnats. The smell attracts flying insects.
- These traps work better for fruit flies than for fungus gnats. Since fungus gnats spend most of their life in the soil, focus on treating the soil.
#3. Treat the Soil to Kill Larvae
If fungus gnats are breeding in your houseplants, you need to target the larvae in the soil.
- Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (Bti) is a biological control that kills fungus gnat larvae when applied to the soil. It does not kill adult gnats.
- Follow the product label. For severe infestations, repot the plant with fresh potting soil and use a clean container to remove soil pests.
- Remove dead leaves and decaying material from the soil surface. Keeping the area clean reduces food and breeding sites for larvae.
#4. Let the Soil Dry Before Watering Again
One of the most important steps for getting rid of fungus gnats is to let the soil surface dry between waterings.
- Fungus gnats prefer damp growing media, particularly soil containing plenty of organic matter. Allowing the appropriate portion of the soil to dry makes the environment less suitable for eggs and larvae.
- Do not stop watering completely. Some houseplants need regular moisture. Check the soil before watering and make sure the pot drains well. Do not let the plant sit in water.
- Make sure containers have drainage holes. Empty extra water from saucers so pots do not sit in standing water.
#5. Try Simple Physical Barriers for Egg-Laying
You can add a layer of about half an inch of horticultural sand on top of the soil. The sand dries faster than the soil and makes the surface less attractive for egg-laying.
3. How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats?
If you’re dealing with fungus gnats, plan on 2 to 4 weeks to really get rid of them, especially if you tackle both the adults and the larvae together.
Just going after the flying gnats won’t cut it, since their eggs and larvae love to hide out in damp potting soil.
The best way to speed things up is to use a few different methods at once. If you stick with it, you’ll probably notice fewer gnats in a couple of weeks, but keep going for at least one full life cycle to make sure they’re really gone.
And if your house is on the cooler side, the gnats’ life cycle slows down, so it could take even longer.
The main thing is to stay consistent. That’s really the secret to breaking the fungus gnat cycle for good.
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4. How to Keep Fungus Gnats From Coming Back
After removing fungus gnats, make your houseplants less appealing to prevent them from coming back.
- Avoid overwatering: Fungus gnat larvae live in wet soil. Let the top 1 to 2 inches of soil dry out before watering again. Use pots with drainage holes and a potting mix that drains well to keep water from collecting around the roots.
- Treat the soil if needed: If you still see fungus gnats, there may be larvae in the soil. Use products with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) or beneficial nematodes like Steinernema feltiae to target the larvae. Always follow the instructions on the product label.
- Check new plants: New houseplants can bring in fungus gnats and their eggs. Look over the potting soil before bringing any new plant inside. Keep new plants separate from others for a few weeks to make sure they are pest-free.
- Keep soil clean: Remove dead leaves, plant material, and other debris from the soil surface. These can give fungus gnat larvae food and moisture. Clean your pots often and keep the soil surface dry to help stop fungus gnats from coming back.
5. FAQs
Does hydrogen peroxide kill fungus gnat larvae?
Yes. A diluted hydrogen peroxide solution will kill fungus gnat larvae in the soil on contact. Avoid repeated treatments, as this may affect helpful soil organisms.
What should I do if fungus gnats have spread to all my indoor plants?
Treat all affected houseplants at the same time. Let the top layer of soil dry between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps to catch adult gnats. Apply a soil treatment to target larvae.
What do gnats absolutely hate?
Fungus gnats do not thrive in dry soil. Let the soil surface dry out, improve drainage, remove decaying plant material, and use sticky traps to make your houseplants less attractive to fungus gnats.
Conclusion
This is especially helpful if you’re dealing with fungus gnats in your houseplants. Sticky traps, soil treatments, and even a few simple barriers can all make a difference. But honestly, the real game changer is keeping the soil from getting too wet. That’s what breaks the gnat life cycle.
Keep up with these steps for a few weeks even after you stop seeing gnats. We hope that with how to get rid of gnats in house, you’re less likely to have them come back.