Do-It-Yourself Pest Control for Gnats/Flies

“Gnats,” also known as drain flies, fungus gnats, or fungus flies have been quite a nuisance in areas affected by The Great Flood of 2016. The good news is there are a few easy pest control measures you can do to get these pesky creatures under control.

Why are we seeing an abundance of flies/gnats after the recent flooding?

Drain flies/gnats live in and feed on moist, decaying, organic matter. In our post-flood environment, there is certainly no shortage of moist, decaying, organic matter. The piles of debris everywhere are the perfect breeding ground for these pests.

Why are there so many flies/gnats in my home?

Every time you open the door or the windows these pests come inside your home. They take up residence in the places of your home that provide moist, decaying, organic matter: your drains.

How can I get rid of them?

Here are a few inexpensive, home remedy options. Choose the option(s) that suit you best.

Clean your drains.

These work best if you do them at night before bed. To keep these pests under control, it’s a good idea to clean your drains once a week.

Pour hydrogen peroxide in the drain. It will foam up when it reacts to the bacteria in the drain, and it will kill adult flies/gnats as well as their eggs.

OR

Pour ½ cup salt down the drain. On top of the salt, pour ½ cup of baking soda. Then pour in 1 cup of plain white vinegar. It will foam, clean the drain, kill adult flies/gnats as well as their eggs.

Trap them.

Pour about an inch of apple cider vinegar in a glass and cover with a funnel. The insects will be attracted to the vinegar and will not be able to find their way out of the funnel opening.

If you try these simple home remedies, you will significantly reduce the amount of these pests inside your home. For more serious pest control issues, let us help you solve the issue. Contact us for help on termite control, pest control, or various other kind of insect issues.

Joe