how do i get rid of nats?

Question

i have nats everywhere. It seems like every morning there are like 100 more of them. They tend to be over the kitchen sink and dishes. I clean the dishes and clean everything but yet there are still there. I tried the natt stuff you buy at the store, the sticky paper. That cought 1. So it was no use. Just wondering if there is something i can do to get rid of them. I really dont wanna spay any flamable spray because the stove is right by the sink it's all atached. (i live in a studio appartment) so u can only imagine how small the kitchen is. I seems like they are just spreading too....someone help me!

Answer 1

Hi Meg,

I live in an apartment that was built over what was once swamp ground. I moved in when it was brand new so I new they weren't from a previous tenant. Here is what I did to get rid of mine:

First make sure you keep your kitchen CLEAN!
All dishes must be rinsed and put in dishwasher immediatly don't let them sit with water in them for knats (or most likley fruit flies) to sit and lay eggs. They multiply fast as you have figured out.

Next wash all cabinets, counters and floors with a combination of bleach and water. I like to put 1/4 bleach to 3/4 water in a spray bottle for cabinets and counters, makes it easy to continue to clean with.

Keep windows and doors without screens closed until you have them all killed so you do not attract more of them or other insects into your home.

Take down all light covers throughout home and wash throughaly, and dry before putting the back up. Believe it or not, that is where I found a lot of the little buggers were hiding when my house was completely spotless! Do this now, at end of summer, then after winter every year.

Now to get rid of the ones that are flying around. When kitchen is spotless, get a couple empty mayonaise jars or something simular, and pour 1/2 an inch of water into bottom, add something sweet that they will be attracted to, like honey, or jelly, 1 or 2 tablespoons should do the trick, and let sit out on counter. Leave them alone with it for a couple of hours and they should be attracted to it like "bee's to honey" as the old saying goes. Change as it gets filled or as you see fit. If you find that the honey or jam doesn't work, try something like sweetened yougurt. You could leave a couple of them out and it should clear up quite quickly. You could try trapping more in them by putting some of the sweetened stuff in a spray bottle and occationally spraying the ones in or on the inside of the jar so they don't get out as well, but make sure you put a towel under it first as you don't want to have them be attracted to your counters.... Don't use the bleach as the spray in the jars though or you will chase them away, they are attracted to the sweetness....

This was the only thing that worked for me and I haven't had a problem with them since. It has been 5 years now, and I tried everything!! Even the flypaper just like you did LOL! It didn't work for me either, hee hee....I'm still wondering why they sell that stuff, it didn't even catch any regular flies LOL!! Happy day to you! ;)

Answer 2

I'm assuming you don't have fruit standing out where they can live..........

Second, the gnats may be in houseplant soil, living on the fungus. To solve that is easy: fill the sink with water and dish washing liquid as if you were doing dishes. Now pour the water through your houseplants (I'm assuming they have good drainage holes in the pot bottom). Dose about 3 or 4 times, let sit a few minutes then follow with clean water.

Third, gnats may be coming from standing water.......in the sink pipes. Pour some bleach, Lysol, PineSol, whatever, put in the stopper and go to bed. Next morning they should be history.

Answer 3

Do you have a garbage disposal ? It might need cleaned out. The potted plants that was suggested is a good idea too.