How to Get Rid of Gnats in the Bathroom

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Have you noticed small flies in your bathroom? If so, your bathroom may be infested with tiny pests known as Gnats.

If you don’t take action soon, the small flies can quickly multiply in the bathroom.

A female gnat can lay up to 300 eggs within a few days. So, you need to get rid of them before they take over your bathroom.

Moisture from the shower, sink, and drain create the perfect breeding ground for gnats.

Gnats mostly take up residence in the bathroom sink. Getting rid of gnats from the sink is difficult since you cannot reach for them directly.

In this blog post, you will learn about some effective tips to get rid of gnats using natural ingredients.

Use Vinegar Solution

But there is an easier way to get rid of gnats from the bathroom sink.

Pouring boiling vinegar down the sink will get rid of gnat infestations.

You should simply boil apple cider vinegar in a pot and then pour the hot liquid into the sink.

This will effectively get rid of a gnat infestation in your bathroom.

Make Gnat Traps

Another effective way to get rid of gnats in the bathroom is to make gnat traps.

They are easier to trap when you use sugar. You can create a gnat trap by mixing a tablespoon of sugar, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap in a cup of water.

Place the mixture in the bathroom next to the sink or drain area.

Gnats will be attracted to the sweet liquid mixture but will die due to the apple cider vinegar present in the mixture.

The dish soap will prevent the gnats from sitting on the water.

Another way to create a gnat trap is to place rotting fruit in a can.

Cover the lid of the can with plastic wrap and make small holes. The small flies will be attracted by the smell of the fruit but won’t be able to get out once inside the can.

Use Ammonia Solution

Add about 3 cups of ammonia in a gallon of steaming hot water to create a mixture for killing gnats in the bathroom.

When using this method, you need to open the doors and windows of the bathroom as the fumes of the mixture can be toxic. Moreover, you should cover your eyes and ears when pouring ammonia into the water.

Gnats that will come in contact with ammonia will not be able to mate. This will effectively get rid of gnat infestation from the bathroom. You should clean the drain and bathtub using the method.

Leave the liquid for about five minutes and then flush it clean.

You can also use a scrubber to apply ammonia solution at the base of the toilet. Next, you should add boiling water to kill the gnat eggs.

Make sure that you wait about 3 minutes before pouring the hot water around the toilet base. Lastly, you should wipe the area using a dry cloth to remove dampness.

Use a Spray Bottle

You can also create a spray bottle to get rid of gnats in the bathroom.

Mix vinegar, water, and dish soap in a spray bottle.

This method will not kill gnat eggs but is effective in dealing with individual flies.

You should combine this method with other methods to get rid of gnat infestation from the bathroom.

Use Finger Nail Polish

Fingernail polish is also effective in killing gnats.

The chemical found in nail polish can effectively kill gnats.

Stick pieces of cotton in a transparent glass using glue. Now put nail polish remover on the cotton.

The gnats that will sit on the cotton will die instantly.

Use Baking Soda Paste

Baking soda solution will not just kill the gnats but also clean the pipes and drains.

You can easily create a baking soda paste to get rid of gnats.

You will need half a cup of baking soda and one cup of water to kill the gnats.

Mix the baking soda until a paste consistency is achieved. You should next coat the surface of the tiles and bathtub with the paste.

Make sure that you wear gloves when applying the paste.

Let the mixture sit there until it turns dry. It will take about six minutes for the baking soda to dry.

Now, turn on the water and use a rubbing brush to wash the tile and bathtub. You should clean the area thoroughly to remove gnat eggs on the tile and bathtub surface.

Don’t allow children to come into the bathroom when using the paste. The solution may cause an allergic reaction.

Use Baking Soda and Vinegar Solution

You can also use baking soda and vinegar to kill gnats in the bathroom.

Pour baking soda down the bathroom sink and then add vinegar. The mixture will fizz and bubble and may come out of the drain pipe.

Let the mixture remain in the drain for one hour. Next, you should pour boiling water down to kill the gnats once and for all.

A baking soda and vinegar solution will instantly kill the gnats including eggs and larvae.

It will also loosen the organic material inside the drain pipes that will get rid of the food source of the flies.

Moreover, the baking soda and vinegar solution is effective against ants, moths, cockroaches, and other insects.

You can kill just about any creepy crawlers in the bathroom using this method.

Use Bleach

Using bleach is another effective method to eliminate gnats from the bathroom. Bleach is a stronger pest removal solution as compared to vinegar or baking soda. But the bleach does not clean the pipes similar to baking soda solution.

You can create a bleach solution by mixing a cup of liquid bleach in about ten cups of water.

Pour the bleach mixture down the drain pipe and let it sit for about an hour. Use cold water to flush the drain pipe.

The benefit of using a homemade natural insecticide is that you don’t have to purchase costly commercial products to get rid of gnats.

You can use the natural method multiple times to get rid of the gnats from your bathroom for good.

The natural solution is also safe for the environment.

Preventing a Gnat Infestation in the Bathroom

Gnats are attracted to the bathroom due to moisture.

Dampness and moisture along with organic material in the drainpipe create the perfect breeding ground for gnats.

Prevention is more effective in keeping gnats out of the bathroom.

Here are some tips to prevent a gnat infestation in your bathroom.

Keep Bathroom Clean

You will most likely stumble upon gnats around the shower, bathtub, and sink area in the bathroom.

To avoid a gnat infestation, you should keep these areas dry.

Check the area near the bathtub and sink for stagnant water.

You should mop water immediately to avoid giving gnat flies a chance to breed.

Shower curtains should also remain dry. Flies can lay their eggs on the curtains if they remain wet most of the day.

Clean Drains

Dirty drains are one of the main reasons that gnats infest the kitchen.

You should make it a habit to clean the drains at regular intervals. Use baking soda and an ammonia solution to clean the drain pipes each week.

You can also use a metal pipe brush to clean the drains.

The metal pipe brush is available in most hardware stores. Push the metal brush as far as you can inside the pipe. You should move the brush back and forth to remove gunk build-up inside the pipes.

Once you have cleaned the drain, you should pour boiling water down the pipe.

Hot water will flush the organic material down the drain. Removing the food source will prevent gnat fly infestation in the bathroom.

Fix Leaky Pipes

You need to fix any and all leaky pipes to prevent gnat infestation in the bathroom.

Leaks create a puddle of water that creates an ideal breeding spot for flies.

Check the pipes regularly for a leak. You should get the pipes repaired even in case of a tiny leak.

To prevent gnats from thriving in the bathroom, you need to keep the bathroom perfectly dry.

Store Towels in Lidded Hamper

Gnat flies can lay eggs in wet towels. You must store towels in a lidded hamper to prevent female gnats from laying eggs.

In addition, you should keep the curtains and blinds open to let sunlight inside.

Sunlight can dry wet towels thereby preventing a gnat infestation.

Final Remarks

Gnat flies are a nuisance in the bathroom. You can eliminate the pests from your bathroom using natural homemade solutions.

Dampness is the main reason gnats thrive in the bathroom.

To avoid a gnat infestation, you should keep the bathroom dry at all times.

You need to kill gnats at all stages of their lifecycle. Using a spray to kill gnats will not be enough to get rid of gnats from the bathroom.

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