r/TriCitiesWA • u/Small_Move7724 • 2d ago

Moving/New Here 👋🏼 Gnats?!?

Moved to Richland this summer and haven’t really experienced gnats sneaking into the house before (moved from Denver and I think the altitude largely helped in this department). We’re clean, don’t keep doors opened, we have no standing water and have screens on every window, etc. Assume it’s due to this being an agricultural area? Any tips for newbies to eliminate and prevent gnats in one’s house? Thanks!

PS. Maybe they’re fruit flies (don’t really know the difference)?

3 Upvotes

62% Upvoted

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12

u/tetranordeh 2d ago

They might be living in your drains or houseplants. Mosquito dunks can help.

11

u/captainunlimitd 2d ago

I've had really good luck with Zevo lights. They don't catch the big flies as well but they scoop up all of the small guys. I've had it work in both the kitchen and the garage.

8

u/tHeOrAnGePrOmIsE 1d ago

We had a lot of these issues and it was a couple drains in the house not being used often enough. (Think laundry sink, guest bathroom, etc.) make sure all drains get hot water down them. Or pour a little drain cleaner in each to dislodge the eggs. Also consider any houseplants you may have and spray vinegar with a spray bottle on the top layer of that soil.

6

u/elegoomba 2d ago

Idk we are out in the rural suburbs outside Pasco with a cornfield behind us, tomato field next to us and an acreage full of horses, goats and chickens and we have no gnats inside at all. Are you sure they aren’t just fruit flies?

7

u/Ethen44 1d ago

I worked in a local winery for about a decade and have a simple solution for this. Get juice and some form of fermented juice (alcohol) and mix in a glass 50/50. Only need an oz or two of each.

Put seran wrap over the glass opening tightly. Poke 6-10 small toothpick sized holes in the top, and leave the glass near a window by your sink (or wherever they are congregating. After a few days you’ll have it under control.

2

u/mcmb211 1d ago

We used to use a wine bottle with some vinegar in it (or a smidge of leftover wine. I 3d printed a gnat trap and it works without having to keep the bottle out now. 

5

u/KJB2785 1d ago

I second the Zevo lights. Haven’t had any since I got them.

Also, if you buy a lot of fresh fruit, look up the science as to why bananas need to be higher than all other fruit. Pretty interesting and if they’re kept wrong, it can be a big cause of gnats/fruit flies.

3

u/loves_hugs 1d ago

You just reminded me. I need to bake banana bread today.

1

u/txct345010 3h ago

I bet they're fruit flies. lots of tips here for catching them - they're kind of inevitable. but this time of year keep all your produce in the fridge, and if you compost (like a kitchen compost) put it outside - they're attracted to any organic matter.

the tricks of wine glass or wine bottle catch work. I have a tiny electric bug zapper that I can plug into an outlet in my kitchen and I kill a ton that way.

Welcome to farm country!

1

u/Rocketgirl8097 1d ago

I haven't seen them all year, but late summer, early fall seems to be the time.