The Best Way To Get Rid of Gnats for Good, According to 5 Exterminators

It’s summertime and I couldn’t be happier. I’m getting my fill of all the summer produce, experimenting with refreshing recipes, and stocking up on poolside snacks. However, the downside to all these warm-weather pluses is one big buggy problem: gnats.

My kitchen is plagued with gnats, and I can't stand it. The little flying pests seem to just show up no matter what I do and, frankly, it’s embarrassing. Because I know I’m not the only one with this problem, I reached out to a number of pest extermination experts to find the best way to get rid of them for good, and here’s what they have to say.

The 5 Exterminators I Spoke to

• Jason Napolski: President and CEO of A-Tex Pest Management
• Nicole Carpenter: President at Black Pest Prevention
• Allan Bossel: Operations Expert at Bed Bug Exterminator
• Nikki Torgerson: Owner of Advanced Bed Bug Preparation
• Scot Hodges: VP of Professional Development and Technical Services at Arrow Exterminators

Identifying the Gnat Problem

“The most common attractants for gnats are moist soil, overripe fruit, dirty drains, open trash, food spills... basically anything damp or rotting,” says Torgerson.

"The kitchen provides the perfect environment for gnats to breed and feed, especially during warmer months,” adds Napolski. The problem can start in the trash can spotted with condensation, an unwashed drain, or an overwatered potted plant. 

It’s also important, flags Bossel, to distinguish between two common types of small, flying insects before you begin your fight: “If gnats are zipping around your fruit bowl, you’re probably dealing with fruit flies. If they’re hugging the sink or crawling out of potted plants, they are likely fungus gnats. Kill the wrong one and the real problem sticks around." It's important to watch where they hang out, he adds.

The Gnat-Be-Gone Solution

In order to eliminate the gnats, the experts suggest a couple courses of action.

Targeting the adults and their breeding sites is key. Napolski says, "Remove the source. Throw out overripe fruit, clean food debris from the sink, and empty the trash.” The other experts agree that a kitchen deep clean is in order.

In addition, removing any source of dampness or decay is crucial. Carpenter suggests cleaning drains with a stiff drain brush and a baking soda-vinegar mixture and rinsing the trash bin from time to time to remove stuck-on gunk.

Besides proper maintenance, Bossel believes sticky traps are the quickest way to knock out gnats. “Place them near drains, windowsills, and any indoor plants. Gnats are visual flyers and are drawn to the color,” he explains, noting that the traps will eliminate the adults.

These, paired with a good cleaning, should get rid of any remaining eggs. “If you only use a trap without making changes to your home sanitation, the adult gnat population will reduce for a while," Hodges warns, "but if you don't eliminate food sources and breeding sites, they will keep coming back.”