Best Way to Get Rid of Gnats Indoors: Home Remedies That Work

Few things will test your patience at home like a sudden swarm of gnats in your kitchen or living space.

These tiny pests seem to show up overnight, buzzing around fruit bowls, houseplants, and even your sink.

The good news is that you can get rid of gnats indoors with simple home remedies and practical prevention steps.

In this guide, I focus on home remedies to get rid of gnats in the house that are safe, affordable, and easy to use.

You’ll learn which methods work, what causes gnats to take over your space, and how a few habits can stop them before they start.

If you want fast, effective tips that actually keep gnats out for good, you’re in the right place.

Find and Eliminate Gnat Breeding Sources Indoors

Gnats don’t appear from thin air—they thrive in moist, organic environments.

If you want the best way to get rid of gnats indoors, first think about where excess moisture—and decaying material—might be lurking, even in places you walk by daily.

Here are the top spots:

Overwatered Houseplants: Fungus gnats love damp soil that never gets a chance to dry out. If you see one too many gnats around your plant babies, the soil could be their nursery.
Kitchen Garbage and Compost: Any organic scraps sitting in the trash or under the sink become a banquet for gnats.
Clogged Drains: Food bits or sludge inside sink, tub or floor drains create perfect breeding conditions.
Pet Water Bowls and Food Dishes: Unless cleaned daily, these areas build up grime that attracts gnats.
Unwashed Dishes: Leaving dirty plates or cups in the sink for hours, especially with juice or fruit residue, invites gnats inside.

A quick check of these areas goes a long way in eliminating the sources that feed gnat populations.

Remove What Attracts Gnats

Getting ahead of a gnat infestation means making your indoor environment less appealing to these tiny pests.

Here’s what you need to do moving forward:

Let Soil Dry Between Waterings
- For plant lovers, let the top inch of soil dry out before watering again.
Take Out Trash Regularly
- Don’t give organic matter time to break down in your bins. Removing kitchen garbage daily cuts off a key food source for gnats.
Keep Sinks and Drains Clean
- Use a wire brush or pour a mix of baking soda and vinegar down the drain—flush afterward with boiling water. This scrubs out the slimy buildup gnats love to lay eggs in.
Clean Up After Pets
- Swap water often and rinse feeding bowls to keep things clean and dry.
Clear Away Unwashed Dishes
- Rinse plates and cups, especially after eating fruit or drinking sweet drinks. The less residue, the fewer gnats.

Seal and Store Food Properly

Gnats are attracted to the faintest smell of ripening or rotting produce. To avoid drawing these pests inside, keep food sealed and stored away:

Use airtight containers for fruit, bread, and leftovers.
Store ripe produce in the fridge instead of on the counter.
Clean up spilled juices or food crumbs right away.

The Best Home Remedies to Get Rid of Gnats in the House

If you’ve already tracked down breeding grounds, it’s time to try the best home remedies to get rid of gnats in the house.

Many of these are simple, low-cost, and use ingredients you likely have on hand.

Don’t underestimate these approaches—when done right, they knock out current gnats and break the breeding cycle, so you can reclaim your space.

Apple Cider Vinegar Traps

Apple cider vinegar acts as a secret weapon in the fight against gnats. Its sweet, pungent scent lures these pests quickly.

Fill a small bowl with apple cider vinegar.
Add a drop of dish soap. The soap breaks the surface tension, causing gnats to sink and drown.
Place the bowl near gnat hotspots, such as next to fruit bowls or potted plants.

You can set up several traps around your home for larger infestations.

Homemade Gnat Spray

Whipping up a quick homemade spray can kill gnats on contact, especially when they hover near plants, windows, or drains.

Here’s an easy recipe:

Mix equal parts water and isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle (about half a cup each).
Add a teaspoon of mild dish soap, then shake gently.
Spray directly onto visible gnats or breeding areas.

This mixture is a go-to for many households, as it targets gnats without harsh chemicals.

Red Wine or Beer Traps

If you’ve got leftover red wine or an unfinished beer sitting out, gnats will find it irresistible.

Pour a small amount into a shallow dish and, just like with apple cider vinegar, add a few drops of dish soap.

The aroma lures them in, and the soap seals their fate.

Place these traps on the kitchen counter or near indoor trash bins. Swap out the liquid every couple of days.

Sticky Traps

Sticky traps are easy to use and surprisingly effective.

You can buy yellow sticky cards at most garden centers or online, then prop them near your plants or kitchen sink.

The bright color pulls in gnats, while the sticky coating keeps them there. For a cost-saving touch, try coating yellow index cards in petroleum jelly.

Baking Soda and Vinegar for Drains

For gnats coming from drains, a once-a-week treatment can do wonders:

Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain.
Follow immediately with half a cup of white vinegar.
Let the mixture fizz for five minutes.
Rinse thoroughly with boiling water.

This clears any buildup inside pipes and removes organic material that gnats thrive on.

When to Repeat Remedies

Most of these home remedies need a little patience. Check your traps and refresh ingredients every day or two until you stop seeing gnats.

Keep up good habits, cleaning drains, removing food waste, and watering plants only when needed.

These smart, home-based tricks put you back in control without going straight to chemical insecticides. Using a few together often gives the best results, especially if gnats have had time to multiply.

Using Natural Remedies in Everyday Gnat Control

Natural products stand out because they keep your air safer and usually won’t harm pets or plants. You probably have some of these solutions at home:

Cinnamon Powder: Lightly sprinkle cinnamon on top of your houseplant soil. Cinnamon acts as a natural antifungal agent, disrupting the fungus that gnats depend on.
Essential Oils: Mix a few drops of peppermint, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil with water in a spray bottle. Mist around window sills, counters, and sink drains. These scents can help repel gnats and freshen up problem areas.
Neem Oil: Used in small doses, neem oil acts as a deterrent when sprayed directly onto plant soil. Mix according to label instructions for best results.

Routine use of these items stops gnats from laying eggs and lays a foundation for ongoing prevention.

DIY Solutions for Gnat-Resistant Homes

A few do-it-yourself tweaks can transform your habitat from a gnat oasis to a dry, unfriendly zone:

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Soil Topping: Sprinkle a thin layer on houseplant soil after watering. DE is a fine, natural powder that slices through soft-bodied insects like gnats. While invisible to the eye, it creates a hostile landscape for larvae.
Mosquito Bits (Containing BTI): Drop these naturally occurring pellets into your plant pots. Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI) is a beneficial bacteria that kills gnat larvae, leaving plants and people unharmed. The science is solid; check out how BTI works for fungus gnat control.
DIY Gnat-Proof Potting: Before you repot a plant, mix in sand or perlite. These materials boost drainage, so soil won’t stay damp—a favorite gnat breeding condition.
Fabric Plant Covers: Cut a circle of fine mesh or cheesecloth and place it on top of your potted soil. This simple barrier blocks adult gnats from laying eggs yet lets water and air pass through.

Adopting one or two of these methods makes a huge difference, especially when used alongside regular cleaning and monitoring.

Tips to Prevent Gnats from Returning Indoors

Nobody wants their gnat troubles to turn into a recurring storyline.

Once you’ve conquered an infestation, the next challenge is making sure these tiny pests don’t come back for a second act.

I’ve found that a balanced mix of regular maintenance, awareness of moisture, and a few simple habits keeps indoor spaces free of gnats year-round.

The goal is to interrupt the gnat’s life cycle before it can restart.

Maintain Dryness and Airflow

Gnats thrive in damp, stagnant environments. If you cut down on moisture inside your home, you take away their best breeding grounds.

Wipe up spills right away, especially near sinks and behind appliances.
Run kitchen and bathroom fans after cooking or showering to keep the air moving.
Use a dehumidifier in rooms where moisture tends to linger. Basements and laundry rooms are common spots.
For plant lovers, avoid pots that don’t drain well and swap plastic trays for terracotta saucers when possible.

The best way to get rid of gnats indoors is often the simplest: dry out their hiding places, and they’ll have little reason to stay.

Schedule Regular Cleaning Habits

Consistency is your greatest weapon against these persistent pests. I’ve found that sticking to a cleaning schedule keeps gnats from ever gaining a foothold in the first place. Here’s a routine that works:

Take out trash and compost every day.
Rinse and scrub pet bowls, food bins, and any feeders at least every other day.
Pour boiling water down drains once a week to clear away organic buildup.
Wipe kitchen counters daily and check under fruit bowls or bread boxes for crumbs and spills.
Change out sponges and dishcloths frequently since they hold moisture and food particles.
Inspect your houseplants every few days, and remove any dead leaves or moldy topsoil right away.

Final Thoughts on How to Get Rid of Gnats Indoors

Getting rid of gnats indoors starts with consistency.

The best way to get rid of gnats indoors is a mix of targeted home remedies and simple prevention habits.

Apple cider vinegar traps, sticky cards, and homemade sprays are reliable solutions.

But the real results appear when you stop gnats at their source—eliminate standing water, keep soil dry, and seal up food and waste right away.

These steps build a cycle of prevention and control.

Over time, small changes to how you manage waste, moisture, and clutter help keep your home gnat-free.

If you’re looking to take practical steps even further, applying steps for a clutter-free home can remove hidden breeding sites and set a higher standard for indoor comfort.