Getting worried when you see a swarm of tiny, black gnats flying around in your bathroom and kitchen? That’s because these little pests pose a significant health risk. You may not have realized, but your bathroom is the second most important breeding ground for fungus gnats. Unfortunately, the bathroom is the perfect home for this mildew-loving pest. Gnats bite the human skin to feed on blood. They aren’t powerful in their small size, so their bites are painless and cause no irritation. However, not only gnats in bathroom are disturbing, but they can also be indoor pests if not controlled.
Causes of gnats in bathroom
The bathroom is a damp, dark place where gnats and drain flies love to live. Unfortunately, the bathroom can also be a breeding ground for gnats and drain flies if spiders or other insects live there. The moist environment around your home creates perfect conditions for pests to thrive. In fact, some pests can even survive in these humid conditions for extended periods, making them a significant problem in the home. The two leading causes of bathroom gnats are mildew and mildew-like indoor mold. Both can be caused by poor home cleaning practices and environmental factors such as inadequate ventilation.
If you’re having a gnat problem, check underneath the sink and under the bathtub, look in your shower curtains and dirty dishes, and have a look at your countertop and trashcan. Also, be sure to clean out your sink daily and empty any dirty dishes. Keeping these areas dry and clean will help you avoid unnecessary frustration caused by gnats.
Ways to get rid of gnats in bathroom
If you have gnats in your bathroom, the last thing you want to do is spend the day inhaling gnat fumes and scrubbing sticky residue off of your shower walls. Fortunately, there are several ways to combat a gnat problem without spending a small fortune on gross chemical-laden pesticides.
To get rid of gnats in bathroom, an ideal choice is to make a vinegar trap. This trap basically uses an empty and nonglazed jar and pours about half a cup of apple cider vinegar into it with tiny drops of dish soap. Next, cover the top with plastic wrap and poke holes through it using a straw. This will allow insects to enter but prevent them from exiting.
Baking soda is a great white cleaning agent. Besides helping to deodorize your refrigerator, killing germs on your cutting board, and getting rid of odors in your closet, this household product can also help clean the nasty gnat dirt off of your bathtub. Baking soda and lighter fluid can be mixed with ammonia to produce a sticky paste that is effective in killing gnats and their eggs. Mix one part baking soda into three parts hot water, then add one part ammonia. After the mixture begins to thicken, rub it onto the tub’s walls while scrubbing with a nylon brush. If there are any gnat eggs attached to the tub, it will help get rid of them.
How to Kill Drain Flies
Drain flies are annoying pests that feed on the sludge in your drain and the waste in your septic tank. Since drain flies are a type of fly that feeds on the organic matter in your drains, the only way to stop these disgusting creatures is to eliminate their breeding grounds. Here’s how to kill them before they multiply.
Start by scrubbing your bathtub, sinks, and shower to remove organic matter that attracts drain flies. While scouring your drains with chemicals won’t altogether remove the debris, it will help in conjunction with other steps.
There are several ways to get rid of gnats in bathroom and drain flies infestation. To start with, you can pour 1/2 a cup of bleach down the sink, followed by hot water while running the tap. This will effectively kill all the eggs and larvae in your pipes and drain while removing their breeding ground.
Bathroom habits to keep the pests away
Besides cleaning regularly, the best thing you can do to prevent a drain fly infestation is to make sure that any pipes that go unused often are cleared of stagnant water. Bacteria thrive in pipes with standing water so they can hang out and reproduce. In addition, drain flies like moist environments, so make sure that you always use drain stoppers to empty the plughole when you are not using them.
All it takes is just a minute to keep your drains running smoothly. Open the tap slowly and let the water run for a minute or so, then let it flow to the drain. Likewise, you can run the faucets whenever water is standing in them for an extended period (if you go away on vacation, for example).
Combine the lemons, vinegar, and sugar in a saucepan and heat while stirring until it comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and allow to steep for 2 hours. After 2 hours, drain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into another container to remove the solids. If you tie your task to another weekly routine, it becomes more automatic to do. If you do this, you’ll never have to deal with drain flies.
Hire a professional company
A gnat infestation can be a big problem for your home or office. Gnats may seem like tiny pests, but they can quickly become an annoying part of your daily life. If the thought of these winged critters flying around your home or buzzing near your face makes you cringe, it’s time to take action before things become even worse. It can be challenging to deal with a gnat infestation on your own, especially if it is a persistent gnat problem. The best thing to do is turn to a pest control company for help at times like this.
The Bottom Line
With an infestation of gnats in bathroom, you can’t help but wonder how anyone could stand to keep living there. Unfortunately, squishing them isn’t really an option, so it’s time to call a pest control specialist to help you get rid of gnats and prevent them from coming back.