Gnats or fruit flies are one of the most annoying little pests to invade one’s home. The even bigger annoyance is how they infiltrate your home and multiply as quickly as they do. Gnats can get into your home any number of ways including:
- On produce
- Through open windows & doors
- Broken screens
- Tiny cracks
- Foundation
- Plants
They can be a nuisance to get rid of if you don’t understand what keeps them around. Gnats are attracted to damp conditions, damp soil, fungus, fruit and veggies left out to ripen on the countertop, garbage cans, and the often ignored last two drops of juice or wine left in the glass in your sink. While it’s often impossible to prevent every single fruit fly from invading your home, there are key things to do which will avoid the little flying nuisance!
Some good habits to form are:
- Check all windows and screens for cracks, tears or gaps
- Minimize “in and out” traffic whenever possible
- Check the gaps around window air conditioners
- Soak & wash all produce immediately upon bringing into your home to help get rid of eggs
- Don’t leave food out on the countertop
- Wash dishes immediately and never leave dishes in the sink overnight
- Clean and disinfect your sink’s drain daily following up with boiling water
- Make sure bread bags are closed TIGHTLY
- Take all garbage outside daily whenever possible
- Don’t leave pet food sitting out
- Rinse food and drink containers before disposing including soup cans, food packaging and wine bottles, cans etc…
- Avoid leaving standing water
- Avoid leaving dishes in the sink
- Be diligent when cleaning out food in the drain of your sink
For those stubborn cases, Amazon has a nifty indoor gadget by Katchy that boasts more than 69,000 reviews and is highly effective! It’s sleek design can be tucked at the back of a countertop out of the way. Once you’ve cleaned your home and stomped out any potential concerns that may attract both house and fruit flies, maintaining clean surfaces and adding additional preventative measures will get you back to pest free surroundings again!
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