How to Get Rid of Fungus Gnats without Vinegar

A fungus gnat infestation is a problem for houseplants because the larvae of these pests feed on the roots of plants, causing them to become weak and stunted. If your plant is infested with fungus gnats, you may notice that it has yellow or wilted leaves, and its growth may be slowed.

To get rid of fungus gnats, you need to remove their breeding ground by making sure that your potting mix is dry. You can also use yellow sticky traps to catch the adults, and if necessary, you can use an insecticide to kill the larvae.

There are plenty of homemade fungus gnat traps you can make to help control the adult fungus gnat population. However, many of them make use of vinegar or other variations, like apple cider vinegar. So what can you do if you don’t have apple cider vinegar in the pantry?

Below are our favorite gnat traps that do not require vinegar as an ingredient.

How to Get Rid of Gnats without Apple Cider Vinegar

Red Wine Gnat Trap

The red wine gnat trap makes use of a mixture of red wine and sugar to lure gnats into the trap. The trap is left open so that the insects can enter, but they are not able to escape because of the sticky contents inside. This trap can be used over and over again until it is full, at which point it should be disposed of properly.

To make a red wine trap, you will need:

• A clean jar with a lid
• Red wine
• Sugar
• A funnel (optional)

Instructions:

1. Pour about an inch of red wine into the bottom of the jar. You can use any type of red wine for this, although a sweeter wine will be more attractive to fungus gnats. If you are using a dry wine, add a tablespoon or two of sugar to sweeten it up.

2. Place the lid on the jar, making sure it is secure. Then use a funnel (if desired) to pour sugar around the edge of the lid. This will provide a landing strip for the gnats so they can more easily find their way into the trap.

3. Set the trap out in an area where you have seen gnats. Check it periodically and empty it when the trap has become full.

Sticky Gnat Honey Trap

A sticky gnat honey trap is a device used to capture and kill gnats. It consists of a container with a sweet liquid inside, such as honey or syrup, and a sticky substance on the outside. The gnats are attracted to the sweet liquid and get stuck in the sticky substance, where they eventually die.

The Candle Trap

Insects are well known to be attracted to light. They find it irresistible and cannot help themselves, which is good news for us. We can exploit this weakness for our next trap.

At nighttime, set up a candle inside the room where you have the highest concentration of fruit flies. Place the candle on a plate of water with a few drops of dish soap, light the candle and turn off all other sources of light.

The candle flame lures the flies in, and they get too close for their own good and fly towards the heat. And well, we’ll leave the rest of the story up to your imagination.

The fruit flies are attracted to the reflection of the flame in the water and become trapped as soon as they touch the surface. The dish soap helps to reduce the surface tension, making it harder for the flies to escape.

Overripe Banana Gnat Trap

This trap shares features with the leftover wine trap, but the way it works is slightly different. It uses the smell of over-ripened fruit and vegetables to lure gnats to the trap. But instead of catching and drowning the insects, we are trapping them inside a container.

To make the trap, put your rotten fruit in a glass jar. Make a cone out of a piece of paper, and attach the sides with sticky tape or glue. Cut the pointed end that leaves a hole at the top of the cone that is approximately 1 – 2 inches (2.5 – 5 cms) in diameter. Place the paper cone on top of the jar, upside down. OPTIONAL – you can tape the cone to the jar, so that it doesn’t accidentally come off.

The trap should be placed on a kitchen bench or any surface where there are a lot of fruit flies. The rotting food smell will lure the fruit flies into the jar and once they’re inside, the cone will prevent them from escaping. This gives you time to seal the trap with a lid before they can fly away.

Cinnamon Powder to Kill Gnats

Cinnamon powder is a natural insecticide that is effective at killing gnats. Simply sprinkle some cinnamon powder around your pot plants, and it will naturally kill the gnat larvae living in the soil.

Alcohol is Effective at Killing Gnats

A solution of alcohol and water can be used to kill adult gnats quickly. Simply mix equal parts alcohol and water in a spray bottle and spray it directly onto the adult gnats. The alcohol will kill them instantly!

Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soap is specially formulated to kill insects on contact, and it can be purchased at most hardware stores or online. Simply mix the insecticidal soap with water according to the instructions on the bottle, and then spray it directly onto adult gnats or their larvae. This will kill them instantly!

Get Rid of Gnats with Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a food-grade powder that you can find at most stores that sell pool supplies. The powder is made of fossilized algae and is very abrasive. When gnats come into contact with it, the powder sticks to their bodies and dries them out.

To use diatomaceous earth to get rid of gnats, sprinkle it around the perimeter of your home, in your garden, or wherever you’ve seen the pests. You can also put some in a small dish and set it near where the gnats are congregating. Just be sure to keep it away from areas where children or pets play.

If you have houseplants, you can also dust the leaves with diatomaceous earth to keep gnats away. Just be sure not to inhale the powder, as it can be harmful if breathed in.

Essential Oil Sprays to Get Rid of Gnats

There are a few essential oil sprays that can help get rid of gnats. One is to mix one teaspoon of peppermint oil with two cups of water in a spray bottle. Another is to mix one tablespoon of lemongrass oil with one cup of water. You can also try mixing three drops each of lavender and lemongrass oils with one cup of water.

Essential oils are effective way to get rid of gnats because they contain properties that can kill the pests. Citronella, lemon eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, and rosemary oils are all known for their ability to repel and kill gnats.