You know those annoying gnats in your bathroom that make you feel like your head is going to explode? Well, they can have some serious implications. Yes, they can be annoying but they can also be an indicator of something more than that. The truth is, these little insects, usually known as fungus gnats or drain flies, love hanging out in places that have moisture. And to be honest, among such places, your bathroom with its drains being damp and the shower areas which might be the cause of the water leaking from above, both can become a source of these insects. In addition to this, this type of gnat loves rotting organic material, such as the filth that accumulates in your pipes. Hence, these gnats are probably laying their eggs in hidden areas like the sink or the shower drain if you have been noticing them.
Before jumping to solutions, one thing you need to keep in mind, which in this case is that wetness or stagnant water is what you need to deal with first. No matter how many traps or treatments you set, without addressing these, victory will be short-lived, you know? First, make sure to examine the area for any stagnant water, leaky faucets, or spots where the water remains for a long time.
How to Get Rid of Gnats in Your Bathroom
After you realize the basics of what is causing the issue you can now get down to actually fixing it. Here are a few simple effective ways to get rid of gnats using common household items, let’s have a look:
- Vinegar Trap
Without a single doubt, the easiest way to do this is with a vinegar trap. In a bowl mix some apple cider vinegar and some dish soap and place it near the infested area, and that’s all. The gnats are lured by the smell of vinegar, but the soap breaks the surface tension, which leads to their death by drowning. This is a slow process but eventually, it does help eventually in bringing down the number of adult gnats in the area.
- Hot Water and Dish Soap
Another great option is to get rid of the gnats by flushing drains with hot soapy water. This way it is possible to get rid of both the gnats and their food source which is usually some rotting organic matter. For a more effective recipe, you can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda which fizzes when poured down the drain. And as you may already know, the action of fizzy bubbles will help dissolve the organic materials that gnat larvae feed on.
- Bleach Solution
In the case of severe infestation, it might be necessary to use something a little bit more powerful. You can use Dilute bleach with estimation or in other words mix with water and drop a little bit into the drain. Just let it sit for some time, and then pour boiling water to rinse off any waste on the inside of the drain walls. This will be a brilliant method to stop the survival of microorganisms such as bacteria and gnat larvae in the drain.