The scent of the sugar and apple cider vinegar will attract the gnats to the bowl. When they get close to the bowl, the soap suds will trap them and pull them down into the water.
Because this method doesn’t necessarily kill the gnats, make sure to dispose of the banana and the plastic wrap in the outdoor trash. You may even want to use a disposable bowl so you can just throw the entire trap away.
This is a great non-toxic way to deal with gnats. It shouldn’t harm any of your belongings, and it won’t hurt your plants, pets, or kids.
Similarly, if you collect food scraps for composting, don’t leave the bucket or bowl exposed in the kitchen. Use a covered container, or take scraps directly outside to the compost heap.
Don’t leave prepared food sitting out on the counter for longer than 30 minutes. Store food in reusable containers and put them into the fridge as soon as possible. If you have a garbage disposal, make sure to run it after rinsing off your dishes so that food scraps don’t accumulate in there.
Similarly, if you have open trash cans outside, make sure they aren’t located next to any windows. The gnats could be attracted to the trash and then find their way indoors through the window.
On the flip side, there are a few plants that repel gnats. These can be potted and kept indoors, or you can plant then outside if you struggle with gnat infestations outdoors. Geraniums, lemon thyme, lavender, and marigolds are the best natural repellants. [8] X Research source
In addition to keeping away gnats, the dryer sheet may also help repel mosquitos. If your outfit doesn’t have a pocket or belt loops, you could pin it to your clothes. It might look a little silly, but it should help!
If you’re going to be outdoors for a long time, bring a small container filled with extra extract to reapply throughout the day.
If you don’t have shea butter, use another moisturizer that doesn’t have added scents.
Gnats won’t harm you—they don’t bite or transmit diseases—but they are annoying and can ruin a nice day. Do your best to be prepared when you go outdoors, especially if you’ll be near still water sources.
