How To Catch a Gnat

For some reason, this summer/fall we have had a large number of gnats. We always seem to get a few in the summer when we have our windows open. Generally, they hang out by my bananas and my tomatoes. But, lately they seem to be everywhere and it has been days since it was warm enough to open the windows and enjoy the fresh air.

It has been really frustrating. We have done our best to eliminate anything that they like. We finished up the bananas we bought last week and skipped them all together this week. I left the tomatoes I picked up for tacos in the produce bag from the store.

Yet, they still lingered. We needed a better solution.

We found it.

A Gnat Trap.

Yep, we built a gnat trap. I thought it sounded a little strange when my husband started to look it up, but sure enough you can build a trap to catch them.

Start with an empty 2L with the cap removed.

Cut the top off the bottle (above the label), you will use the top to complete the trap.

Fill the bottle with about 1/4 cup of apple cider (or red wine) vinegar and a few tablespoons of sugar. Swirl to combine.

Place the top, inverted, inside the bottle. If the top doesn't fit snug to the bottom of the bottle, you can tape it at the top.

The gnats will be attracted to the sweet solution inside. They fly in through the small opening and then can't find their way back out. A drop of dish soap in the solution will break the surface tension and cause them to sink if they touch the surface.

It has worked really well for us. I think we have captured 9 or 10 in just one day.

This post shared at Works for Me Wednesday.