Gnats are gross and unsightly, and some of them even bite. Regardless of the reason that you want to get rid of them, you’re in the right place. Removing the gnats and preventing them from coming back will keep your balcony a safe, comfortable environment throughout the year.
To get rid of gnats on your balcony, start by removing the source that they use to breed, such as stagnant water or an open garbage can. Next, use gnat repellent, traps, and citronella candles to keep them from coming back. Finally, clean your balcony to make it an unlikely environment for gnats.
Throughout this article, you’ll also learn the following information about getting rid of gnats on your balcony:
- How to remove them without unethical sprays
- Various product recommendations and traps
- Preventative measures to keep the gnats away
1. Remove Their Breeding Source
As recommended by Flies Only, you should try by removing the gnats’ breeding source. Wherever they’re collecting is where you need to start working. Gnats love to breed on stagnant water sources, trash cans, and food scraps. If any of those are present on your balcony, then there’s a high chance that gnats will arrive.
Also, remove any leaks and fix pipes that are causing water to pool around your balcony. Even if the leak isn’t on your balcony, a nearby source could be the cause of the infestation.
2. Make a Trap
If you still can’t keep them away by removing their source, it’s time to make a trap. You can buy one online or in-store, but the best traps are found in your kitchen pantry. All you need is dish soap, a bottle or jar, and apple cider vinegar.
Here’s house to make a DIY trap for gnats on your balcony:
- Fill the jar halfway with apple cider vinegar.
- Add 4 to 5 drops of dish soap.
- Mix the two ingredients together.
- Set the jar out on your balcony.
- When it’s full of gnats, dump the solution and repeat the steps.
Gnats are attracted to the sweetness of apple cider vinegar, but the dish soap will trap them. It’s the most effective DIY trap.
3. Consider Using a Gnat Repellent
Gnat repellent is often much easier than making traps or setting out tacky-looking glue strips. Instead, you can try something like Buggins Natural Insect Repellent. It doesn’t use DEET or any other questionable products. This spray can be applied to all parts of your balcony without making it sticky, too.
It lasts for up to two hours. However, you can reapply it as needed. Using gnat repellent around your balcony is most effective during the evening when gnats breed and gather around the aforementioned sources.
4. Light Citronella Candles
Citronella candles have been known to keep bugs away for a long time. They’re natural, they smell good, and many insects don’t want to be anywhere near them. Mosquitoes, gnats, fly, and other flying bugs will steer clear of your balcony. For those of you who don’t know, citronella candles smell like lemons.
Citronella is also available in sprays, outdoor torch fuels, wax melts, and more. You’ll be able to choose whichever method you prefer to protect your balcony from incoming gnats and other bugs. Almost all of them are organic and completely safe for humans and our pets, so you can shop with peace of mind.
5. Vacuum the Gnats
It’s been proven time and time again that gnats can be quickly removed with a vacuum. Simply turn it onto the suction mode, pull all of the gnats away, then blow them out elsewhere. You can also toss the cartridge in the garbage, but make sure it’s sealed so they can’t escape and come back to your balcony.
Note: When you’re vacuuming gnats, never try to suction water sources. You’ll pull too much moisture into the machine, which could cause a plethora of mechanical issues. Instead, remove as many gnats from the area, hovering the vacuum over the pool of water. It’s strong enough to pull the lightweight bugs away.
6. Use Preventative Measures
Preventing gnats is the best way to treat them. If they can’t arrive, you won’t have to do anything to get rid of them. Here are some of the preventative measures that you could try for your balcony:
- Keep the balcony dry at all times.
- Always allow your plants to have semi-dry soil, as recommended by Home Depot.
- Use the right types of light sources to prevent gnats from gathering.
- Wipe away any gnats that you see right away, rather than putting it off.
- Keep your garbage cans closed and sealed.
- Remove mold and algae quickly since they’re both breeding sources for gnats.
- Clean urine stains and spills from pets.
- Don’t store your pets’ water bowls outside on the balcony.
- Never store dirty shoes, socks, and other clothes outdoors.
- Treat nearby fruit trees to repel insects (again, gnats are attracted to sweet scents).
7. Plug a Floor Fan Outside
One of the top suggestions comes from Orkin, which points out the effectiveness of running a fan outside on the balcony. Gnats love stagnant water, still air, and manageable, stable environments. When you turn a fan on by your balcony, it keeps everything moving around. The result is a hostile environment for gnats.
Furthermore, a fan lowers the temperature, which makes it less comfortable for many insects. You’ve probably noticed when bugs gather around heated lamps at night; This is because they want to warm up their bodies. When you run a fan, they’ll never be able to heat themselves up.
8. Install Electric Torches
The Dekugaa Bug Zapper is an excellent example of an electric torch that you could set up on your balcony. It’s very bright, which tells gnats and other insects that it’s likely going to be a warm source. Once they get close to it, a tiny electrical pulse stops them in their tracks. There’s a small tray at the bottom that collects the gnats, so you can dump them regularly.
Electric torches solve two problems:
- They get rid of breeding gnats that are flying around the area.
- They prevent gnats from coming back to try to find a place to reproduce.
9. Keep Your Balcony Clean
Last but definitely not least, keep your balcony spotless. You don’t have to be meticulous about every last square inch, but know that gnats won’t gather in a clean environment. Like most other bugs and animals, gnats are always on the hunt for a breeding source and a place to find food to eat.
Without those two requirements, gnats will stay away from your balcony. Again, keeping it clean is a great way to remove all of their necessities. Sweeping, vacuuming, and wiping down dirty spots is a quick and simple solution to keep the gnats at bay. Your balcony doesn’t have to be home to gnats anymore!
Conclusion
Gnats are very frustrating to deal with, but you can get rid of them relatively easier. Say goodbye to your insect infestation woes; You’ve found everything you need to know about keeping them away from your balcony.
Here’s a quick recap of the post:
- Gnat repellent, DIY traps, and vacuums can get rid of gnats quickly.
- Use electric torches to prevent them from gathering.
- Put in a floor fan or ceiling fan above your balcony to move the air.
- Remove trash, food scraps, and stagnant water to stop them from breeding.
- Always clean your balcony weekly to remove gnats and other insects.