There are so many ways to put gnats off your property without the application of chemicals. You might be looking for ways to do that, there are 10 smells that gnats hate. Read on to learn more.
Gnats, which include both fruit flies and fungus gnats, rely significantly on their sense of smell for navigation. Gnats are sensitive to smell, which can be used to your advantage to keep them away from these 10 smells that gnats hate.
10 Smells That Gnats Hate
Below are 10 smells that gnats hate, continue to read to know them all.
1. Rosemary
Rosemary can be used in two different ways to effectively repel gnats and keep them from spoiling your outdoor or indoor fun.
If you appreciate the aroma of rosemary, you might want to plant some in your garden or at least have some in pots wherever you spend the most time outside.
The rosemary plants in the small pots can be taken indoors as well. Spraying rosemary oil-infused water around your garden is another option.
Gnats shouldn’t feel welcome in your yard after you’ve done this, and they won’t stick around to lay eggs.
Read also: Do Gnats Bite?
2. Essential Oil of Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter and prescription cold and flu medications, massage oils, body lotions, and antiseptic treatments.
Its calming therapeutic aroma is appreciated by many, but it drives gnats crazy. Because of this, eucalyptus oil works well as a natural sperm to keep gnats away.
Many people prefer to use a diffuser with a few drops of eucalyptus oil rather than a spray bottle solution.
If you have a problem with gnats in your home, try using a eucalyptus-scented mist to kill them, but keep in mind that it is extremely harmful to dogs.
There are several effective and safe alternative home treatments that you can use on your pets.
Blending oils of eucalyptus, geranium, and rosemary together produces a pleasant fragrance that can be used as a deck or patio spray. Do not spray in the presence of animals or children.
3. Vinegar from Apples
There always seems to be a new way to put apple cider vinegar to use. Apple cider vinegar is an incredible natural superpower that can be used for everything from cleaning windows to tenderizing meat to improving your health and deodorizing your sink.
Making your own apple cider vinegar gnat trap may be a good option if you have an indoor gnat problem (such as gnats in a litter box).
Making this is a breeze, and you probably already have all the ingredients on hand. This trap’s concept is similar to that of the banana peel trap, which will be discussed below.
The goal is to produce conditions in which the gnats can enter but cannot leave. An apple cider vinegar trap requires a cup of water, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and a tablespoon of sugar.
It also helps to add a little dish soap. Combine everything, then wrap the top of the container in plastic. Perforate the plastic wrap in a few places. Set the trap in the area where the gnats are most prevalent.
If you want to get rid of the gnats, change the vinegar every few days.
Read also: Why do Gnats Fly in Your Face? Reasons and How to Stop
4. Cedarwood
While eucalyptus oil is toxic to both dogs and cats, cedarwood oil is completely harmless to them. In fact, it’s been used by some as a component of flea remedies.
In any case, it’s best to be cautious and consult your pet’s vet before giving anything new a try. You can use the aroma of cedarwood oil to keep gnats away in a number of different settings.
Put a few drops into your diffuser and let it run for a while if, for instance, you want to get rid of gnats within your home.
We recommend making a spray with cedarwood oil and water for usage outdoors. This method is effective for eliminating gnats in a variety of outdoor settings, including gardens, lawns, and patios.
5. Oil of Tea Tree
The antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory characteristics of tea tree oil—also called melaleuca oil—make it a sought-after commodity.
Gnats are particularly averse to the aroma of tea tree oil, which has led to its use as a natural pesticide in a variety of cultures.
Making your own spray out of it is also surprisingly easy. Using tea tree Oil to treat a cut, oil extracted from the tea tree, also called melaleuca, is widely regarded for its antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Many different cultures have found success using tea tree oil as a natural pesticide due to its ability to deter gnats with its strong, unpleasant aroma.
In addition, it’s not hard to make your own spray with it.
Read also: How Long Do Gnats Live?
6. Gnats Hate Vanilla
Avoid letting gnats dampen your enthusiasm for nature. If you’re tired of futilely swiping away at the swarms of gnats buzzing about your head, try this easy recipe for a vanilla-based gnat repellant.
Mix one tablespoon of water with one tablespoon of pure vanilla extract in a small bowl. Use a cotton ball to reapply the solution every half an hour or so to any exposed skin.
The potent odor will keep the gnats away while you enjoy some time outside. To be sure you don’t have an allergy to vanilla, a tiny test region might be in order.
7. Lemon Essential Oil
Gnats despise the fresh, clean scent of lemons, although humans seem to enjoy it. Another natural aroma that can be used to keep gnats away from your home or yard is lemon essential oil.
Some pets are extremely sensitive to both peppermint oil and lemon oil. Before administering this therapy yourself, consult your veterinarian.
The following peppermint spray formula might serve as a guide when working with lemon essential oil.
The dish soap and water can be made aromatic by adding a few drops of lemon essential oil instead of peppermint oil. Use a little mist to treat the regions plagued by gnats.
8. Lavender
Though the aroma of lavender is pleasant to humans, it is repulsive to gnats. This could be the lavender plant itself, or it could be lavender essential oil.
Planting lavender in your yard can help reduce the number of gnats in areas where they are most prevalent. To be sure, not everyone is fortunate enough to live where lavender thrives.
Porches, patios, and decks can benefit from a little misting of lavender oil combined with water and dish soap, and the same mixture can be used indoors.
Although lavender oil is generally considered to be safe for use around pets, you should still check with your vet before bringing this spray into your home.
Read also: How to Identify, Prevent and Get Rid of Fungus Gnats
9. Citronella
Most people associate citronella with the torches and candles used to ward off insects at summertime outdoor parties.
Did you know that using citronella products at your next picnic or BBQ would help deter swarms of gnats?
Make sure to apply this insect repellant at all of your outdoor gatherings, whether you want to do so with citronella candles, tiki torches, citronella essential oil, or a citronella plant.
Please note that citronella products are not suitable for use inside your home and should only be used in the great outdoors.
Citronella leaves, if you have them, should be crushed and added to a water spray bottle.
Since the leaves need to be rubbed together in order to release the aroma that drives away gnats, a citronella spray is the best way to put the plant to use.
Citronella oil can also be used to make a powerful spray. Prepare a spray bottle with two cups of warm water, two teaspoons of citronella oil, and four or five drops of dish soap.
It can be sprayed anywhere gnats are a problem.
10. Peppermint
Peppermint essential oil is a great natural repellant since it has a scent that gnats absolutely despise. It has a pleasant aroma (at least to us) and effectively repels gnats.
Note, though, that peppermint oil is only supposed to discourage the gnats rather than eliminate them. A professional pest control service is your best bet for permanently eliminating your gnat problem.
All you need is a spray bottle, some dish soap, and peppermint essential oil to use as an olfactory deterrent against gnats.
Fill a spray bottle with water, half a cup of dish soap, and around 12 drops of peppermint oil. If you’d want the spray to be more potent, feel free to add extra droplets.
You can use this peppermint oil spray indoors or outside on your porch, patio, or deck. Lightly spraying the plant’s base can discourage gnats from using your houseplant as a breeding place.
Finally
Gnats are repulsed by a variety of aromas and scents, and now you know what they are, you can start employing them.
Try different approaches until you find what works best for you. Feel free to share any successful homemade remedies with us.
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Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!