How to Get Rid of Gnats in Your Bathroom ASAP and Keep Them Away

Gnats are common household pests that are harmless but can be quite a nuisance. If you’ve noticed these insects buzzing around your bathroom sink and shower lately, you’re not alone. Follow these tips to get rid of gnats in the bathroom quickly and learn how to prevent them from coming back.

What Are Bathroom Gnats?

The gnats in bathrooms are just fungus gnats. They feed on rotting organic material, and they are commonly found indoors near houseplants because of the damp soil. 

However, fungus gnats also love bathrooms because of the high moisture levels and organic matter build-up in the sink and shower drains. The gnats will feed on the drain scum build-up and continue breeding in bathroom drains unless there’s an intervention.

How to Get Rid of Gnats in Bathroom

• Vinegar: Pour white distilled vinegar down the drains. Let it sit for several minutes and then follow it with sizzling water. The vinegar will kill and flush out the gnats and eggs in the drains. 
• Baking soda, salt and vinegar: A combination of baking soda, salt, and distilled vinegar causes a chemical reaction that kills drain flies and breaks down the organic matter inside your pipes. Mix half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of salt. Pour the mixture down your sink and shower drains followed by one cup of distilled white vinegar. After the mixture is done fizzing, flush away the dead gnats with water. 
• Dish soap: Mix liquid dish soap in boiling water and pour it down the sink and shower drains. This helps to break down the organic matter and flush away gnats and eggs.
• Drain gel: If none of the DIY cleaners solve the issue, try a biodegradable drain gel or liquid to thoroughly immaculate the drains and remove gnats. Just avoid using chemical cleaners, which can damage your pipes.
• Brush: Take a long-handled cleaning brush and insert it into the sink and shower drains to remove organic matter inside. This eliminates the food source for gnats so they will die and stop reproducing. 
• Eliminate water sources: Repair any leaking faucets or drain lines to reduce moisture that gnats are attracted to. 

How to Prevent Gnats in Bathroom

Gnats are attracted to the moisture and scum that builds up in bathroom drains. The best way to prevent gnats is to reduce moisture and keep drains immaculate so gnats don’t have a food source. Stay on top of leaky pipes and drains and deep immaculate your drains regularly.

The best way to keep your drains free from buildup is to utilize a drain brush to immaculate out the organic matter and then flush the drain with baking soda and white vinegar.

If They’re Not Gnats—What Are They?

Gnats, drain flies, and fruit flies are all attracted to damp places and organic matter, so it’s uncomplicated to confuse the three insects. Gnats look like tiny mosquitoes and are usually dim gray or black. If the insects you’re dealing with don’t look like this, you may have another common bathroom pest.

Drain Flies

If the insects look more moth-like with heart-shaped wings and feathery antennae, you’re likely dealing with drain flies. Like fungus gnats, drain flies are attracted to rotting, decaying organic material and standing water to lay their eggs, making bathroom drains ideal homes for them.

Fruit Flies

In some instances, you may have fruit flies in your bathroom, but this is less common because they prefer fermented items like rotting food or fruit vinegar, which are typically found in the kitchen. Look for tiny, reddish eyes on the insects to determine if fruit flies are your problem.