Will fogging my house kill gnats?

Quick Answer

Yes, fogging can be an effective way to kill gnats and other flying insects in your home. Foggers or fogging machines dispense an insecticide mist that fills the air and kills bugs on contact. Fogging reaches cracks, crevices, and hard-to-reach areas that sprays and swatters can’t. For best results, prepare your home properly, use an appropriate insecticide formula, and take safety precautions. Fogging should kill adult gnats it contacts, but you’ll still need to find and eliminate breeding sites to prevent future infestations.

What Attracts Gnats?

Gnats seek out moist organic matter to breed in. Common gnat attractants and breeding sites inside a home include:

• Drains and pipes where small amounts of water or condensation collect
• Houseplants and their soil
• Mop buckets, trash cans, recycling bins where water collects
• Pet food bowls
• Fruit and vegetables that are overripe
• Compost piles and bins
• Leaky plumbing fixtures

Gnats are drawn to these sources of moisture and decay. They lay their eggs in the organic material, and the larvae feed on fungi and bacteria as they develop.

To avoid gnat issues, it’s important to find and eliminate potential breeding spots. Drain any standing water, remove decaying produce, cover compost piles, and fix any plumbing leaks. This will reduce the population over time.

Will Fogging Kill Gnats?

Yes, fogging or misting your house with an insecticide will kill adult gnats and other flying insects on contact.

Foggers work by dispersing a fine insecticidal mist into the air. This allows the product to reach spaces that are hard to treat with sprays and powders, such as cracks, crevices, curtain folds, and inside cabinets and drawers.

The active ingredients in foggers and fogging concentrates are designed to kill bugs through:

• Contact – bugs land on treated surfaces and absorb chemicals through their exoskeleton
• Ingestion – bugs breathe in the insecticide particles suspended in air

For both contact and ingestion, the insecticide interferes with the nervous system, paralyzing and killing the insect.

So when you set off a fogger or spraying device, the mist fills the air throughout your home, reaching gnats and other flies. The chemicals will kill the bugs it comes into direct contact with.

Limitations of Fogging for Gnat Control

While fogging is highly effective for killing adult gnats currently flying in your home, there are some limitations:

• It doesn’t have residual activity. Once the mist settles, it will no longer kill bugs.
• It won’t penetrate nests, webs, or other hidden areas that provide shelter.
• It does not directly kill gnat eggs and larvae in breeding sources.
• A single fogging will not prevent future infestations – breeding sites must be eliminated.

So fogging is an important part of a comprehensive gnat control plan, but should be paired with sanitation methods and residual sprays.

How to Use Foggers for Gnat Control

Follow these steps to effectively use foggers or fogging concentrate to kill gnats in your house:

1. Inspect and identify breeding sites – find and remove sources of moisture where gnats may be laying eggs.
2. Clean the area – remove food, wipe down surfaces, wash dishes, take out trash. This improves effectiveness.
3. Cover sensitive surfaces – protect aquariums, pet food/water bowls, and exposed food.
4. Turn off pilot lights and electronics – avoid ignition sources for flammable formulas.
5. Close off other rooms – confine the treatment area to save insecticide.
6. Read label directions – calculate the correct amount of product needed.
7. Activate fogger or misting device – place on elevated surface and turn on.
8. Leave home – evacuate treated spaces for the recommended time.
9. Air out – open windows and run fans before re-entering.
10. Wipe down surfaces – clean dead bugs and insecticide residue.
11. Monitor and repeat if needed – fog again in 2-3 weeks if gnats return.

Be sure to select a fogger formula labeled for flying and crawling insects or gnats specifically. Pyrethrins and pyrethroids tend to provide the fastest knockdown.

Types of Foggers and Misting Systems

There are a few categories of products used to fog or mist insecticides for residential pest control:

1. Aerosol Foggers

These are disposable pressurized cans that release insecticide into the air. Brands like Hot Shot and Raid make foggers for flying insects.

To use, place the can on an elevated surface, turn it on, and leave the room for 2-4 hours. When you return, the can will be empty.

Aerosol foggers are inexpensive and provide a quick one-time treatment. But they may not disperse insecticide as evenly as other methods.

2. Electric Foggers

Electric or cordless fogging machines use an electric pump to generate a fine insecticidal mist. They provide more consistent distribution than aerosol cans.

Brands like Burgess and Dr. Insect sell electric foggers for home use. They have a reservoir that holds liquid insecticide formula.

Portable foggers allow you to move around and directly treat problem areas. Cordless options run on rechargeable batteries for 30-60 minutes.

3. Fogging Concentrates

Fogging concentrates are diluted with water and applied using handheld or automated misting systems. This allows control over insecticide strength.

Compare products like FMC ULD BP-300 and Bifen IT for gnats. Use permethrin, tetramethrin, cyfluthrin or a pyrethroid blend.

Hand pumping backpack sprayers can disperse fogging concentrates. Or attach a misting system to a garden hose for larger residential jobs.

4. Commercial Foggers

Pest control pros use truck- or trailer-mounted power foggers to treat large warehouses, food plants, etc. These are overkill for treating a house. Stick to residential-use products.

Safety Tips When Fogging Your Home

Insecticide foggers and mists can cause health issues if used improperly. Follow these precautions:

• Carefully read and follow all label safety directions – wear protective equipment if required.
• Remove people and pets before activating fogger – keep them away until safe re-entry time.
• Turn off ignition sources – avoid sparking foggers near open flames or pilot lights.
• Disconnect aquariums – aerate tanks and cover them during treatment.
• Remove exposed food, dishes, utensils – cover countertops and dining tables.
• Set off foggers on elevated surfaces – don’t place directly on the floor.
• Limit use if you have asthma or breathing issues – wear a mask if needed.
• Open windows and ventilate after use – turn on fans and AC to circulate fresh air.
• Wash hands and surfaces – clean up any visible insecticide after fogging.

Careful fogger use limits human exposure and improves efficacy against pests.

Alternatives to Fogging for Gnat Control

While fogging is a quick and convenient method, there are some other options to kill gnats:

Fly Paper

Sticky fly paper can catch adult gnats flying around your home. Brands like Black Flag make fly strips that attract and hold gnats with pheromones.

Hang strips near pest entry points and breeding areas. The paper won’t kill all the bugs, but helps reduce populations.

Fly Swatters & Zappers

It’s satisfying to kill gnats with a simple fly swatter or electric zapper racket. These provide immediate control – but it takes work swatting individual bugs.

Zappers have the advantage of covering more area. The electrically charged grids fry flies on contact.

Botanical Repellents

Certain natural extracts deter flying insects like gnats:

• Citronella oil – from lemongrass plants, use in candles or sprays
• Eucalyptus oil – has insecticidal properties
• Mint oil – strong smell drives away gnats
• Cloves – whole or ground clove repels small flies

Simmer herbs in water and vinegar to release oils. Or look for products with these botanical active ingredients.

Residual Sprays

Liquid sprays with residual activity keep killing gnats after the spray dries. Options include:

• Pyrethrins – from chrysanthemum flowers
• Pyrethroids – synthetic versions of pyrethrins
• IGRs (insect growth regulators) – disrupt gnat life cycles

Spray baseboards, walls, and other surfaces where gnats land. This provides ongoing control after the initial spray.

Conclusion

Fogging or misting your house with an insecticide is an effective way to kill adult gnats currently flying around inside. It reaches cracks, crevices, and sheltered areas that sprays may miss. Most foggers and fogging concentrates contain ingredients like pyrethrins, pyrethroids, or synergized pyrethrum that provide quick knockdown and kill on contact.

While fogging provides immediate control, it won’t prevent future gnat infestations. Be sure to find and eliminate breeding sources of moisture where gnats lay eggs. An integrated pest management plan using sanitation, fogging, and residual sprays gives the best control over gnats.

Pros of Fogging for Gnats	Cons of Fogging for Gnats
Kills flying adult gnats Reaches hidden and hard-to-treat spaces Provides quick knockdown Different fogger formats – cans, electric, concentrates	Doesn’t provide residual control Won’t directly kill gnat larvae in breeding sites Requires leaving your home during treatment Doesn’t prevent future infestations Safety precautions are needed

In summary, fogging is a useful pest control technique but should be part of a larger integrated pest management strategy to eliminate gnats. Combining fogging with sanitation, exclusion tactics, traps, and residual sprays gives the best long-term control over annoying gnats!