natural gnat repellent

[Mr Moon]

does anyone have any suggestions for a natural repellent to discourage gnats from coming into the house? my partner and I have just moved and on hot/sunny days with the doors/windows open, the house gets invaded by huge numbers of gnats. I'd like to find a natural remedy to stop them - I've tried one of those "blue light" insect killer lights but it was less than useless.
thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Illyria54]

Get a couple of Citronella candles they are good, I've just bought a blue light zapper, it works now that i have put it near the window, had it in 3 different places before that to no effect whatsoever.

[hammerman]

Try not to have any stagnant water lying around eg buckets of rainwater, open water butts etc as mozzies will breed in these.

Citronella works well but if you're getting bitten, try to find someone who does Avon and get some "skin so soft"....this is now considdered one of the best anti mozzie repellents around.

[alfieblue]

Citronella is great - you could get condensed form (from most chemists) and dilute - spray around window frames etc. You can make up quite a weak solution to help keep them outside rather than in. There seems to be so many at the mo, and yes, stagnant water etc doesn't help. Citronella candles placed outside are a bonus too - the gnats hate the smell. Or place bowls of pot pourri around window ledges etc sprayed with citronella, anything to deter them really.

Also - if they are biting you - have heard that a marmite diet for yourselves (perhaps marmite on toast in the morning) - works well to keep the little critters at bay and stops the biting!! They hate the stuff. (Not sure how it works but guess it does) But this much depends on if you love marmite or hate it!!! I love it and they stay away from me!!!! :o)

[mandimoo]

they told me in india that mosquitos are repelled by clove oil, and to dab it on the curtains and on cotton wall balls in the corner of the room. i also had a plug in thing, and only got bit the once, when i forgot to lotion up one evening.

[Mr Moon]

thanks to all for responding, but the problem is gnats, not mosquitoes. we've tried citronella candles and frankly they didn't seem to deter them at all. standing/stagnant water isn't an issue either - this is happening in our kitchen/diner which opens onto the garden via french doors. the blue light zapper did absolutely nothing so it went back to Homebase. the citronella diluted spray suggestion is an interesting one - I'll give that a whirl.

[alfieblue]

Hi Mr Moon, just been looking on the internet re gnats. It seems they are a prob rife at the moment due to climate etc etc.

Another tip i saw was to put glasses of vinegar around worktops etc. (Presumably cider or white - not entirely sure!).

The diluted citronella seems to work well enough for us at the mo, the garden is full of the little critters, but thankfully they don't seem to venture into the house. Don't think they dare!!!

And we have windows, patio doors etc open all day to allow pup to come and go thru doors and to get air circulating - especially in this warm weather.

Hope you have some luck with keeping the gnats at bay.
:o)

If you come across any other tips I would be interested - just in case the gnats get too accustomed to citronella and decide to invade us!!!!

[alfieblue]

Ps - as its your kitchen/diner - it could be that they are attracted especially to food, fruit, etc etc - especially in the warmer weather. Its just a thought - but may help. :o)

[Nosha123]

I bought some insect mesh recently from the garden website Harrods Horticultural.. and have used drawing pins to pin it up on the outside of the window.. so we can open the window without insects coming in.

[edensasp]

Mint, Garlic and lemon Grass plants in affected areas works awesomely as gnat repellent. Gnats have a heightened sense of small and any one or combination of these plants in your yard or doorway, window sill or other infested area. I planted mint below my window cooler which was forever flooding out on the ground.... My gnat problem went away... I recommend mint...but remember mint is fast spreading foilage and will overtake the area if not potted.


Have an awesome summer!!!.