Using candles or tiki torches to keep gnats away works similarly to spraying certain perfumes on your body, as long as you use the proper fragrances. Citronella is a natural bug repellent used to fend off various insects, not just gnats, but it does help deter gnats from interfering with your activities.

Yes, the majority of tiki torches are effective at keeping pests away. However, it is not the tiki torch that repels insects; instead, it is the torch fuel that does the repelling. Some tiki torch fuels include citronella oil and other natural bug repellents, which, when burned, keep mosquitoes and other insects at bay, while others have no such ingredients.

What bugs do tiki torches keep away?

You may use citronella candles or tiki torches to keep mosquitoes at bay, but just in the nearby area. In other words, unless you are standing immediately in front of or above the flame, they have minimal impact as there are many ways to repel mosquitoes.

Can I leave tiki torches outside in the rain?

Tiki torches may be left outside in the rain, but you must use the snuffer cap to keep the wick dry since a wet wick is very difficult to ignite. You may want to keep your wood tiki torch in a garage or shed while not in use.

What happens if tiki torches get wet?

It’s recommended to change your torch wick, flush out the old fuel, and start again with fresh tiki torch fuel if your torch and wick become wet and the water soaks into the wick and ends up in the fuel reservoir.

What do gnats find repulsive?

If you’ve ever wondered how these tiny creatures manage to get about, it’s because they have a strong sense for the smell to find their way around. Gnats are attracted to aromas like peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, vanilla, lavender, citronella, and DEET, which are used to repel them.

Natural ways to get rid of outdoor gnats

It is possible to get rid of gnats both ecologically and biologically. You should remove dead leaves and grass clippings from your yard and water your lawn less often to reduce your environmental impact. In addition, you can get rid of gnats naturally by introducing some of their natural predators to the afflicted region.

Gnats include fungus gnats, fruit flies, and drain flies. Fruit flies are brown, tiny, and circular, whereas drain flies have moth-like wings drawn to water. Gnats breed frequently and swarm. They are a nuisance, not a threat. Gnats commonly enter via cracks or gaps in walls, windows, or doors. They infest garbage cans, decaying fruit, and other wet locations. They are often seen around sewers and toilets.

What attracts gnats inside?

Gnats like warm and moist environments with stagnant water, vegetation, and ripe rotten fruit.

Fungal gnats thrive in moist soil.

Gnats increase soil and drain due to decomposing organic debris from broken pipes and drains. In addition, moist organic waste attracts fruit flies and moth flies. They often swarm around exposed fruits and vegetables.

Getting rid of gnats

You can get rid of gnats using commercial and natural solutions. Not harmful and suitable for use at home. Some successful gnat-removal methods are:

Sticky traps

Sticky traps are available at garden shops. For example, peel and attach yellow adhesive traps over wooden skewers and flowerpots, and they get stuck over them.

Raw potato

You may add raw potato pieces to the soil surrounding the clay pots. Fungus gnat larvae love potatoes, and you can use them to keep larvae away from plant roots. Remove contaminated potato chunks and replace them with new ones after a few days.

Gnat repellent spray

Make a gnat repellent spray using dish soap, water, baking soda, and vinegar. In a cup of water, add a few drops of dish soap, a tablespoon of vinegar, and baking soda. This combination works well as a gnat repellant. You can spray them around plants, toilets, and other frequent locations where gnats are frequent.

Apply this frequently to your potted plants to keep gnats away. In nurseries, it is non-toxic to people. 

Gnat killer spray

  • Make a gnat killer spray using half a cup water, half a cup isopropyl alcohol, and a teaspoon of dish soap. Gnats can be killed by spraying this mixture on them.
  • You can make Gnat killer spray using a basin of apple cider vinegar, dish soap, and sugar and spray in a gnat-infested location like the kitchen, bathroom, or indoor garden. Gnats are attracted to the sugar and vinegar and drown in the dish soap.

Gnat trap

  • Rotten fruit in a jar wrapped with perforated plastic wrap is a gnat trap. Gnats are drawn to decaying fruits, and they enter the pot, where it gets trapped.
  • Pour diluted bleach (one cup) down the drains to kill gnats that frequent the kitchen sink or bathtub. 
  • A candle trap consists of a candle in a candle stand partly filled with water, light the candle, and then off the lights. Gnats are drawn to the flame where they get burnt or drowned.

Pest control professionals

Pest control professionals can help if all gnat remedies and commercial items fail and there is an infestation of gnats in residence. A pest control firm will eradicate various unwelcome pests from your house.

What pest control professionals can get rid of: 

  • Rats
  • Beetles
  • Termites
  • Wasps
  • Mosquitoes
  • Roaches
  • Bed bugs
  • Fleas

Natural Gnat Control:

  1. Remove any organic matter
  2. Nema globe fungus gnat nematodes
  3. Smells of fruit
  4. Repel scents
  5. Plants to deter gnats
  6. Sticky gnat traps

Remove dead leaves, old mulch, and dead plants from your yard.

One of the simplest methods to keep gnats out of your yard is to make their habitat unfavorable for their existence. To achieve this, you should pick up any dead and rotting stuff in your yard.

Remove dead leaves, old mulch, and plants, then try spacing out watering your yard and plants. Wait longer between waterings.

You may also avoid utilizing peat moss soil, fungus gnats like it, instead place flypaper strips in gnat-infested locations. Change flypaper strips often if you use them. Other home remedy combinations will also attract gnats before catching them.

Changing the environment in which gnats grow may dramatically impact the quantity around your yard.

Biological control for outdoor gnat infestations

After making minor environmental improvements to your yard, you may bring gnat predators into the area to manage gnat populations.

Use Nematodes in Your Garden

There are two forms of roundworms, nematodes – it is efficient in eliminating gnats and Steinernema feltiae. Both are easily found online or at garden centers.

Follow the directions on the box when introducing the roundworms to the area where the gnats congregate. Then, use a large quantity and continue until you detect a decrease in the number of gnats outdoors.

Gnat trap (Vinegar, Dish Soap and Sugar)

Half a cup of warm water, two teaspoons apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon sugar, and a 6 tsp dish liquid soap for more suds! The concoction will draw gnats in, but they get caught on the soap bubbles when they dip into it to sip some juice! Place this gnat trap on your porch or any other location where you see many bugs buzzing about.

Repel Gnats using Scents

You must first devise a strategy to combat gnats and other pests! Using essential oils is one method. Aromatherapy with lavender, vanilla, and citronella oil is fantastic. If you want an even stronger option for your home or business, mix peppermint essential oils with rosemary — it’s the ideal calming aroma; not too strong, but enough to keep gnats away!

Zapper

A bug zapper is a perennial favorite for insect-free living, and it works on gnats and flies! They aren’t as noisy as older models that shrieked with every capture, and you won’t realize they’re there until one pops in front of your eyes. With minimal danger or effect on your side, this may become the finest part of outdoor events after dusk.

Fruity Scents Removed

While gnats, like many other organisms in the world, prefer the fragrance of the fruit. The good news is that if they’re buzzing over your yard, it implies you have something great smelling in your yard. On the other hand, the improper touch with some sticky lotion might fool them into thinking it’s juicy nectar.

Scents like fruity shampoo, body wash, or perfume attract gnats. The smell of these items may attract these annoying flying pests.

Use Gnat-Repelling Plants

Diversity is the spice of life, and variety is the key when it comes to gnats. The great thing about employing plants is that they will help keep more than just gnats away! Just prepare ahead, so you don’t overcrowd some spots or forget about others.

Pests are deterred by herb and flower gardens. Try growing geraniums, lemon thyme, lavender, or Mexican marigolds near your outside area to prevent gnats.

Traps for Gnats

The sticky trap is perfect for catching gnats. Please place it in the yard and observe how they are drawn to the trap. The adhesive will block them from escaping, allowing you to enjoy your yard pest-free!

What about tiki torches?

It deters wasps. Tiki torches repel wasps because they confuse them with carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and citronella oil. This Tiki torch is constructed of bamboo, which repels wasps.