Ortho Home Defense is a flea and tick killer that can be used in your yard and home, as well as on your pets. It is designed to kill fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies and other pests for up to 4 months. The product comes in an aerosol can that is sprayed around the perimeter of your home or yard.
In addition to killing existing fleas, Ortho Home Defense also kills flea eggs and larvae so they cannot develop into adult fleas. This product is safe for use around children and pets, including cats and dogs. The only exception is that it should not be used on rabbits or rodents.
Fleas are small insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. They feed on the host animal’s blood until they become engorged, then drop off of the host animal to lay their eggs in the environment around them. Fleas can cause serious skin irritation in pets and humans alike. They are also known to carry pathogens like plague and typhus which can be transmitted to humans through contact with infested animals or environments where fleas were once present.
Flea treatments typically rely on pesticides such as pyrethrins or permethrin because they are effective at killing adult fleas while remaining safe for use around pets who may consume them accidentally during grooming sessions or other activities where they might come into contact with treated surfaces after application has been completed (such as when licking paws). However, these pesticides do not kill eggs or larvae so additional treatments must be performed periodically throughout each year’s cycle to ensure complete eradication of fleas infestation.
How Effective Is Ortho Home Defense in Killing Fleas
Ortho Home Defense is one of the most effective ways to kill fleas in your home. It can kill fleas on contact and will also prevent new fleas from hatching and multiplying. The active ingredient in Ortho Home Defense, permethrin, is a synthetic chemical that is considered very safe for pets and people.
This insecticide spray is intended to be sprayed in areas where you see evidence of flea infestation, such as on carpets, furniture or pet bedding.
It’s effective because it kills adult fleas and keeps them from reproducing by breaking down the eggs, larvae, and pupae that adult fleas lay in your carpet. The product also kills ticks, ants, spiders, and scorpions. The product can’t be used on animals or people, so you should always keep your pets and children away from areas where you’ve sprayed Ortho Home Defense.
How Long Does Ortho Home Defense Take To Kill Fleas
Ortho Home Defense for Fleas is a broad-spectrum insecticide that kills fleas and their eggs. It can be used to treat indoor and outdoor areas where fleas are found, and it can be applied directly on dogs and cats.
It takes about 4 hours for the product to start working on adult fleas, but it may take a few days to kill all adult fleas. If you’re seeing immature flea stages (eggs, larvae, or pupae), you should see results in about 24 hours but may need to reapply every 7 days for several weeks.
Is Ortho Home Defense Toxic to Human and Pets
Ortho Home Defense is toxic to humans and pets. The active ingredients in Ortho Home Defense are permethrin, which is a broad-spectrum insecticide that kills insects by attacking their nervous system, and piperonyl butoxide (PBO), which is an insect growth regulator that prevents immature insects from reaching adulthood. PBO also increases the effectiveness of permethrin by preventing resistance from developing.
The EPA has classified both of these chemicals as moderately toxic to humans and highly toxic to aquatic life.
Permethrin can cause skin irritation, redness, burning sensation, itching, swelling, and pain when touched directly; eye irritation; respiratory tract irritation; nausea; vomiting; dizziness; headache; fatigue; weakness or tremors of arms or legs; confusion or disorientation; seizures; or memory loss. It can also cause long-term health problems including cancer.
PBO can cause skin irritation when touched directly; eye irritation including blurred vision or swelling around the eyes if it gets into your eyes accidentally during application (wear safety glasses); respiratory tract irritation such as coughing or difficulty breathing if inhaled inadvertently during application.
Can Ortho Home Defense Be Sprayed Directly on Pets
Ortho Home Defense is a multi-purpose insect killer that can be sprayed directly on pets.
It is safe for use around dogs, cats, and horses. It also has a low toxicity level, so it is not likely to harm your pet if they lick their fur after you have applied the product.
However, while Ortho Home Defense is safe to spray directly on animals, you should not spray it in an enclosed space with your pet inside. This could cause them difficulty breathing or irritation of the eyes if they inhale some of the powder from the spray.
List of Ortho Home Defense for Fleas
The Ortho Home Defense for Fleas product line includes a variety of products to help keep fleas, ticks, and other pests at bay. These products include:

Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug, Flea and Tick Killer – With Ready-to-Use Comfort Wand, Kills Bed Bugs and Bed Bug Eggs, Bed Bug Spray Also Kills Fleas and Ticks, 1 gal.
Price : $17.49
Features :
- Use Ortho Home Defense Max Bed Bug, Flea & Tick Killer to kill bed bugs, bed bug eggs, fleas, and ticks
- Use spray as a spot treatment around bed frames, mattress seams/tufts/folds, and baseboards
- Kills even the toughest bed bugs (pyrethroid-resistant bed bugs)
- Second step of a 3-step bed bug solution system
- The continuous spray Comfort Wand easily gets into hard-to-reach areas
Additional Info :
Color | YELLOW |
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 12 Inches |
Width | 8.95 Inches |
Length | 4.88 Inches |

Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Lawns Granules – Treats up to 20,000 sq. ft., Lawn Insect Killer Kills Ants, Ticks, Fleas, Spiders, Centipedes & Other Listed Bugs, Fast Acting, 20 lbs.
Price : $55.09
Features :
- Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Lawns Granules is an outdoor insect killer that kills ants, ticks, fleas, spiders and centipedes in your lawn before they can come inside your home, and creates a bug barrier to keep them out
- FAST ACTING: Starts creating a bug barrier within minutes to kill listed outdoor bugs in your lawn, on ornamentals and flowers, and around your home’s foundation
- LONG-LASTING CONTROL: Kill outdoor pests before they come into your home for up to 3 months, including listed ants, ticks, and spiders (see product label for complete lists of pests)
- OUTDOOR PROTECTION: Protect your home with this outdoor flea and tick killer; for best results, apply proactively in the early spring or summer to prevent infestation
- EASY TO APPLY: One 20 lb. bag treats up to 20, 000 square feet-for best results, apply with a Scotts spreader and water in immediately after application; people and pets may re-enter after the treated area has dried
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 22 Inches |
Width | 4.75 Inches |
Length | 14 Inches |
Weight | 0.01 Pounds |

Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Cracks & Crevices – Spray Foam Kills Ants, Cockroaches, Fleas, Centipedes, Crickets, Boxelder Bugs & Other Listed Common Insects, Long-Lasting, 16 oz.
Price : $19.65
Features :
- Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Cracks & Crevices is a spray foam that spreads deep into hard-to-reach places where bugs can hide, plus it’s long-lasting and protects your home indoors and out
- KILLS HOME-INVADING PESTS: Kills those pesky ants, cockroaches, fleas, centipedes, crickets, boxelder bugs, fleas, ticks and other listed insects that like to crawl into your house
- LONG-LASTING: It keeps on killing German and American cockroaches and Argentine ants for up to 18 months and keeps killing carpenter ants for up to 1 month (on non-porous surfaces)
- INDOOR & OUTDOOR USE: The foam can be used inside your home or outside, and it’s non-staining on surfaces that water would not stain
- EASY-TO-USE FOAM SPRAY: The foam spreads around objects and hard-to-reach areas that sprays can miss, and it expands and disappears, leaving an invisible home protective barrier
Additional Info :
Color | Brown/A |
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 9.5 Inches |
Width | 2.63 Inches |
Length | 2.75 Inches |
Weight | 0.07 Pounds |

Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter2 Ready-To-Use – With Trigger Sprayer, Long-Lasting Control, Kills Ants, Cockroaches, Spiders, Fleas & Ticks, Non-Staining, Odor Free, 1 gal.
Price : $7.88 ($0.06 / Fl Oz)
Features :
- Up to 12 month protection (against ants, roaches and spiders indoors on nonporous surfaces)
- Kills all common listed household bugs (refer to product label for complete list of insects)
- Non staining, odor free and dries fast
- Long lasting bug barrier
- Ready to use 24 oz. sprayer for small areas or 1 gal. ready to use trigger sprayer for larger areas
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 8.95 Inches |
Width | 12 Inches |
Length | 4.88 Inches |

Ortho Home Defense Max Indoor Insect Barrier: Starts to Kill Ants, Roaches, Spiders, Fleas & Ticks Fast, 1 gal.
Price : $19.96
Features :
- Ortho Home Defense Max Indoor Insect Barrier kills and prevents insects inside your home (12-month control for ants, roaches & spiders indoors on non-porous surfaces)
- KILL LISTED INSECTS FAST: Kills all common household bugs like ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, scorpions, beetles, earwigs, silverfish, centipedes, millipedes, and other listed insects
- INDOOR USE: Apply wherever insects are: in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, around doors and windows; spray the hard to reach places where bugs are a recurring problem
- USE WITH CONFIDENCE: Dries up to 30% faster (vs. other Ortho formulas) and leaves no stains or fumes; people and pets may enter treated areas after spray has dried
- EASY TO APPLY: Extended Reach Comfort Wand, now with 2X the reach (vs. other Ortho Comfort Wands) helps reduce back bending and hand fatigue with its one-touch continuous stream delivery — no pumping required
Additional Info :
Item Dimensions | |
Height | 12 Inches |
Width | 9 Inches |
Length | 5 Inches |
Weight | 8.98 Pounds |
In Conclusion
Ortho Home Defense is an insecticide that you can use to kill fleas and ticks in your home. It is a watered-down version of Ortho’s professional insecticide, which is used by pest control companies. This means that it has the same active ingredients as the professional product, but in a lower concentration.
Ortho Home Defense does not require a pest control license to use. Instead, you can purchase it at any hardware store or online. The product comes in two forms: liquid concentrate and ready-to-use spray. The liquid concentrate needs to be diluted before using; the ready-to-use spray does not need dilution but is more expensive than the concentrate version.
If you are looking for a chemical-free solution for controlling fleas in your home, there are several options available on the market today. However, many of these products do not work well when used alone—they need to be combined with other products or methods to be effective against fleas and ticks (i.e., vacuuming).