Insecticide For Ants In House
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All ant killers have the same function: to get rid of ant infestations in your home. Depending on where you live, if you have pets or children, and where the infestation is, a certain killer may work best for you. To help you comb through these factors and more, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best ant killers on Amazon. Here are our top five recommendations followed by a guide to walk you through the purchasing process.
Top 5 Ant Killers
- Best Liquid Bait: Terro Liquid Ant Baits
- Most Versatile: Raid Multi Insect Killer
- Best Dust: Terro Ant Dust
- Best Non-Toxic Killer: Mighty Mint Insect and Pest Control Peppermint Oil
- Best For Lawns: Ortho BugClear Insect Killer
Best Liquid Bait: Terro Liquid Ant Baits
This liquid bait targets ants outside before they can get into your home. Arriving with six bait stations, you can scatter them across your property to treat multiple areas. The liquid bait in the stations contains borax, which is a slow-acting chemical. It doesn’t kill ants on contact—instead, it waits until the ants have carried the poison back to their colony before killing them.
Key Features
- Liquid bait
- Six bait stations
- Outdoor use
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who liked these stations said that they were easy to use, collected a lot of ants, and prevented ants from returning once they were eradicated. However, those who were unhappy with this ant killer said that the cap was flimsy and difficult to turn and that the concoction didn’t always kill ants.
Most Versatile: Raid Multi Insect Killer
If you want a product that targets more than ants, this may be the killer for you. This spray kills ants, spiders, roaches, flies, and more whether you apply it indoors or outdoors. Because insects die as soon as they come into contact with the poison, you can even use this killer to target the stray pest you see walking across your floor.
Key Features
- Spray bait
- 15-ounce container
- Indoor and outdoor use
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers liked that this spray didn’t have an overbearing smell, was effective at killing multiple types of insects, and worked quickly. However, some customers claimed that they had to spray a lot of the product to kill pests. Even then, it sometimes struggled to kill large bugs.
Best Dust: Terro Ant Dust
This dust is sprinkled into door and window cracks and other crevices around your home. It can eliminate an infestation of any size as well as any insect, including ants, cockroaches, spiders, and wasps.
Key Features
- Dust bait
- One-pound container
- Indoor and outdoor use
What Customers Are Saying
Those who liked this product said that it was simple to use, kept bugs away for a long time, and showed results quickly. However, those who didn’t like this ant killer claimed that it was ineffective against fire ants and was a hassle to clean up.
Best Non-Toxic Killer: Mighty Mint Insect and Pest Control Peppermint Oil
If you need to kill ants without the fear of your pets or children ingesting harmful chemicals, this is the product for you. It’s made from peppermint oil and other plant-based ingredients, so it’s safe when it’s used as directed. It also doubles as an air freshener, leaving your home smelling fresh after application.
Key Features
- Spray bait
- One-gallon container
- Indoor and outdoor use
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers said that this killer worked instantly, didn’t have an overpowering scent, and also removed spiders. However, those who were unhappy with this spray claimed that the sprayer was difficult to operate and that ants sometimes returned once the smell died down.
Best For Lawns: Ortho BugClear Insect Killer
Ants can be just as big of an annoyance outside as they are inside. This killer works to get rid of those on your grass, ornamentals, flowers, trees, shrubs, and more. It comes in a large bottle that sprays its insecticide after you attach its nozzle to your garden hose.
Key Features
- Spray bait
- 32-ounce container
- Outdoor use
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who liked this insect killer said that it offered easy application, was odorless, and worked on a wide variety of pests. However, those who were less pleased said that the spray didn’t cover as much ground as advertised and that the sprayer was poorly designed.
Buyer’s Guide
Make an informed purchase by reading our explanation of the factors below.
Type of Killer
Ant killers can be divided into two categories—bait and kill-on-contact. Baits slowly poison ants. By the time they take their full effect, the ant has already returned to its colony and spread the poison to other ants. On the other hand, kill-on-contact ant killers eliminate ants right away. While this type works quickly, it can’t tackle widespread infestations.
Type of Insect
Most ant killers target several ant species as well as other household pests. It’s not uncommon for a single product to kill:
- Carpenter ants
- Fire ants
- Pavement ants
- Cockroaches
- Spiders
- Wasps
- Flies
- Ticks
- Mosquitoes
- Other crawling and flying insects
Toxicity
Many ant killers can’t be used around pets or children because of their poisonous formula. This is especially true for baits because they’re placed on the ground where they can be easily accessed. If you have pets or children, put your traps in hard-to-reach places, or use a non-toxic spray.
Application
The form an ant killer comes in affects how it’s applied. Popular forms include:
- Gel
- Liquid
- Granule
- Dust
- Spray
Types of Ants
The four species of ants you will likely see around your home are house, carpenter, pavement, and fire ants. House ants are typically active in the summer and drawn by sugary foods. Carpenter ants are active near wood, while pavement ants are found near concrete. Bright red fire ants are the most threatening type of ant. If they feel that they’re in danger, they will sting you, leaving you with a spot that burns, swells, and itches.
If you can identify the type of ant that’s causing your infestation, make sure that the ant killer you choose targets this species.
How Do Ants Get in My House?
How did your infestation start? All homes have holes, cracks, and gaps that ants are adept at finding and climbing through if they have the motivation. You can try to seal these gaps, though this is likely a losing battle. Instead, focus on taking measures to prevent your home from being attractive to ants. The following tips will help you do this.
- Clean counters and floors to eliminate food particles.
- Empty your trash regularly.
- Keep food sealed in your pantry, cabinet, or fridge.
- Ensure gutters move rainwater away from your home.
Insecticide For Ants In House
Recognize that when you use ant control pesticides, you should be ready to deal with these potential consequences:
- If bait stations are left out in the open, children or pets can be exposed to pesticides if they put a bait station in their mouths and chew on it.
- Boric acid pesticides are toxic to plants and if this type of pesticide is placed inside a potted plant or other area where water may carry the pesticide to plants, your plants will be affected.
- Use of aerosol sprays or foggers guarantees exposure to the pesticidal active ingredient, through inhalation of the spray droplets and contamination of exposed surfaces. See US EPA’s page on foggers.
Precautions to Take When Using Ant Control Pesticides
If you determine that pesticides are necessary, take these precautionary steps to reduce the potential for adverse effects:
- Indoors, place pesticide bait stations only in locations that are completely inaccessible to children and pets—inside walls, under heavy appliances, or in enclosed crawlspaces. Never put baits where they can contaminate food.
- Once all signs of pests are gone, remove bait stations promptly to avoid attracting new populations of ants.
- Always read and follow the label instructions on the pesticide product to avoid harm to yourself, children, pets and others. The label is the law and you could be liable for any damage resulting from not following the label instructions.
- Use only US EPA approved products
List Of Insecticide For Ants In House
- Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter2 with Comfort Wand kills ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks and other listed bugs; the formula is odor free, won’t stain, and keeps listed bugs out
- KILLS BUGS INSIDE: Kills those annoying home-invading insects, including ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, scorpions, beetles, silverfish, centipedes and millipedes
- KEEPS BUGS OUTSIDE: Creates a bug barrier that will kill bugs you have and prevents new bugs for up to 12 months (applies to ants, roaches and spiders indoors on non-porous surfaces)
- NO STAINING OR STINK: This spray can be used indoors and out, leaves no residue, and has no odor; people and pets may re-enter treated areas after spray has dried
- WAND MAKES APPLICATION EASY: The Comfort Wand eliminates hand fatigue, and there’s no pumping required, making it easy to spray along your home’s perimeter–indoors and outside
Additional Info :
| Color | White |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 4.88 Inches |
| Width | 12 Inches |
| Length | 8.95 Inches |
| Weight | 0.73 Pounds |
- 2-in-1 FORMULA: Kills listed insects while feeding your plants
- 8 WEEK PROTECTION: Protects and feeds for up to 8 weeks without spraying
- INSECT KILLER: Kills Aphids, Whiteflies, Leafhoppers, Mealybugs, and more
- PLANT FOOD: Slow-release fertilizer feeds indoor and outdoor potted plants for up to two months
- COVERAGE AREA: Treats up to 10 5-inch pots
- RESTRICTIONS: Not for sale in CT, VT, MD
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 9.75 Inches |
| Width | 0.4 Inches |
| Length | 6 Inches |
| Weight | 0.12 Pounds |
| Release Date | 2021-10-11T00:00:01Z |
- 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 |
- HOUSEPLANT INSECT CONTROL – These ready-to-use granules are meant for controlling insects and pests affecting your indoor plants. Unlike other products, this is designed to protect containerized plants.
- NO ODOR – Unlike most other chemical pesticides and herbicides, this bug killer does not have an odor, so using it in your home will not stink up your furniture, clothing, or rooms.
- TREATS MANY BUGS – This product is a capable treatment for mealybug, termite, aphids, Japanese beetles, and more. Be cautious of certain bugs or animals that eat your plants. Bees and pets may be harmed if the product is ingested.
- FOR NON-EDIBLE PLANTS – This insect killer treatment is not meant for vegetable or fruit plants. This product is labeled for use on flower beds, roses, shrubs, and the like, but it is not labeled for use on any edibles.
- HOW IT WORKS – After incorporating the granules into the soil and watering them in, the pesticide is absorbed by the roots where it moves through the plants to assist in protection against the listed bugs. Protection lasts for up to 8 weeks.
Additional Info :
| Color | white |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 6.3 Inches |
| Width | 2.8 Inches |
| Length | 2.8 Inches |
| Weight | 0.7 Pounds |
| Release Date | 2021-10-05T00:00:01Z |
- Attracts & Kills – Kills common household ants including acrobat, crazy, ghost, little black, odorous house, pavement, and other sweet-eating ants
- Kills the Ants You See & the Ones You Don’t – As worker ants discover the bait, they share it with the rest of the colony to eliminate them all
- Works Fast – You should see a significant decrease in the number of ants visiting the bait stations within just a few days
- Ready to Use – Place the bait stations, watch it attract ants, and eliminate the entire colony
- Use Throughout Your Home – Place stations near areas where you’ve seen ant activity including along baseboards, in corners, on counters, and more
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 4.5 Inches |
| Width | 6.6 Inches |
| Length | 1.2 Inches |
| Weight | 0.27 Pounds |