What to Look For
Identify Your Pest
Make sure you know exactly what it is you’re trying to kill before heading off to the store. That way you’ll be able to correctly target the problem by getting the right pest control.
Combinations
Sometimes your best defense is a combination of products. A dust and a liquid can work really well together to combat a particular problem. For example in a kitchen you can use dust in cabinet voids and then use a spray around the cabinets and baseboards.
Earth Friendly
While there are some earth friendly options available don’t think that means they’re non-toxic. Even though they’re based on natural ingredients they still have insecticidal qualities and can be toxic.
Fabric Friendly
Some liquid insecticides will be oil-based which can stain fabric. So before you start, spray a small test section to see if it will stain.
What's Out There
Household pesticides are designed to be used in and around the home with fairly low toxicity posing minimal risk to the environment and human health. That being said, they should be treated with care and only by adults.
Powders or Dusts
- Finely ground dust with a low concentration of pesticide.
- Ready to use.
- Needs to be applied away from pets and children.
- Powders do tend to drift, so using on windy days will cause it to go beyond the area you want to treat.
- Works well in inaccessible areas like inside walls.
Liquids
- Comes in ready-to-use aerosols or sprays
- Popular treatment for its convenience and easy storage.
- Easy to use and keep to targeted area.
- Should kill bugs on contact.
- Good for treating an anthill since it can soak in and cover the whole area better than say a powder.
Baits
- Baits can be safely placed anywhere you've seen ants, even next to food and dishes
- Work continuously to rid your home of ants.
- Kills a variety of household ants.
- Ants carry powerful bait back to the nest to kill the queen and the entire colony.
- Need to replenish regularly to guarantee effectiveness and make sure there are enough baits if you have a large problem.
Common Insecticides
Here is a list of insecticides you’ll commonly find in household formulas:
- Boric acid – one of the least toxic insecticides because it doesn’t evaporate into the air or get absorbed into the skin.
- Diatomaceous earth – composed of microscopic marine organisms usually in the form of a dust that act as an abrasive which removes an ants protective waxy coating causing it to lose water and die.
- Pyrethrum - a natural product made from a variety of daisy like chrysanthemums
- Permethrin – a synthetic version of pyrethrum but it remains effective for a longer period.
Our Tests
The Shopping Bags conducted their own science experiment collecting 100 ants and splitting them up into 5 different containers and then testing each of our ant killers. We also wanted to see how the products worked in the ants’ natural outdoor environment so we tried out the insecticides in the garden too.
Wilson
Ant Powder
Cost: $3.95 per 350 g
Wilson
Oil-Based Liquid – Aerosol
Cost: $5.95 per 350 g
Chemfree Insectigone
Water-Based Liquid – Pump
Cost: $7.98 per 350 g
Raid
Earth Friendly Powder
Cost: $14.75 per 350 g
Ant-B-Gon
Bait Trap
Cost: $2.96 for 3 traps
Controlled Test
Well after a week we hoped we’d find an ant graveyard instead of an ant farm; but that wasn’t necessarily the case. The only product that completely annihilated our mini ant colony was the Chemfree – it smelled kind of bad – but no more ants.
In The Garden
- Outside we found similar results.
- The Chemfree killed on contact without leaving any visible powdery mess in the garden.
- The aerosol killed the bugs on contac,t but our testers found its chemical-y effects to be a little harsh.
After You Buy
Read The Label
Always read the label of any insecticide. It will cite important information regarding the toxicity of the product as well as how to use it correctly.
Safety
- Never use insecticides on countertops, bedding, toys or pet food dishes.
- Carefully store unused pesticides in original container and keep them out of the reach of children and pets.
Cleanliness
- Keeping your house clean is the first place to start when you’re trying to prevent a pest invasion.
- Try and remove tempting targets, like wiping up things like sugar and jam before the ants have a chance to find it.
- You can protect your pet’s food by placing his bowl of food inside a larger bowl full of water and a little detergent so the ants can’t get at it.
Professional Help When you have tried multiple options with no success and you’re at your wits end then it may be time to call in professional exterminators to assist.
Thanks To Our Experts…
Professional exterminator Clint Rosevear gave us some insight into the pest world and what we can do ourselves to help get rid of unwanted pests and when it’s time to call for help.
Killing off those unwanted pesky ants can be easier said than done. Many of us don’t want to incur the cost of a professional exterminator unless it’s absolutely necessary. So, we turn to other chemical treatments that are readily available at hardware stores, home and garden centers and even at your local grocer. But will they really work and when is it a problem too big for you to handle?