Ants, spiders, and all manner of pestilence belong outside, not in your home. At least we prefer it that way, and if you do, too, you’re in the right place.
However, sometimes it isn’t that easy to get the pesky bugs to vacate your space, especially when winter turns to spring when they really do parade through the house — marching two by two, as some say.
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Since ants, mosquitos, roaches and spiders are some of the most common pests, we wanted to do a deep dive into how to prevent them from setting up shop in your kitchens and bedrooms. And who better to talk about extermination and prevention than the Orkin man?
“Ants inside your home is a common seasonal and sometimes year-round problem,” said Glen Ramsey, senior technical manager at Orkin and board-certified entomologist. “They typically build their nests outside your home and come inside looking for a food source. Some ant species will nest inside wall voids. Once they discover food, they continue collecting food to take back to their colony.”
Michael E. Wilson, CEO of Pest Control Operators of California, advised the following advice, “sanitation and exclusion are the critical first steps to any pest problem. In our industry, we teach SOS or Seek Out Source. If you can find the source of the pests’ access or food, then you can eliminate the infestation.”
“After those two first steps, product choice varies by the identification of the pest and the location of the
infestation,” Wilson said. “These challenges are why people often turn to a licensed professional to help with pest problems around their homes. Pest management is an activity you want done right the first time.”
That is why we contacted Michael Broder from BHB Pest Elimination, a company that has been tackling pest problems in NYC since 1969. Given the casual bugs squatting in our apartments and homes, his expertise is much needed, and we think you’ll find this advice invaluable, too.
Skip to our FAQ for even more detail.
Best Ant Trap: Combat Max 2 in 1 Ant Bait Station
Pros:
- Doesn’t smell
- Kills quickly
- Great for both outdoor and indoor
Cons:
- None we can find
“Gel baits are the best products I would recommend to a homeowner. They are mostly sugar-based and highly attractive to foraging ants looking for food. The goal is for the foragers to bring the gel back to the nest to eliminate the entire colony,” said Broder.
There are two baits in one station, and it kills eleven types of ants.
Best for Indoors: Gourmet Ant Gel
Pros:
- Great for hard-to-reach corners and cracks
Cons:
- Need to clean up
Broder also recommended Gourmet Ant Gel as a “great tool” that can be placed in the path of foraging ants.
Elaborating on its effectiveness, he emphasized, “The whole point of ant bait is that they bring back to the nest and kill all the pests. It may be slow-acting, but the best for long-term control. Treat around doors, windows, baseboards and pipelines and all active trails. If you are fortunate to have outdoor areas by your home, do a little investigating to search for an outdoor nest. Move flower pots and planters, kick around old leaves, and of course, try to follow any active ant trails.”
Regarding cockroach control, he suggested, “The stations are good to place where you have seen adult cockroaches, and then place the gel bait in cracks inside the cabinets around those areas. I very strongly do not recommend any aerosol foggers for any homeowner to use for any pest, but especially for cockroaches. It is dangerous, highly flammable, and more likely to irritate cockroaches, making them scatter around and create many satellite nests and further complicating the infestation.”
Best Syringe: Advion Cockroach Gel Bait
Pros:
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
- Kills within 24 hours
Cons:
- Pricey
German Cockroaches, similar to ants, respond well to gel baits and bait stations, advised Broder, emphasizing their effectiveness. “Cockroaches eat the bait and transmit to other roaches living in nests. One cockroach that eats the bait has the ability to kill up to 30 roaches.”
“For the average homeowner, I also would not recommend dust products, even those considered green, natural products,” Broder said. “These products are very volatile and can float in many areas you do not want them to go.”
It’s easy to place in hard-to-reach corners and cracks. The package includes four 30-gram gel syringes, good for up to three years.
Best Gel: Roach Killer Trap
Pros:
- Kills quickly and effectively
- Kills a large variety of bugs not just roaches
Cons:
- Removing the trap once full is not for the faint of heart
“American Cockroaches: In NYC, our nickname is the ‘Waterbug.’ These are the big cockroaches, easily over an inch long. They mostly come up by following pipelines up a building and live in the basement and sewer areas. Using gel baits around pipes can be helpful, and sealing gaps around pipelines can keep out of your home. They do have a very far range and travel hundreds of feet from nesting sites up into homes and then back down to nesting areas,” said Broder.
This is why we chose this non-toxic trap that kills not only roaches but a host of various bugs, including ants, crickets, beetles, spiders, and more.
Best for Spiders: Catchmaster Spider and Insect Glue Traps
Pros:
- Non-toxic
- Mess-free
Cons:
- Must remove once full
“Spiders can be difficult to eliminate,” said Broder. “One very easy tool is to clean and remove spider webs. This helps to remove spider eggs and potential future issues. Granular baits and glue monitors can be helpful in main areas they are living, particularly in exterior or basement areas.”
For this, we recommend a sticky adhesive trap that captures and kills pests and lures those tingly spiders to the bait.
Others We Recommend
Best Liquid: TERRO T300B Liquid Ant Killer
Pros:
- Small and easy to place out of sight
Cons:
- None we can find
Let these traps do all the work. Snap off the end to open the trap, and ants crawl inside to get the liquid. They then bring it back to the nest, and no more bugs for the season.
Best Bait: Raid Ant Bait
Pros:
- Easy to use
- No need to see inside when tossing out
- Secures into place with adhesive
Cons:
- None we can find
These ant-traps by Raid do the work for you as well, plus come with a sticky backside so that you can stick them under your fridge, counters and more, keeping them out of sight and out of mind.
Best Spray: Raid Perimeter Protection Spray
Pros:
- Great for outdoor use
- Kills up to 18 months
Cons:
- Not preferred for indoor
Protect your perimeter and the interior will follow. This Raid spray is perfect for the prevention Ramsey suggested, creating a barrier between the outside and the inside of your home.
Best for Outdoors: Hive Stay Away Ant and Cockroach Deterrent
Pros:
- Great for outdoor
- Non-toxic and safe around pets
Cons:
- Not great for indoors
Plant-based ant repellent? Sounds great to us! Check out these pouches that repel both ants and cockroaches, using a plant-based mixture of smells that the pests can’t stand.
Best Pet Safe: Wondercide Rosemary Indoor Pest Control for Home + Kitchen
Pros:
- Pet-safe
- Rosemary scent
- Kills flies, roaches, ants, and spiders
Cons:
- None we can find
Keep the ants away with a spray! This indoor spray uses herbal pesticides like rosemary, which bugs like ants, roaches, and spiders don’t take too fondly to.
FAQ
Wilson, an expert from PCOC, and Ramsy from Orkin provided invaluable insights on key indicators for identifying and preventing the intrusion of these bothersome pests, ensuring you can rest easy.
Do you have a top product recommendation that works for all pests?
Wilson said, “If Pest Control were as simple as using one single material, the profession of pest management would look quite different.”
He stressed the importance for homeowners to recognize that the variation in products extends well beyond mere sprays, baits, or traps. Wilson urged homeowners to scrutinize product labels for key ingredients tailored to target specific pests before purchasing. He also highlighted the necessity of seeking professional assistance for persistent pest issues and maintaining optimal sanitation. As he put it, “A sprinkle of sugar or a dab of grease can be sufficient to keep small insects going, so focus on good housekeeping practices and landscape maintenance for the best results.”
Check out our best cleaning products of 2024, tested by editors for spring cleaning to help keep a spotless home.
So, how do I get rid of an ant infestation in my house?
So you left out a piece of candy and the robot vacuum didn’t get all the crumbs. Now what? Well, back up a bit so we can talk about prevention, first.
“One of the best practices is prevention,” said Ramsey. “Make sure your home is well sealed. Not only will this help with energy efficiency, but it will also help keep pests out. Regularly walk around your home looking for gaps around siding, pipes, utility lines, windows and doors that might allow ants an opportunity to gain access.”
After checking for holes and gaps in your siding, then we can go inside and address any sticky situations.
“Store sweets and other food in sealed containers and clean up any crumbs on
counters,” added Ramsey. “Before bringing potted plants and other vegetation inside, check the soil for any ant activity.”
Also, keep in mind that you may have to be on the lookout for the tiny bugs more than once, as they love to keep finding ways back inside your very welcoming home.
“Pest prevention around your home is a constant process,” said Ramsey. “Even the best-sealed homes need regular inspections and maintenance. The more vigilant you are about sealing up gaps in the exterior, the more likely you are to have a pest-free interior.”
Do you have pet-safe recommendations for killing roaches, spiders, or ants?
These pests vary greatly, so let’s explore what steps you can take to keep them out of your home while minimizing any potential risks to your pets.
When dealing with cockroaches, Wilson recommends sealing openings where feasible. He states, “Physically removing these pests from their hiding spots, cracks, and crevices using specialized HEPA vacuums can decrease their overall numbers.” This is why gel syringes are a good choice for filling in the gaps.
For spiders, decluttering is key as they tend to favor undisturbed spaces. Wilson also noted their tendency to congregate around back doors and porch areas but shared a useful tip: “Covered porches are another common trouble area for spiders. Normally, this is due to a light source left on overnight that attracts the bugs that the spiders like to eat. An easy remedy is to turn the light off when the area is not in use or switch to a warm yellow or orange LED bulb.”
Because ants live in “advanced colonies,” Wilson suggested “reducing moisture in your yard and removing food sources.” This will likely make a colony move toward the neighboring properties and leave you alone. But if they sneak inside, bait is your bait is your best friend.
Wilson explained, “Foraging ants will bring food back to the nest, so use that to your advantage. Remember, you must allow the ants’ biology to work against the colony. Resist the urge to spray trails that have ants feeding on and transferring the bait. Keep in mind, however, that ant species differ, so the proper identification from a qualified professional can make all the difference.”
Is there a safe way to kill ants that won’t harm my children and/or pets?
Pests are bad, but your pets shouldn’t have to suffer when it’s time to spray for ants. To ensure that your kids and pets are safe, Ramsey first suggests non-chemical methods and prevention.
“Good sanitation and exclusion are the best non-chemical methods to reduce ant
pressure,” said Ramsey. “Otherwise, general household cleaners can kill individual ants or help clean up a pheromone trail. Application of the cleaner stops the pheromone trail and contacts ants but doesn’t fix the cause of the problem or affect the nest.”
What happens when you need the stronger stuff? Be sure to always read the label on ant-killing sprays and solutions for ventilation instructions as well as how long to keep out of the room. However, for the most part, many ant-killers are really only harming the bugs themselves, and should be safe for use in a home with other, human, residents.