Ants are probably the most common household insect, but most people don’t understand how to get rid of them. If you just see a few ants on the countertops, you may be inclined to let them be and not worry too much about how many more are hiding in our home.
What you may not realize is that you won’t get rid of the ants until you deal with their nest, according to TheBugsKiller.com. They won’t just go away on their own.
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The ants will keep coming back and growing in population size until you do something about them. We have picked out a few products that can help you do just that.
What to Know before You Buy Any Ant Killing Products
Before you grab just any ant killer off the shelf, there are a few considerations you should keep in mind.
Kill the nest, not just the ants– First and foremost, you want an ant killer that allows the ants to get back to the nest and carry the poison there with them. You may not always be able to find the nest on your own, and you need a pesticide that will take care of that for you.
Get the right treatment for your ants– You also need to know the kind of ant you are dealing with. Terminix reveals that knowing the type of ant will allow you to better treat for them. Not all ant killers will treat for all types of ants, so pay careful attention to what bugs are listed on whatever pesticide you are interested in.
Protect your kids, pets and the environment– Another thing to keep in mind is that some pesticides may contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment, to your pets or to your household, and you need to know when it is safe to use them and when you should go with something else.
Top 5 Best Rated Indoor Ant Killers Reviewed
Demise Fire Ant and Insect Killer
While it is labeled primarily for fire ants, you can use Demise on most household ants. The quick-acting products kills ants and coats them with a toxic substance that they carry back into their nest. Depending on the environmental conditions, it can last as long as six months. It is incredibly potent stuff, and you need to be careful about using it on or near your pets and allowing it to come into contact with your skin. Be sure to clean up after you use it or just keep pets and children away from the treated area.
Pros
- Very potent
- Long lasting
- Destroys ants in the nest
Cons
- Contains toxic chemicals that cannot be unsafe for pets and children
Bugs R Done Fly, Cockroach and Ant Killer
If you want something that is much safer to use around sensitive animals and children, then this is the way to go. Bugs R Done has crafted a mostly natural treatment for ants and other bugs, and it uses potent citrus fruits to kill them effectively.
That citrus smell gives it a pleasant scent and ensures that you and your pets should not be bothered by the smell at all. However, the lack of toxic chemicals can also mean that it is not as potent as some of the competition, so you will have to decide whether you want to go for something that is environmentally friendly and safe or potent and toxic.
Pros
- No unpleasant smells or staining
- Made with natural ingredients and safe for kids and pets
- Kills a wide variety of insects in the home
Cons
- Can lack effectiveness
Quest Specialty 426001 Stormtrooper Fire Ant Killer
This Stormtrooper spray is some of the most effective ant killer on the market, but it is also some of the most expensive. It releases a fast-acting foam that gets deep into the ants’ nest and takes out bugs you could not otherwise reach. It is meant to be used directly on the nest, so if you don’t know where the nest is, you may be wasting your time spraying this around your house.
It kills bugs very fast, and they usually won’t have time to take the poison back to their nest, so finding the nest is important. Terro says to look for where the ants walk to after finding a food source and to also keep an eye out for swarmers and wood shavings as signs of the nest.
Pros
- Super powerful; kills bugs fast
- Foam covers a large area quickly and effectively
Cons
- Incredibly costly
- Needs to be applied directly
Max Ant & Roach Killer
Max’s products are known for being effective against a wide range of bugs, and this one has been reworked to be especially potent at getting rid of ants. In the process, however, it lost some of its potency against larger insects.
If you are hoping to use this against cockroaches as well, then you will be disappointed. Max’s spray lasts for a long time after a single application, but it can also be too potent for sensitive pets or for little kids. Be sure to ventilate the room well after you spray this down in your house
Pros
- Great value for the price
- Has no lingering odor or residue
- Keeps bugs away for weeks
Cons
- Not very effective against larger bugs
TERRO T901-6 Ant Killer Plus
This powdered ant killer is actually designed to kill all sorts of insects and pests, and you can use it as perimeter control to keep new pests from entering your home. You can also pour it directly onto the nests and into the ants’ high traffic areas to ensure that you kill all the ants in your home. It works on many kinds of ants, and it kills them very fast. You simply need to put down a little bit of powder (a teaspoon or two) on the area you want to treat and then add a bit of water.
If you have plants in your home that pests are infesting, you can pour some of this on the dirt or the plants themselves and not have to worry about it killing your plants.
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Kills many insects almost instantly
- Residue kills ants for a long time after you put it down
Cons
- Works better outdoors
Final Thoughts
Keep in mind that sometimes the efficacy of a certain product can depend on where you live. There are certain areas, where the ants living there may be resilient to certain substances, while more sensitive to other chemicals.
Therefore, if some product didn’t do the job, try using another one. Practicing trial and error, you should eventually find an ant killer that works for you. As always, read labeling carefully, and follow instructions strictly to avoid any safety issues.