Although there are many different ant control products on the market today that offer a DIY approach to in-home extermination, these products can pose serious risks to the ones you love the most. In fact, some of these products can be dangerously toxic to kids and pets.
When you discover ants in your home, it can be difficult to think of anything besides getting rid of them as quickly as possible. Here is a comparison between chemical and natural ant control products and how an experienced ant exterminator can help.
Chemical Ant Control Strategies
Oftentimes, DIY ant repellent sprays often only kill a few ants in a localized area. Solutions that you may try include ant spray, ant granules, ant baits, ant killer dust, and ant bait stations. The active ingredient in some chemical ant control products is boric acid, which is often mixed with syrup or sugar to attract ants. Insect growth regulators, like methoprene and pyriproxyfen, are used to stop ants from growing from one life stage to the next.
Meanwhile, neonicotinoid pesticides are often used as ant control liquids and gels. These have shown to be toxic to the nervous system and reduce sperm counts in laboratory animals. Hydramethylnon is another chemical used in pest control products, often for use on carpenter ants, and this chemical may be toxic to humans as well.
Natural Ant Control Strategies
It might surprise you to learn that soapy water and window cleaner are often just as effective as chemical products for killing ants on-contact. The benefit is that this approach won’t leave behind the residual toxicity that many chemical ant control products do. There are many natural products that you can try to control ants, but many of them work more as a deterrent rather than a way to kill existing ants.
- Cucumber peels
- Bay leaves
- Coffee grounds
- Garlic
- Mint
- Cayenne pepper
- Lemon juice
However, many homeowners become frustrated with these types of natural deterrents because of their limited effectiveness. If you choose to use pesticides yourself, stick to enclosed bait stations instead of sprays to limit the spread of chemicals and accidental exposure by kids and pests. You may also be able to find natural-based commercial products at your local store.
Ant Pest Control: Putting Your Children’s and Pets’ Health First
When placing ant baits around the house, consider their location and use the right bait for the job. This may mean blocking off access to ant-heavy areas of the home so that kids and pets don’t accidentally touch them. For example, you can place a trap inside a covered cardboard box to entice ants to enter but deter kids and pets from doing so.
But to really put the health of your children and pets first, you may need to call an experienced ant exterminator to get the job done right. At Precise Pest Control, we use state-of-the art equipment and methods that are effective. Our licensed exterminators will inspect your home’s environment and construction to identify the problem and determine the best course of action.
Every ant infestation is different, and we’ve seen and handled it all! If treated quickly, ants are rarely responsible for serious structural damage a home, so don’t delay calling an ant exterminator at the first sign of a problem.