Sunday, April 28, 2024

5 Best Bug Spray Treatments for Indoor and Outdoor Home Pest Control

bug spray for house

If you’re sensitive to smells, you may want to choose another product from our list. With 11 hours of coverage, this is our vote for long-lasting protection. We spent the whole day outside doing lawn work and gardening and didn’t get bitten.

Bug Control Gear That Actually Works

Fipronil is a phenylpyrazole insecticide, first developed when insects started becoming resistant to pyrethroid insecticides. The active ingredient in Bifen IT is bifenthrin, one of the most effective and heavily-studied insecticides on the market. I recommend wearing a mask while applying them to avoid inhaling any particles. The bottle of CimeXa shown above is applied straight from the bottle. In my experience, it works against any crawling bug type, such as fleas, ants, spiders, caterpillars, cockroaches, and silverfish. Some general insecticides on the market come in the form of very fine, dusty powder.

Are general-use insecticides safe for indoor use?

We’ve found some sprays that use the active ingredients picaridin or OLE that perform well, and others that don’t. And in a few instances, we’ve found that products containing 20 percent picaridin score well as a spray but not in another form, such as a wipe or lotion. “At the very least, we’re seeing OLE and picaridin fall short of deet,” Regan says. Other active ingredients in our recommended products, if you prefer not to use deet, are picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus (more on those below). Our Sawyer and Ranger Ready picks stood out for a number of reasons, but any other repellent with 20% picaridin should offer the same protection against mosquitoes and ticks for a similar duration of time.

What is the best thing to keep mosquitoes away?

If you’re looking for a product that protects against more than just mosquitoes or contains DEET, you might want to choose another one from our list, such as OFF! As much as we love this product, we wish it was waterproof and sweatproof. We noticed it didn’t stay on long after being in the water, and bugs also seemed to be attracted sooner. Our product experts then performed informal tests of the products in their own yards, when possible. In addition, our health and sustainability experts reviewed ingredient lists to ensure products are in accordance with guidelines set forth by the U.S. There is nothing more annoying than settling down to a good night’s sleep in a hotel on a well deserved holiday, only to have your quality sleep disrupted by nasty bed bugs.

The best insecticides for general home use vary from home to home, as each home has different pest issues and levels of severity. Jordan Tyler Quinn Farkas is a globetrotting content writer hailing from the USA. With a passion for pest control, he brings a unique perspective to his writing from his early years working for one of the largest pest control companies in America. Throughout his early 20s, Jordan gained valuable experience and knowledge in the field, tackling pest infestations head-on and ensuring the well-being of countless homes. Before you check out, consider these products you may also need to keep bugs at bay. However, DEET is toxic to aquatic creatures like fish and breaks down synthetic clothing or treated fibers, meaning it can de-waterproof your favorite rain coat or cause your hiking tank to wear out sooner.

Though there are a small number of “general-use” insect baits on the market, most are formulated to target a specific species or group of insects, such as roaches. Each of these different types of insecticide have the potential to be the best for your home. We recommend the best products through an independent review process, and advertisers do not influence our picks.

Can you buy bug spray for dogs and other pets?

bug spray for house

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a member of the allium family that grows long, slender leaves above the soil and produces a bulb of smaller cloves beneath the soil, says Spoonemore. It has a strong scent that repels aphids, cabbage loopers, and Japanese beetles. Mint (Mentha) is an upright perennial that forms thickets through underground stolons.

How Do You Bomb Your House Of Bugs? – Forbes Home - Forbes

How Do You Bomb Your House Of Bugs? – Forbes Home.

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Second, they often include fragrances that bugs find unpleasant, even if we do not. The bulk of the ingredients may or may not be listed but can include carrier oils, distilled water, and alcohol. The 8-ounce pump-action bottle is a great size for longer outdoor trips, making it unnecessary to carry multiple small bottles. Avon advises against its use on clothing, and it may damage some elastics. Yes, most general-use insecticides are designed for indoor application.

You can also take straight peppermint oil and put at least five drops on a cotton ball and place the cotton balls at entry points and throughout the house where you suspect insects are getting in. Replace the peppermint-soaked cotton balls every month with fresh ones. You can even grow your own peppermint indoors as an added measure of prevention and enjoyment.

First, there are simply too many variables to consider to make any sweeping statements on repellency. This EPA-approved picaridin formula is safe and effective, and it comes in a bottle that’s better than that of competitors at spraying evenly and accurately. As the name implies, lemongrass (Cymbopogon) has a strong lemony scent similar to citronella that is especially unappealing to mosquitoes, says Spoonemore. The herb has tall grass-like leaves that are a great filler plant in the garden. Lavender (Lavandula) is an herbaceous perennial with tall purple flowers that range from light to dark, says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app. It produces a fragrance that is calming to humans and unpleasant to pests like mosquitoes, flies, fleas, and moths.

Its white color made it easy to see where it was applied on the skin, but it also absorbed completely within 5 minutes without leaving any visible residue. We tested out the repellent several times during our dog walks at a park, which is notorious for having an abundance of insects. To our surprise, we didn't experience any insect bites even after spending one to four hours outside, following the application of the product. With a 15 percent DEET formula, the label indicates it’s effective for up to five hours.

Eucalyptus leaves have a strong scent that deters mosquitoes, flies, and other insects from the garden. "You can plant it in your garden or use eucalyptus oil to create a natural insect-repellent spray," says Spoonemore. Since eucalyptus is native to Australia and considered invasive in parts of the United States, planting eucalyptus in a container is a great option. Chrysanthemums are a beloved container plant known for their fall interest, but they also have pest-repellent properties.

Ahead, we spoke to garden experts about their recommendations for the best plants to help keep harmful bugs at bay. It’s essential to follow these steps to effectively remove the smell of bug spray from your home. Additionally, you can try to prevent the entry of bugs by using natural ways like keeping your house clean and using plants like lemongrass, citronella, and eucalyptus around your house.

If you’re concerned about the smell of pesticides in your home, there are a few things you can do to get rid of the odor. You can also try using an air purifier or dehumidifier to help remove the smell. If you smell insecticide, it means that there is a potentially hazardous chemical in the air.

For example, all deet products we’ve tested that contain 25 to 30 percent score very well in our ratings. Two 15 percent deet repellents are also strong performers, though two others with that same concentration earn unimpressive scores. First, they can’t be applied to clothing, so they’re less versatile. There is no way to get them onto your shoes or boots for added tick protection. Second, Conlon told us that after application, lotions take about 20 minutes to start repelling bugs.

bug spray for house

To find the best bug repellents, we interviewed experts to create our list, then personally tested each product’s effectiveness, coverage, ease of use, value, and smell. We also considered active ingredients, application methods, EPA labeling, and what types of insects each spray could repel. Erica Puisis is a freelance writer and product tester that has been covering home, garden, and outdoor products for The Spruce since 2017. To find the best bug repellents, she compiled results from at-home testers that evaluated each product based on ease of application, effectiveness, odor, and other key factors.

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