This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I had a serious ant problem two years ago. I tried everything — sprays, traps, you name it. Most of it was a waste of money. After a lot of trial and error (and one call to a pest control pro who told me his actual secrets), I found the products that genuinely work. Here are the 6 I recommend to everyone.
Quick Picks — Our Top Recommendations
The #1 Rule of DIY Pest Control
Before I get to products, here is the most important thing I can tell you: pest control is about breaking the breeding cycle, not just killing the bugs you see. The ants marching across your kitchen counter represent maybe 5% of the colony. The other 95% are in the walls, under the foundation, or in the yard. Products that kill on contact are satisfying but ineffective long-term. You need bait products that worker insects carry back to the colony. That is how you actually solve the problem.
1. TERRO T300B Liquid Ant Bait — The Best Ant Product Period
TERRO is the product I have recommended for years and it is still the best ant bait available. The borax-based liquid bait is carried back to the colony by worker ants, killing the queen and the entire nest within days. The pre-filled bait stations are clean and easy to place. You will see more ants at first — that means it is working. Do not spray anything near the bait stations or you will interrupt the process. Give it 3-5 days and the problem will be gone. I have used this three times now and it has worked every single time.
Our Pick3%TERRO T300B Liquid Ant Killer Bait
The #1 ant killer on Amazon. Borax-based bait destroys entire colonies.
(affiliate link)
2. Ortho Home Defense — The Best Perimeter Spray
Ortho Home Defense is what I recommend for creating a barrier around your home foundation, windows, and doors. Apply it to a 12-inch band around the perimeter and it kills and prevents ants, cockroaches, spiders, and 130+ other insects for up to 12 months indoors. The continuous spray wand makes application easy and even. This is the closest thing to a professional treatment you can do yourself. I apply it every spring and have not had a single indoor infestation since.
Best Seller3%Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer
Creates a bug barrier up to 12 months. Kills ants, roaches, spiders & more.
(affiliate link)
3. Victor Mouse Traps — Simple and Effective
If you have mice, the classic snap trap is still the most effective option. The Victor M250S No Touch No See design lets you dispose of the mouse without touching it — which is the main reason people avoid snap traps. Bait with peanut butter, place along walls (mice run along edges, not open floors), and check daily. One pack of 4 traps is usually enough for a typical home infestation. The no-touch design is genuinely useful.
Top Pick3%Victor M250S No Touch No See Mouse Traps
Kills fast, disposes clean. No touching the mouse. 30-second set-up.
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4. Combat Max Roach Killing Gel — What the Pros Actually Use
If you have cockroaches, gel bait is the professional tool of choice — and Combat Max is the best consumer version available. Apply small dots (about the size of a pea) in cracks, crevices, under appliances, and inside cabinet hinges. Roaches are attracted to it, eat it, and die within 3-5 days. The secondary kill effect means roaches that eat the dead ones also die. One tube treats an entire kitchen. This is what pest control technicians use when treating a serious infestation.
Editor's Choice3%Combat Max Roach Killing Gel
Kills roaches in 3–5 days. Reaches where sprays can't. Pro-grade formula.
(affiliate link)
5. Spectracide Wasp & Hornet Killer — Stay Safe at a Distance
Wasp and hornet nests are dangerous to remove, and I have seen people get seriously hurt trying to do it wrong. The Spectracide Wasp & Hornet Killer gives you 27 feet of distance between you and the nest. Always treat at night when insects are least active and temperatures are cooler. Stand upwind, spray for 5-6 seconds, and leave immediately. Return the next morning to check. Do not stand directly under the nest. This product works fast and the distance is genuinely reassuring.
Our Pick3%Spectracide Wasp & Hornet Killer
Kills wasps and hornets on contact. 27-ft spray reach. Kills the nest.
(affiliate link)
6. Catchmaster 72MAX Pest Trap — The Professional Monitoring Tool
Catchmaster glue traps are what pest control professionals use to monitor activity and catch stragglers after treatment. Place them along walls, under appliances, and in corners. They catch mice, roaches, spiders, and other crawling insects. The 36-pack is enough to cover an entire home. These are not a primary treatment — they are a monitoring and supplemental catch tool. If you are catching a lot on these, it means you have an active infestation that needs a primary treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to get rid of ants?
TERRO liquid ant bait is the fastest and most effective method. It works by letting worker ants carry the bait back to the colony, killing the queen within 3-5 days. Resist the urge to spray — it kills the workers before they can deliver the bait and makes the problem worse.
Are DIY pest control products as effective as professional treatments?
For most common household pests — ants, roaches, mice, wasps — yes. The products professionals use are often the same ones available to consumers. The difference is knowledge of application technique, which is why I covered placement tips for each product above. For serious infestations (termites, bed bugs, large rodent colonies), call a professional.
How often should I apply Ortho Home Defense?
Ortho recommends reapplication every 12 months indoors and every 3 months outdoors. I apply it every spring indoors and after heavy rain outdoors. If you see new pest activity, reapply to the affected areas immediately.
Pest problems are stressful, but they are solvable with the right products and a little patience. Start with TERRO for ants, Ortho for perimeter defense, and Combat Max for roaches — those three products cover 90% of common household pest problems. The key is using bait products that work on the whole colony, not just the bugs you can see.
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