Pest control experts recommend these products to help keep bugs and rodents out of your home and yard. (iStock)
Summer brings more than sunshine — it also brings ants, mice and other unwanted pests. To find out the best ways to get rid of them, we asked pest control experts which products they use to control common pests in and around homes. Their recommendations include liquid ant bait, classic wooden mouse traps and preventive products that help stop infestations before they start.
Best products for ants and roaches
Target colonies with expert-recommended baits instead of sprays.
Terro liquid ant bait: $10.96 (16% off)
Original price: $12.99
This indoor ant bait will kill the queen and the colony. (Amazon)
Many of the experts we talked to mentioned Terro's liquid ant bait as one of the best options for ant control.
"For ants, avoid using sprays," said Jeff Schumacher, owner of All-Safe Pest & Termite in Texas. "That will only kill the ants you can see but won't do anything to eliminate the colony. Slow-acting bait products like Terro work because ants think it's food and will carry it back to the colony."
READ MORE: 15 bug-repelling products that actually work all spring and summer
Combat Max roach bait: $13.99
Combat Max targets roaches with bait they carry back to the colony. (Amazon)
Combat Max uses bait stations to target cockroaches without the need for sprays.
"Products like Combat Max gel work better long term compared to sprays," Schumacher said. "Similar to the ant bait, roaches will share this 'food' with the colony and it will effectively eliminate dozens of roaches at once rather than killing one at a time with spray."
Advion gel bait for cockroaches: $24 (6% off)
Original price: $25.50
Apply this gel bait in cracks, under appliances and along cabinets. (Amazon)
This 12-pack of gel bait goes a long way. It’s a "professional-grade" product according to Kyle Turner, Pro Active Pest Control founder, president and CEO.
"A small dot placed in cracks, under appliances and along the back of cabinets will outperform most sprays," Turner said. "Sprays push roaches around, bait eliminates the population."
Ortho Home Defense insect killer: $20.75 (20% off)
Original price: $25.99
The Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer can be applied just once per year. (Amazon)
Another way to protect your home's perimeter is with an insect killer. Ortho works for up to 12 months, so you can apply just once per year.
"Ortho Home Defense applied along the foundation, around windows and entry points creates a barrier that holds up reasonably well between treatments," Turner said.
Best products for mice
Trap mice and seal entry points to help keep them out.
Snap mouse traps: $19.99
Mouse traps like these can be easier to work with than traditional ones. (Amazon)
If you have a mouse problem, old-fashioned snap traps are still the way to go, according to the experts.
"Where you put them is what matters most," Schumacher said. "Put them where mice will naturally run — along walls and baseboards."
READ MORE: 17 backyard additions under $200 that make your outdoor space feel brand new
Victor wooden mouse traps: $19.09
Wooden mouse traps are still the go-to for many experts. (Amazon)
Rid your home of mice with a 12-pack of classic Victor mouse traps. Joel Miller, owner of Miller Pest Solutions, which services Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas, vouches for these traps, saying, "Plain old Victor wooden snap traps still beat almost everything else. Bait [the traps] with a smear of peanut butter, place them flush against walls where mice run, and you'll see results overnight."
Steel wool mice control: $8.99 (10% off)
Original price: $9.99
Strike at the heart of the problem by sealing off gaps. (Amazon)
Catching mice is only part of the task. You also need to find where they're getting in and block those spots. To seal gaps, Nicole Carpenter, president of Black Pest Prevention out of Charlotte, N.C., recommends two products: "First is steel wool or copper mesh, and second is exterior-grade caulk. You can’t just use caulk or foam because some pests, especially mice and rats, can chew through anything besides metal, and the two-layer method is just a standard."
Best products for gardens and outdoor pests
Keep bugs and unwanted animals away from your plants and the rest of your yard.
Neem oil: $9.49 (12% off)
Original price: $10.78
This neem oil is designed for use on indoor and outdoor plants. (Amazon)
Protect your plants from getting decimated by bugs with neem oil. It uses naturally derived ingredients to keep plants safe from common pests.
"I have personally used this product in my garden to target aphids and ants, as one of its functions is to repel," said Ralph Masferrer, Aruza Pest Control director of technical and training.
READ MORE: Refresh your home for summer with these 15 upgrades, from $12
Diatomaceous Earth: $29.99
This freshwater diatomaceous earth comes with a duster for applying it in tight spaces. (Amazon)
Another product that Masferrer uses personally is diatomaceous earth. It treats for ants, roaches, fleas and other bugs.
"It is a fine powder that is sharp for insects," Masferrer said. "As a result, it damages the insect's cuticle (waxy outer layer), dehydrates [it] and causes death."
Wondercide outdoor pest control spray: $79.99
Combat ants, roaches, spiders and other pests. (Amazon)
Reviewers say Wondercide helps keep ants, roaches, fleas and spiders at bay.
"The ants are GONE," one reviewer said. "I sprayed around the perimeter of the house as suggested. I mixed it and used a hand sprayer. The smell is subtle…Very happy I found this product."
Solar ultrasonic animal repellers, 4-pack: $80.98 (19% off)
Original price: $99.98
Keep deer, cats, squirrels and other larger animals away from your gardens. (Amazon)
If neighborhood animals keep getting into your garden or garage, this four-pack of solar-powered repellers is a popular option among Amazon reviewers:
"I bought this to stop neighborhood cats and squirrels from digging up my garden. It was super easy to set up by just sticking the stake right into the dirt. I love that it runs on solar power, so I never have to worry about changing out batteries. The motion sensor picks up movement perfectly and triggers the flashing lights instantly. Since I put this out last week, my yard has been completely free of any unwanted critters."
Pest prevention and home services
Deep-clean and treat your home to help prevent infestations.
Taskrabbit deep cleaning services: Price varies by area and task
A deep clean helps prevent unwanted pests. (iStock)
While Taskrabbit doesn't offer specific pest removal services, its deep-cleaning options can help remove crumbs and other buildup that may attract pests. Having someone come in and do more than just a surface clean rids your home of crumbs and other buildup that can lead to ants, roaches and other pests. Search Taskrabbit's site to see the deep cleaning options near you.
More bug protection deals our readers love
Still battling mosquitoes and other pests? These bug protection deals can help you enjoy more time outdoors.
Bug zapper: $33.29 (45% off)
Thermacell Fuel-ZoneGuard mosquito repeller: $16.19 (40% off)
Citronella candles, 4-pack: $17.99 (24% off)
Mosquito-repellent bracelets: $9.99 (23% off)
OFF! Clean Feel insect repellent, 2-pack: $11.99 (17% off)
OFF! Backyard Bug Control pretreat: $10.78 (16% off)
For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals
A note on how we found our experts
To ensure we recommended the best products, we connected with experts via LinkedIn and journalist platforms like Qwoted. All experts have verifiable credentials and firsthand experience with the pest-control methods and products they recommend.
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