We Asked a Pest Pro How They Really Keep Ants Out, and We Wish We Thought of This Sooner
Ants may be tiny, but they can be a huge nuisance if they invade your home. Lured by the prospect of food or somewhere to nest, these little creatures can soon take over your home, especially in the summer months.
If you've ever dealt with these unwanted visitors in your home, you’ll likely know that a quick online search will turn up hundreds—even thousands—of products claiming to repel and get rid of ants. But with so many options, it can be tricky to tell which ones actually work.
To find out, we turned to a pest control pro who shared exactly which product they use and why it’s so effective.
Meet the Expert
Matt Smith is the co-owner of Delaware-based Green Pest Management and has worked in the pest control industry since 2009.
Fuse Foam Ready-to-Use Termiticide / Insecticide
$22
Buy on Amazon
Fuse Foam is available in a ready-to-use version or can be bought in bulk quantities from a range of DIY pest control stores online. However, the bulk product requires diluting, whereas the foam is ready to use, making this the easier option for most homeowners , and it’s also far more budget-friendly than the bulk solution.
Fuse can be used indoors and out, and it's both a preventative and a treatment for ants. If you know you are likely to get ants in the summer, you can use this product to prevent them from coming in the first place.
But it works just as effectively in getting rid of these unwanted pests if they have already made an appearance.
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Why Fuse Is the Most Effective Solution
Fuse Foam is an expanding foam that uses an active ingredient called fipronil, which works really well on social insects like ants.
“It is a slower killer which gives social insects a chance to really spread it throughout the whole colony”, says Matt Smith, co-owner of Green Pest Management.
Once in contact with the product, the ants carry it back to their colony, infecting other ants along the way.
“It continues to spread this way farther down into each tunnel and then eventually reaches the queen”, Smith adds.
Once the queen and the majority of the colony are infected, there’s little chance of the ants returning to your home.
Kill on contact products, on the other hand, may look like they’re working because you can see the ants dying, but these products only kill a very small fraction of ants in the colony, Smith shares.
As a professional in the pest control space, Smith has tried several products aimed at ants but has found none that are quite as effective as Fuse. Smith explains that he typically had to do two rounds of treatments for ant infestations before he started using Fuse.
But, according to Smith, Green Pest Management's technicians reported that they wouldn't find nearly as much pest activity during the second round.
Finally, Fuse tends to last a bit longer against natural elements like sun, wind, and rain, Smith adds.
How to Use Fuse Foam and How Often
The ready-to-use product couldn’t be simpler to use. It comes with a straw-like tube applicator, so you simply spray the area where the ants are likely to come from (or have already entered from), whether that’s a particular spot, crack, or crevice.
For frequency of use, Smith suggests spraying your home once a season or every 90 days. In the summer months, though, Smith says you may need to use the product a little more frequently.
Fuse Foam vs Natural Remedies
You’ve likely come across some natural remedies that can help repel ants. While some homemade solutions can work, they tend to take longer than Fuse Foam, according to Smith.
Depending on which natural remedy you opt for, some can also push the ants to other areas instead of killing them off, which means that the ants can quickly return and invade another spot in your home.
General Tips and Pet Safety
As with any insecticide, it’s important to carefully follow the instructions on the label and wear any protection as recommended on the packaging, says Smith.
When it comes to pets, Smith recommends keeping them away when spraying Fuse Foam until it dries. Once dried, the product is safe for pets.
It’s worth adding that Fuse can be harmful to fish and other aquatic life; however, given the nature and use of this product, it’s unlikely to come into contact with fish, so this isn’t likely to cause a problem for most people.
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