In late 2020, we downsized to an apartment after almost 20 years of home ownership. My wife saw an ant and spider this week inside our apartment door and was on my case to spray, so I thought I'd post what I found most effective for our biggest home problems over the years.
Carpenter ants: Thermidor SC. When we were buying the house, our home inspector noted that the house had previously been sprayed for carpenter ants. It wasn't until a few years later, that we began getting them in a bathroom. After paying an exterminator over $500 for a year's service, we were still getting them inside. In speaking to someone from domyown.com, I learned that the exterminator only used a temporary contact spray outside and inside, along with bait and powder inside, which didn't kill the nest in my neighbor's tree. Although we didn't have kids and pets, I really hated bait and sprays inside my house and didn't renew the exterminator contract. Less than 10 days after spraying my foundation and the base of my neighbor's tree with thermidor, no more ants. After that I sprayed the outside foundation every year or two, mostly at my wife's insistence. Never had another in the house.
Small ants: At the apartment, we get small ants coming in from the outside front door and rear sliding door. Thermidor is overkill, so I use a Cy-Kick spray can around the doors, which is their cheapest. We plan on taking our first trip since covid this summer, and I've ordered a can of their bed bug spray for hotels.
Creeping Charlie: Neighbors on one side and behind me had it take over their yards, but they didn't care. It eventually crept into my yard. I liked a nice lawn and had a lawn service for fertilizing and weed control, but they couldn't get rid of creeping charlie. I finally found the solution the year before we moved: Ferti-lome Weed Free Zone in pump sprayer. A light spray, with a repeat 2 weeks later worked for me. Like good pesticides, it's not sold in my State because it actually works. I think I got mine from amazon.
Hope it helps.
Carpenter ants: Thermidor SC. When we were buying the house, our home inspector noted that the house had previously been sprayed for carpenter ants. It wasn't until a few years later, that we began getting them in a bathroom. After paying an exterminator over $500 for a year's service, we were still getting them inside. In speaking to someone from domyown.com, I learned that the exterminator only used a temporary contact spray outside and inside, along with bait and powder inside, which didn't kill the nest in my neighbor's tree. Although we didn't have kids and pets, I really hated bait and sprays inside my house and didn't renew the exterminator contract. Less than 10 days after spraying my foundation and the base of my neighbor's tree with thermidor, no more ants. After that I sprayed the outside foundation every year or two, mostly at my wife's insistence. Never had another in the house.
Small ants: At the apartment, we get small ants coming in from the outside front door and rear sliding door. Thermidor is overkill, so I use a Cy-Kick spray can around the doors, which is their cheapest. We plan on taking our first trip since covid this summer, and I've ordered a can of their bed bug spray for hotels.
Creeping Charlie: Neighbors on one side and behind me had it take over their yards, but they didn't care. It eventually crept into my yard. I liked a nice lawn and had a lawn service for fertilizing and weed control, but they couldn't get rid of creeping charlie. I finally found the solution the year before we moved: Ferti-lome Weed Free Zone in pump sprayer. A light spray, with a repeat 2 weeks later worked for me. Like good pesticides, it's not sold in my State because it actually works. I think I got mine from amazon.
Hope it helps.
