It’s not great to find bugs creeping about your house or flies crashing into your windows. It’s not great to know that insects are hiding under the bed and lurking in cracks and crevices around your home. It’s not great to be sharing your house with unwanted creepy- crawlies.
So what can you do?
An insecticide spray is an obvious answer – but are they safe in your house? Will they harm you, your children, your pets, or your indoor plants? And are they even effective?
We have researched the market to find the best home insecticide for you. Our first priority in searching for the best insecticide has been to ask the question – is this pesticide safe?
- Orange Guard Home Pest Control Spray
- Ortho Home Defense MAX
- Mdxconcepts Organic Home Pest Control Spray – Peppermint Oil
- EcoSMART Home Pest Control
- Raid House Garden Bug Killer
Are insects a health hazard in the home?
Insects can be a danger in your home. They are attracted to food and trample over any they can get to, leaving dirt and microbes behind. Cockroaches, flies, fleas, and mosquitos are all health risks – so if you have an infestation, you need to tackle it with the best home insecticide you can find.
The house dust mite is a common source of allergic reactions while people sleep, and other allergic reactions to insect dander can occur. Also, insects can, over time, cause structural damage to your house.
Sometimes people resort to those unpleasant hanging strips or indoor plug-in pest repellers. But it is not difficult to control the problem with the correct insect spray.
What Can I Spray Around My House to Keep Bugs Out?
When you are using an insecticide inside the house, your priority has to be ensuring that the insecticide is safe. Manufacturers have realized this, and many have done years of research to find effective but safe compounds to get rid of insect pests in the home.
Many of the best home insect pesticides are natural insecticides, using plant-based ingredients rather than synthetic chemicals. The manufacturers claim that these are safe pesticides for indoor use, but you should still use your judgment in seeking out the best home insecticide for you.
Are Insecticides Toxic to People and Pets?
There are no completely safe pesticides – but be reassured that we are a lot bigger than the pests we want to eliminate! Organic and natural insecticides may take longer to act but tend to be less toxic but are still very effective. Some of the more toxic indoor pesticides contain organophosphates, so you might want to avoid these. They include malathion, tetrachlorvinphos, and diazinon.
Whenever you use any pesticide, even ‘natural’ and ‘eco’ ones, you must read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow them. If you take sensible precautions, you will reduce the risks of adverse reactions.
It is best not to let any pesticide come into direct contact with your eyes, skin, mouth, or enter your lungs.
You might choose to wear gloves, long sleeves, and long pants, socks, and shoes rather than flip-flops. Wearing protective clothing makes it easier to avoid accidental contact with the pesticide. You should remove pets, children, and sensitive plants from the room before you tackle any spraying! (Note that birds, fish, and reptiles may be susceptible to insecticides.)
Once the spray has completely dried out, the manufacturers usually state that it is likely safe for children and pets to return, though you may wish to air the room out first. But note the comments about cats below.
Essential Oils Can Be Very Poisonous to Cats
Many of the natural insecticides contain essential oils. Some of these are toxic to cats, especially ones containing ‘phenols”. These include peppermint, thyme, lavender, eucalyptus, citrus, and more. Cats lack certain enzymes that help to metabolize essential oils in the liver, making them vulnerable. Provided these are very diluted and kept at a distance, they may be reasonably safe for your cat, but they are still toxic if ingested. If you use them in a confined space like your home, keep any cats well away.
Good Safety Practices When Using a Pest Control Spray for Homes
Here are a few safety precautions to bear in mind when using an insect spray in the house:
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions diligently
- Ensure children and pets are away from the area you are treating
- Cover fish or reptile tanks, remove birds
- Remove pet belongings like beds or pet toys and water
- You may need to remove items from the pantry so that the insecticide can reach all the corners.
- Place pellets in areas where your pets can’t get to – if you are using granules or pellets
- Spray the insecticide into areas where your pets can’t reach if possible
- Ensure the spray is dry before allowing anyone or any pets back in
- Air the room before opening it up to visitors
If your pet is affected, the common signs to look out for are drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. If this happens, a visit to the vet is necessary. But when you take the proper precautions, the best insecticide is unlikely to have adverse effects on your pets.
If any of the insecticides come into contact with the skin, wash it off with soap and water. If it comes into contact with the eyes, flush it out thoroughly, and consult a physician if the irritation persists.
When used correctly, you should have no problems with the best home insecticide since the manufacturers have often carried out years of research to find safe and effective insecticides for your home. And no one wants to share their house with too many six or eight-legged creatures!
Reviews
Orange Guard Home Pest Control Spray
The orange peel spray that kills bugs in hiding.
This insecticide kills a wide range of insects in your home. It both kills on contact and acts to repel insects from your house. There may be a slight delay in its action, but this claims to be a safe pesticide for indoor use.
This water-based spray comes ready to use – indoors or outside. It may be used to create a barrier, thus preventing the pests from entering our home. It is EPA-registered, and all ingredients are on the FDA GRAS list, which denotes their safety for use around food. The active ingredient is d-Limonene which is the extract of orange peel. Orange peel is a natural deterrent – and it does smell nice!
Pros
- Natural insecticide
- Nice smell
- On the FDA GRAS list
Cons
- Slight delay in action
Ortho Home Defense MAX
12-month control of insects and arachnids indoors.
This insecticide kills quickly – and it kills a whole range of common indoor pests. The manufacturers say you can use it in the kitchen, bathrooms, and basements, plus around windows and doors to prevent their entry. The active ingredient is Benethrin, which is a neurotoxin and paralyzes insects.
This insect killer leaves no residue, no smell and dries fast after you have sprayed the area. It also keeps your home insect-free for up to a year. But you must stay away and keep your children and pets out of the way when you spray and not allow them back until it has dried thoroughly. Once the area is dry, pets and children are safe to enter the room, according to Ortho.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Has an extended wand to reach difficult places
- Odor-free
- No fumes
- Non-staining and odor-free
Cons
- This is a chemical pesticide
Mdxconcepts Organic Home Pest Control Spray
The peppermint oil insect killer.
No products found.This organic spray is a very effective insect killer, made from natural ingredients said to be non-toxic. It works quickly and lasts a long time, keeping your home free from the typical household insects. The ingredients are 100% plant-derived and leave a pleasant scent after use.
Mdxconcepts suggests that after spraying the room, leave it for a while. The manufacturers claim this is safe to use all around the house – and offer a money-back guarantee within 60 days should it fail to satisfy you. They also give 10% of their profit to the Environmental Defense Fund.
Pros
- Fast-acting
- Natural ingredients
- Said to be safe around children and pets
- 100% money-back guarantee
Cons
- Needs repeat applications
EcoSMART Home Pest Control
One of the best natural insecticides – for indoors and outside.
EcoSmart products are designed to be safe for the environment – and this home pest killer is no exception. It kills over 100 pests that could otherwise take up residence in your home. It is safe not only for your family but also for aquatic creatures and birds too.
100% organic ingredients EcoSMART’s product works by blocking specific neural pathways called Octopamine receptors that only exist in insects. Hence they are safe for other animals. However, it contains Phenethyl propionate, Clove Oil, Rosemary Oil, Peppermint Oil, and Thyme Oil, and any of these might affect your cat.
Non-staining and pleasantly scented, yet effective pest control – this has to be one of the top choices for home insect control.
Pros
- Natural ingredients
- Safe for aquatic creatures
- Effective
Cons
- Possibly toxic to cats due to essential oils
- Poisonous on ingestion
- We find chemical-based insecticides to be more powerful
Raid House Garden Bug Killer
The versatile insect killer from curtains to gardens.
Raid House and Garden Spray will not damage your furnishings but will kill the insects that might be lurking there. It kills a wide range of insect pests and arachnids but leaves a slight odor, and the spray is easy to use. Although you might need to repeat the treatments. It contains pyrethroids, imiprothrin, and cypermethrin as active agents.
You can use this spray outside as well as in your home. It kills on contact and can form an effective barrier. It will not stain your carpets or soft furnishings and leaves only a subtle but pleasant scent behind. You only need a light spray to be effective- no need to wet everything.
Conclusion
We researched many products to find the best safe pesticides for indoor use. We know that safety has to be your prime requirement, and manufacturers have also realized this and now provide a range of natural products to choose from.
The most potent and effective insecticide is Ortho Home Defense which kills and deters the return of pests in your home with long-lasting results. It has been developed for use inside the house; however, if you didn’t want a chemical-based pesticide, check out Orange Guard Home Pest Control Spray - Kills and Repels Ants, Roaches, Fleas and More - Indoor/Outdoor Natural Organic Formula - 32 fl oz (2 Pack).
This non-toxic insecticide is our top choice for the best home insecticide. Orange Guard Home Pest Control Spray uses natural orange peel derivatives that repel and kill insects as effectively as the toxic chemical Dursan in tests. Plus, it leaves a pleasant scent!
Q&A
Where do you spray insecticides indoors?
Some places are hideaways for insects – so spray those places most thoroughly. Cracks and corners and under the bed are places less likely to be visited by your children and pets. But treat while they are away and let the room air afterward. Make sure to spray points of entry like window frames and doors.
Is it safe to spray insecticides indoors?
Manufacturers have improved the safety of their products over the last few years. But it may not be possible to know all the side effects at any one time. And is it safe to allow bugs to breed in our homes?