I have lived in two older homes with their share of pest issues, from sugar ants on the kitchen counter to a mouse problem in the garage. Over the years I have figured out what actually works and what is a waste of money. Here are the five products I keep stocked and what each one solves.
| Product | Target | Method | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terro Liquid Ant Baits | Ants | Bait stations | Sugar and grease ants |
| Advion Cockroach Gel Bait | Roaches | Bait gel | German roach infestations |
| Victor Electronic Mouse Trap | Mice | Electric trap | Mouse problems |
| Talstar P Professional | Spiders, perimeter | Concentrate spray | Outdoor perimeter |
| Gentrol IGR | Roaches, fleas | Growth regulator | Long-term colony control |
Terro Liquid Ant Baits
Sugar ants and pavement ants follow scent trails back to a colony, and Terro exploits that. The liquid borate bait stations are sweet enough that workers carry the bait home, where it slowly kills the queen and brood over about a week. The first few days you see more ants, not fewer, which is the bait working as the colony recruits to it. After 7 to 10 days, the trail disappears. Six stations cover a typical kitchen and basement. I keep a stack of unopened ones on hand for the next outbreak.
Advion Cockroach Gel Bait
For roaches, Advion is what professionals use. It is an indoxacarb gel applied as small dots behind appliances, under sinks, and along baseboard cracks. Roaches eat the bait, return to the harborage, and die. Other roaches eat the contaminated bodies, spreading the kill through the colony. Within two weeks I have eliminated a moderate German roach problem with one 30-gram tube. Far more effective than any spray.
Victor Electronic Mouse Trap
Snap traps work, but they are messy and miss as often as they catch. The Victor electric trap uses a high-voltage shock that kills cleanly, holds the body in a sealed chamber, and lets you dispose without touching the mouse. Bait it with peanut butter or a small piece of bacon and place it along walls where mice travel. I cleared three mice from my garage in a week last fall.
Talstar P Professional
Talstar is a bifenthrin concentrate that you mix and spray as a perimeter treatment around the foundation, doorways, and windows. It is what most pest control companies actually use, sold in a one-gallon jug that lasts most homeowners two years. Effective against spiders, roaches, ants outdoors, mosquitoes, and most crawling pests. I treat the foundation every spring and fall and have not had spider issues inside since I started.
Gentrol IGR
An insect growth regulator does not kill adult insects directly. It mimics juvenile hormones, preventing larvae from maturing and reproducing. Combined with bait or spray, an IGR is what stops a roach or flea problem from coming back in three months. I dose Gentrol Point Source disks in problem areas under sinks and behind the fridge twice a year. Cheap insurance against re-infestation.
How to Choose
Match the method to the target. Baits for colony pests like ants and roaches. Traps for rodents. Sprays for perimeter and contact kills. IGRs to break reproduction cycles. The single biggest mistake is reaching for a can of spray on a roach problem, killing the visible bugs, and thinking it is solved while the colony grows in the wall. Patience and the right product class beats spraying everything in sight, every time.
Frequently asked questions
Are gel baits better than sprays for roaches and ants?+
Yes, for colony control. Sprays kill the bugs you see, but baits get carried back to the nest, killing the queen and brood. I always use bait gel first and only spray as a perimeter follow-up.
Do ultrasonic pest repellers work?+
No, by every controlled study I have read. They might briefly affect rodents in some conditions, but they do not reduce ant, roach, or spider activity in any measurable way.
When should I call a professional exterminator?+
For termites, bedbugs, or rats. Those three require specialized equipment, multiple visits, and proper sealing. For ants, roaches, mice, and spiders, DIY products handle most situations.