Whether you find a trail of ants in your hallway, a cockroach in your bathroom, or feel like you're constantly swatting pesky fruit flies, a pest invasion can be a stressful (and sometimes traumatic) situation, especially if you feel like you've tried everything to prevent them.
Shop TODAY staffers, who also happen to be New York City-dwellers, are no strangers to critters entering their homes. At least once a week, someone walks in and mutters, "Ugh, I found another [insert pest here]," which turns into a long conversation on what to do. That's why we turned to experts to learn more about what you should and shouldn't be doing to prevent a pest problem.
What are the best ways to prevent pests?
That depends on what you're dealing with says Ben Hottel, a Technical Services Manager and entomologist at Orkin. For the most part (i.e., ants, fruit flies, German cockroaches), he says it's practicing good sanitation. "If you leave a banana in the garbage for a week and you don't change out the garbage, you'll probably start getting fruit fly issues. So it’s taking out garbage regularly and making sure things are clean in the kitchen. That helps prevent attracting pests into your home," Hottel says.
Another way to prevent a pest problem in your home is "eliminating entry points," Home Depot senior merchant Edson Mclean explains. "Pests can get in through cracks, gaps in doors and windows, vents and even plumbing openings. Make sure these entry points are tightly sealed when not in use," says McLean.
Coming through gaps or holes in the walls is especially common in older structures, says Hottel, who notes that if you can see light come through a door, it means insects can come through. He suggests using a good weather sealer.
What’s the most common pest problem?
The most common pest problem people have is ants, which Hottel says is their most-called-in problem. Because they’re a social species, he says they can be more challenging to deal with: “You can kill the workers all you want, but if you don’t kill the queens, then they keep sending more workers out.” Preventing them is a combination of good sanitation and exterior work — such as sealing cracks in windows and doors — and he says you'll want to trim trees or bushes from touching your home since some species can come in that way, too.
Another common household pest problem is fruit flies, which, again, McLean says will enter through cracks or gaps around doors and windows. "Other frequent intruders include beetles, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, fleas, flies and mosquitoes," says McLean.
While keeping expert guidance in mind, we rounded up some tried-and-true products that Shop TODAY editors use to keep pests at bay.
Editor-loved pest control products
Video producer Anita Chomenko says she uses these handy ant traps in her home, but does warn that the problem can get worse before it gets better since it "baits" and draws ants in.
When dealing with roaches, deputy editorial director Ali Deabler has found boric acid to be highly effective in her New York City apartment.
Former commerce holiday editor Nina Bradley says she likes using this home defense spray around the perimeter of her door, especially after dealing with an invasion of spider crickets. According to the brand, it also creates a barrier and protects your home from roaches, ants and other common pests.
"I had an unwelcome mouse move into my apartment, and once he packed his bags, I started spraying this rodent repellent once a week as a preventative measure. I haven’t had any rodents return since! It also has a pleasant peppermint scent," says associate social media editor Dani Musacchio.
After I [Garlin] experienced a leak in my apartment, I started dealing with a nightmare of American cockroaches coming in. Along with a few other measures (like getting the leak fixed and a professional exterminator), I started laying this bait down. The brand says it attracts the roaches out of their hiding spots, then they'll eat it and die — I happily haven't seen a roach since.
New Yorkers are no strangers to rodents. Commerce editor and producer Julie Ricevuto has dealt with unwelcome roommates, but she likes to use humane methods.
"I think most mouse traps are inhumane in the way that they kill mice, so when I had a mouse problem in my apartment, I bought these mouse traps that simply catch the mice. They worked flawlessly, and I was able to release the mice back into the wild after I caught them," she says.
To help deal with fruit flies and other flying pests, commerce editor Vivien Moon leans on these plug-ins, which she says is a bit unsettling to see how many bugs were actually in her apartment. "It's super easy to plug in and the clear cartridges make it easier to see what has been caught," she says.
Deals editor Rebecca Brown says she puts these plant-based pouches all over the house to repel spiders. She also has kids and a dog, so she likes that they’re non-toxic, too. The brand recommends putting them near doors and cracks, or anywhere you notice webs.
Social editor Kara Quill says this mosquito repeller “saved her summer” after setting the device on her patio. She was also impressed with its functionality and fast-acting results.
SEO senior editor Jess Bender says she uses "lots and LOTS" of steel wool. She stuffs it in all of the holes and cracks of her apartment, especially after a traumatizing mouse incident.
More pest control products to shop
Reviewers say this Raid Multi Insect Killer spray is highly effective and works on a variety of bug types. But mostly, they appreciate the orange scent since most bug repellants have a chemical smell.
"I am genuinely impressed with the effectiveness of these insect glue traps. Not only do they work exceptionally well, but they’ve also managed to apprehend what seems like a full-scale spider convention in my basement," wrote one verified Amazon reviewer.
This roach bait is highly effective, with reviewers saying it helped wipe out entire infestations.
Formulated with non-toxic ingredients, this spray repels and kills a variety of bugs on contact, including ants, roaches, fruit flies and more.
"They’re under my bed, behind my couch, in my closets and in some of my kitchen cabinets. I had a lot of bugs when I first moved into my home and now it’s not often I see any!" wrote one Amazon reviewer who likes to keep these all over their house.
Frequently asked questions
According to our pest experts, you’ll notice an influx of pests at different times of year as they tend to follow seasonal changes. One piece of advice from McLean is to get ahead and use preventative measures before the season changes.
McLean also explains that warmer months are “peak times for reproduction and outdoor movement,” so you can expect to see more flies and mosquitoes, with ants being added to that list by Hottell. Cooler months will bring critters seeking warmth, which can bring in rodents. However, Hotell says rodents can nest in your home year-round.
Another thing the entomologist notes is that certain pests, such as German cockroaches, are dependent on your habits, making them possibly a year-round nuisance.
There are a few things you should avoid during a pest invasion. According to McLean, you don’t want to ignore the problem since “small infestations can quickly grow into larger ones” when left untreated. He also advises reading labels before using chemicals because they’re often harmful to children and pets.
Hottell warns that if it’s a large infestation, you’ll probably be better off by calling an exterminator because while products can be beneficial, you can make it worse, especially when it comes to ants.
“If you go to one of the home improvement stores and buy a can of pesticides...if you start doing a lot of that, that can cause the ants to move to where they’re currently at in the house and they can even split...and they kind of start spreading and get pushed around all over the place,” says Hottel. He says he’s also seen this happen to fleas and bed bugs, and some of them can actually gain resistance to pesticides.
Natural ingredients like citronella oil can be a great way to eliminate pests without harmful chemicals, says McLean. “Common natural pest control products include repellents and traps. Identifying the specific pest you’re dealing with helps you select the most effective natural solution,” he says.
How we chose
To compile our list of the best pest control, Shop TODAY interviewed experts in entomology and home to share the best ways to prevent and control pests. We also included editor and shopper picks to complete the list, and we always prioritize positive user reviews and feedback.
Meet our expert
- Ben Hottel, PhD, BCE, PCQI is an entomologist and technical service manager at Rollins, Orkin.
- Edson McLean is a senior merchant at The Home Depot, specializing in pest control products.
