The Best Insecticides of 2024

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Insecticides of 2024 and hope the blog can help you.

Get rid of insects inside walls and floors, behind and under appliances, and on houseplants by applying an insecticide formulated for indoor use.

Indoor insects can pose problems throughout the year. There could be insects living in the walls and behind and under the appliances, or feeding on the houseplants or produce (from those who enjoy indoor gardening). Insecticides are an effective way to treat potential or ongoing insect infestations in the home. Natural or nontoxic insecticides can safely take care of an insect problem without exposing the plants, pets, or family to strong chemical products.

The best insecticide for the home depends on the location of the infestation or point of entry and the type of insects that are infesting. Not all insecticides work on every type of insect. If unsure of the type of bug that’s plaguing the home, shoppers may want to go with a broad-spectrum formula that covers a variety of species. Take a look at the top products below to get an idea of the options available to keep the home bug-free.

1. BEST OVERALL: Natria 706230A Insecticidal Soap Organic Miticide
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: EcoVenger Ant & Crawling Insect Killer
3. BEST POWDER: DiatomaceousEarth.com Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
4. BEST SPRAY: Natria 706250A Neem Oil Spray
5. BEST GRANULES: EcoSmart Insect Killer Granules
6. BEST CONCENTRATE: Trifecta Crop Control Super Concentrate All-in-One
7. BEST TRAPS: Lightsmax Dual-Sided Yellow Sticky Traps
8. BEST FOR INDOOR USE: Orange Guard Home Pest Control Spray

Before You Buy Insecticide 

Regardless of whether the goal is to find an insecticide for indoor or outdoor pest control, many products rely heavily on powerful chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and the local wildlife. Before selecting the first pest control product that promises to get rid of insect pests immediately, it’s important to research the product and the effect its active ingredient can have on the ecosystem.

Another factor to keep in mind is that if indoor and outdoor plants need to be treated, a natural insecticide would be the safest option. Getting rid of insect pests should be a secondary goal when treating indoor and outdoor plants; otherwise, it could become too risky to harvest and consume any of the fruit and vegetable plants the user is growing.

Take some time to research alternative powder, granule, and liquid insecticide products to find an effective treatment with a natural active ingredient that isn’t harmful to the environment.

How We Chose the Best Insecticides

Selecting the top insecticides for this list required extensive research on a wide range of products, as well as a deeper look into the risks involved with using insecticidal products. A significant effort was made to find highly effective insecticides that didn’t rely on harmful active ingredients. With this goal in mind, the top products that made this list use natural ingredients with a limited impact on the ecosystem while still remaining effective against invading pests.

Additionally, the insecticides chosen for the top picks encompass a variety of formulations, including sprays, traps, powders, concentrates, and granules. This was purposefully done in order to provide a versatile selection to treat a range of insect species. The longevity and application method of each insecticide considered for the list was also noted and assessed before finalizing the top products.

Our Top Picks

This list includes some of the best insecticide options for indoor use based on price and efficacy. Select the most suitable product for the home and its insect problem.

Best Overall

Natria 706230A Insecticidal Soap Organic Miticide

Green thumbs who grow herbs or spices in window gardens can use Natria’s organic miticide to protect their plants from invading insects. With this insecticide spray, users can control adult, larvae, and nymph stages of aphids, mealybugs, mites, whiteflies, beetles, and caterpillars using an organic solution that won’t harm the plants.

The insecticidal and miticidal formula uses potassium salts of fatty acids (also known as soap salts) to dehydrate affected insects rapidly, killing them in just a few minutes. The 24-ounce bottle of ready-to-use insecticide should be used biweekly or weekly, as necessary.

Product Specs

• Type: Spray
• Active ingredient: Potassium salts of fatty acids
• Length of efficacy: 2 weeks

Pros

• Comes in a ready-to-use spray bottle
• Effective against more than 20 insect species
• Suitable for use on indoor and outdoor plants
• Safe for use in homes with kids or pets

Cons

• Lasts only up to 2 weeks

Get the Natria 706230A insecticide on Amazon or at The Home Depot.

Best Bang for the Buck

EcoVenger Ant & Crawling Insect Killer

It isn’t necessary to invest in costly chemical products to treat pest infestations. Simply opt for this affordable insecticide spray by EcoVenger. The natural formulation of lemongrass oil, geraniol, cedarwood oil, and sodium lauryl sulfate kills crawling pests on contact but also remains as an effective repellent for up to 4 weeks.

This spray is safe for use in homes with kids and pets, and it even leaves behind a pleasant citrus scent instead of a noxious chemical odor. The insecticide kills ants, crickets, fleas, millipedes, earwigs, midges, spiders, and more crawling insects. However, it should be noted that the spray kills only pests that it comes into contact with, so it isn’t effective at destroying the nest.

Product Specs

• Type: Spray
• Active ingredient: Lemongrass oil, geraniol, cedarwood oil, and sodium lauryl sulfate
• Length of efficacy: 4 weeks

Pros

• Eliminates ants, crickets, fleas, millipedes, and other crawling insects
• Remains effective as a repellent after initial use
• Pleasant citrus scent
• Safe for use around kids and pets

Cons

• Does not kill the nest

Get the EcoVenger insecticide on Amazon or EcoVenger.

Best Powder

DiatomaceousEarth.com Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth

This food-grade diatomaceous earth product can be used to treat insect infestations indoors and outdoors with no ill effects to humans, pets, or local wildlife. In fact, this product is made to be used as a dietary supplement that can be added to tea, coffee, juice, smoothies, or even a glass of water. The diatomaceous earth powder can also be added to pet food to help improve pets’ coats and promote healthy joints.

With these clear health benefits, users should feel confident applying the diatomaceous earth to vegetable gardens to protect the plants. It can also be used as needed inside and outside the home to kill ants, roaches, ticks, crickets, and other pests. However, the powder will need to be regularly monitored and replaced because it can be washed away by rain.

Product Specs

• Type: Powder
• Active ingredient: Diatomaceous earth
• Length of efficacy: As needed

Pros

• Can be used to set up a barrier outdoors
• Mechanical killer doesn’t rely on toxins
• Safe for use around kids and pets
• Food-grade product

Cons

• Vulnerable to rain and moisture
• Must be monitored and replaced regularly

Get the DiatomaceousEarth.com insecticide on Amazon or DiatomaceousEarth.com.

Best Spray

Natria 706250A Neem Oil Spray

The natural formula of this insecticide spray uses the existing properties of neem oil to repel insects, kill fungi, and treat plant diseases. It can be used on indoor and outdoor plants up to the day of harvest, ensuring that the fruits and vegetables grown in the gardens are protected until they are ready to be harvested.

Although the neem-oil spray will need to be reapplied about once every 7 to 14 days, it does take care of problematic pests, such as aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and more. Additionally, the spray is an environmentally friendly option that won’t negatively affect the local wildlife, and it’s safe for use around kids and pets.

Product Specs

• Type: Spray
• Active ingredient: Neem oil
• Length of efficacy: 2 weeks

Pros

• Kills and repels a wide variety of insects
• All-natural ingredients are safe for the environment
• Comes in a ready-to-use spray bottle
• Treats plant diseases

Cons

• Must be reapplied every 7 to 14 days

Get the Natria 706250A insecticide on Amazon.

Best Granules

EcoSmart Insect Killer Granules

A primary benefit of using granules, such as this EcoSmart product, instead of powder is that granules are not as easily blown or washed away except for in heavy rain. In fact, after application, this product remains effective for up to 4 weeks before users need to reassess and reapply. During this period, the clove- and thyme-oil formula kills and repels ants, ticks, fleas, and other invading pests.

This product has been manufactured with an environmentally friendly and chemical-free formula, making it suitable for homes with kids and pets. The granule insecticide can be used to treat up to 5,000 square feet and is relatively easy to apply with a handheld spreader, though users can also apply the granules by hand.

Product Specs

• Type: Granules
• Active ingredient: Clove oil and thyme oil
• Length of efficacy: 4 weeks

Pros

• Environmentally friendly, chemical-free formula
• Safe around kids and pets
• Treats up to 5,000 square feet
• Kills and repels ants, ticks, fleas, and more

Cons

• Granules may need to be reapplied after heavy rainfall

Get the EcoSmart insecticide on Amazon or EcoSmart.

Best Concentrate

Trifecta Crop Control Super Concentrate All-in-One

If the property and home are larger than most or the goal is to treat the home several times without repurchasing insecticide, this concentrated all-in-one insecticide, miticide, and fungicide is an excellent option. Mix the 4-ounce bottle of concentrated insecticide with water to make up to 8 gallons of nontoxic liquid insecticide.

Trifecta’s insecticide is intended to repel insects and eliminate existing infestations without putting the household residents and pets at risk. It safely treats plants including herbs, spices, houseplants, succulents, and ornamentals from invading species such as spider mites, powdery mildew, botrytis, mold, aphids, caterpillars, and beetles.

This food-grade insecticide uses garlic, thyme, clove, and peppermint essential oils to solve any fungus, mite, and insect problems, giving users the peace of mind that a bug-free home brings.

Product Specs

• Type: Concentrate
• Active ingredient: Garlic oil, thyme oil, clove oil, and peppermint oil
• Length of efficacy: 2 weeks

Pros

• Natural solution that is safe for the environment
• Makes up to 8 gallons of insecticide
• Kills and repels insects and fungi
• Treats a wide variety of pests

Cons

• Must be mixed before using

Get the Trifecta insecticide on Amazon or Trifecta Natural Solutions.

Best Traps

Lightsmax Dual-Sided Yellow Sticky Traps

One problem with relying too heavily on sprays, concentrates, foggers, and other insecticidal treatments is that the insects can gradually develop a resistance to the toxins, forcing manufacturers to look for new active ingredients to test or to increase the percentage. Opting for a nontoxic method of controlling pests, such as these sticky traps, can be a better choice for the environment.

This product comes with 20 dual-sided traps that use the bright color of yellow to draw in flying pests. When the insects come in contact with the trap, they are stuck to it with a powerful adhesive. The traps are waterproof, ultraviolet (UV)-resistant, and heat-resistant, so they can be set up indoors or outdoors. Just make sure to check and replace the traps regularly as they fill up with insect invaders.

Product Specs

• Type: Trap
• Active ingredient: N/A
• Length of efficacy: As needed

Pros

• Safe for use in homes with kids and pets
• Comes with 20 dual-sided traps
• Nontoxic method of controlling pests
• Waterproof, UV-resistant, and heat-resistant

Cons

• Must be monitored regularly

Get the Lightsmax insecticide at The Home Depot.

Best for Indoor Use

Orange Guard Home Pest Control Spray

Many insecticide and pesticide sprays are too potent to use for treating indoor infestations because the active ingredients are toxic and harmful to humans and pets. However, Orange Guard’s Home Pest Control Spray kills pests on contact, despite using only D-Limonene (orange peel extract) as an active ingredient. The spray is safe to use indoors and outdoors, around humans and pets, and even in food-preparation areas. It not only kills insects but also acts as a repellent against ants, roaches, and fleas. It’s important to mention, though, that the manufacturer does not list the length of efficacy, so users will need to reapply the spray as necessary.

Product Specs

• Type: Spray
• Active ingredient: D-Limonene
• Length of efficacy: Not listed

Pros

• Safe for kids, pets, and the environment
• Kills on contact
• Repels ants, roaches, fleas, and more
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use

Cons

• Length of efficacy is not provided

Get the Orange Guard insecticide on Amazon or Arbico Organics.

Jump to Our Top Picks

Or, DIY Your Own Insecticide

Manufactured insecticides may not be appealing, but that doesn’t mean the home needs to be overrun with insects. Take action by mixing a DIY insecticide to treat the home and yard. One option to protect the home is a simple neem-oil insecticide that is made by mixing 2 teaspoons of neem oil, 1 teaspoon of mild liquid soap, and a quart of water. Shake the neem-oil solution to mix, and then spray this treatment as needed. It can even be used on plants to prevent infestations.

Another DIY insecticide for the home requires the user to mix 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of mild liquid soap. Once these two components are mixed, fill a spray bottle with 1 quart of water, and then add 2 to 8 teaspoons of the oil and soap mixture to the water. Close the lid and shake to mix the solution; then spray insects directly or treat indoor and outdoor plants in the vegetable garden to protect them from invading pests.

Our Verdict

Treat infestations of aphids, mealybugs, mites, whiteflies, and other pests with the Natria 706230A insecticide or opt for the EcoVenger insecticide if the problem is ants, fleas, millipedes, or spiders.

Other common insecticides that are popular among users include BioAdvanced 3-in-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control, Bonide Insect Control Systemic Granules, and Bonide Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew. However, they do not meet our sustainability guidelines because of their harsh, toxic chemicals, which could leech into gardens, grass, and soil around the home.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Insecticide

To select the best insecticide for the home, it’s important to think about the advantages of organic versus chemical formulas. Figure out which insects need eliminating, the form or application mode of the insecticide, how safe the product is, and whether the formula is appropriate for treating