How to Get Rid of Ants and Roaches for Good

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Wirecutter Show – "How to Get Rid of Ants and Roaches for Good"

Release Date: July 23, 2025

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Introduction

In the July 23, 2025 episode of The Wirecutter Show, hosts Christine Cyr Clisette, Kyra Blackwell, and Rosie Guerin delve into the unwelcome world of household pests—specifically ants and roaches. Building on previous episodes about mice, rats, mosquitoes, and ticks, the trio seeks expert guidance to provide listeners with effective strategies to eliminate these persistent invaders permanently.

Personal Experiences with Ants and Roaches

The hosts kick off the discussion by sharing their personal encounters with pests in New York City apartments, highlighting the universal struggle of urban dwellers with infestations.

• Rosie Guerin recounts a harrowing experience: “Meet a friend over who came out of our bathroom white as a ghost and she was, like, trembling, said that she found a giant roach on the head of one of our toothbrushes. I thought we were never going to see her again. That's horrible.” ([00:47])

• Christine Cyr Clisette adds her perspective: “I've had them, but not like roach infestations. I've never had that problem.” ([01:39])

These anecdotes set the stage for a deeper exploration of pest control measures.

Expert Insight: Interview with Doug Mahoney

To provide authoritative advice, the hosts invite Doug Mahoney, Wirecutter’s senior staff writer specializing in home improvement and pest management, to share his expertise. Doug’s extensive experience ranges from combating pests on his hobby farm in New Hampshire to testing various bug repellents.

• Kyra Blackwell introduces Doug: “If you're a regular listener of the show. You probably already know Doug, and you might also remember that he lives on a hobby farm in New Hampshire where he has combated rats in his barn...” ([02:40])

Understanding Ant and Roach Infestations

Doug begins by clarifying the behavioral differences between ants and roaches, emphasizing that while both are problematic, their methods of infestation and survival differ.

• Christine Cyr Clisette queries: “Is there any kind of difference in how you approach that with ants versus cockroaches?” ([09:07])

• Doug Mahoney responds: “Not really. You want to just see that, really... If you see carpenter ants, ... call a pest control operator.” ([09:16])

He highlights key signs of infestation, such as trails of ants or roaches hiding in cracks and crevices, and stresses the importance of early detection.

Steps to Combat Infestations

Doug outlines a four-step approach to tackling ant and roach problems:

1. Observe and Identify
   Understand what you’re dealing with by locating where the pests are entering and nesting.

   • Doug Mahoney: “First, you want to observe and identify the bugs...” ([08:26])

2. Clean Up
   Maintain cleanliness by sealing food sources and eliminating crumbs, which are primary attractions for these pests.

   • Christine Cyr Clisette: “...keeping things clean in your entire home is kind of key here, right?” ([14:02])

3. Seal Entry Points
   Use heavy-duty caulk, preferably silicone, to fill gaps and cracks around the foundation and other entry points.

   • Doug Mahoney: “...take some heavy duty caulk and just kind of fill the hole as best you can.” ([15:32])

4. Use Bait Traps
   Implement bait stations tailored for ants or roaches to effectively reduce the pest population.

   • Rosie Guerin summarizes: “...use a bait.” ([16:14])

Bait Traps and Their Effectiveness

Doug elaborates on the use of bait traps, explaining their mechanism and recommending specific products.

• Mechanism: Bait traps combine food with slow-acting poison. Ants collect the bait and share it with the colony, eventually reaching the queen, while roaches share the bait through cannibalism or other means.

  • Doug Mahoney: “A bait is a mixture of food and a slow acting poison...” ([18:01])

• Product Recommendations: The team favors products from Taro, noting their high efficacy in field tests.

  • Doug Mahoney: “We like the ones from Taro... it's highly, highly effective.” ([20:02])

He also discusses the importance of placing bait stations strategically along baseboards and areas where pests are frequently seen.

Common Myths and Misconceptions

The hosts address several myths surrounding pest control:

• Survival Without a Head: Contrary to popular belief, cockroaches can live without their heads for up to two weeks.

  • Doug Mahoney: “It's a couple weeks.” ([06:30])

• Radiation Resistance: While cockroaches are often thought to be highly resistant, a Mythbusters study revealed that flower beetles outperformed them under extreme radiation, with cockroaches showing no survivors at 100,000 rad units.

  • Doug Mahoney: “No cockroaches made.” ([07:52])

Alternative and Natural Remedies

The conversation touches on non-toxic solutions like essential oils and diatomaceous earth, with Doug expressing skepticism about their long-term effectiveness compared to bait traps.

• Christine Cyr Clisette: “...it’s supposed to be one of those natural remedies that keeps ants and roaches away.” ([27:46])

• Doug Mahoney: “Essential oils... their effectiveness does not last very long. Diametaceous earth can be very effective... but it's just sort of a messier option.” ([28:10])

When to Call a Professional

Despite DIY measures, there are instances when professional intervention becomes necessary. Doug advises not to hesitate in seeking professional help if initial efforts fail.

• Rosie Guerin: “...call someone for help.” ([32:08])

• Doug Mahoney: “Once a couple baits are out, I'd monitor them for a couple weeks... Don't be afraid to just call it quits and call a pest control operator.” ([30:07])

Interactive Segment: "Would You Rather?"

In a light-hearted segment, the hosts engage Doug with pest-related "Would You Rather?" questions, further humanizing the discussion and providing comedic relief amidst the gritty subject matter.

• Christine Cyr Clisette: “Would you rather eat chocolate covered roaches or chocolate covered ants?” ([30:35])

• Doug Mahoney: “Chocolate covered ants, yeah, they're smaller.” ([30:53])

Conclusion

Wrapping up the episode, the hosts reinforce the importance of a systematic approach to pest control: identify, clean, seal, and bait. They encourage listeners to implement these strategies diligently and to seek professional help when necessary to ensure a pest-free home.

• Christine Cyr Clisette: “I now know that if I see one cockroach, it's a problem.” ([32:19])

• Kyra Blackwell: “I'm just gonna get some bait traps for roaches and ants just to be safe...” ([32:45])

The episode concludes with humor and camaraderie, leaving listeners both informed and entertained on tackling one of household’s most persistent nuisances.

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Notable Quotes:

• Doug Mahoney [00:27]: “Roaches love, and this is a phrase used in the pest control world, is cracks and crevices. So a roach is extremely happy if they have their feet on one surface and their back is against another surface.”

• Doug Mahoney [06:30]: “It's a couple weeks.”

• Rosie Guerin [22:46]: “...that’s when it’s time to call a pro.”

• Christine Cyr Clisette [28:10]: “So if you are dealing with bugs, you want to do what we talked about in the first part of this episode.”

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This comprehensive discussion equips listeners with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively combat ant and roach infestations, underscoring The Wirecutter Show's commitment to providing practical, expert-backed advice for everyday challenges.

Transcript

[Sponsor Announcement]

The Wirecutter show is supported by Nordstrom. The Nordstrom anniversary sale is on now. It's a big deal with new arrivals on sale for a limited time. Save up to 33% on brands like Ugg, All Saints, Charlotte Tilbury, Steve Madden, Bobby Brown and more. Plus, stock up on once a year beauty exclusives from winning brands. The best deals go fast in stores, [e-mail] prices go up. August.

[Doug Mahoney]

Roaches love, and this is a phrase used in the pest control world, is cracks and crevices. So a roach is extremely happy if they have their feet on one surface and their back is against another surface.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

I'm Christine Cyr Clisette.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I'm Kyra Blackwell.

[Rosie Guerin]

I'm Rosie Guerin and you're listening to the Wirecutter show. All right, Kyra and Christine, it's time for us to finish a task we started months ago. Ooh, what is it? Well, last fall, you'll recall, we did an episode about how to get rid of mice and rats.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Oh, how could I forget?

[Rosie Guerin]

It was a real skin crawler. This spring we did one, of course, on combating mosquitoes and ticks.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Yes, everyone's favorite.

[Rosie Guerin]

Yeah, everyone's favorite. How to keep those off your clothes in person. Now the trifecta is completed because sadly, we have to talk about roaches and ants.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I don't really like the sequel.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

This is the worst. This is the worst of the trifecta, I think.

[Rosie Guerin]

Have y' all dealt with them? You both live in New York.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

I've had them, but not like roach infestations. I've never had that problem.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I have.

[Rosie Guerin]

Ugh, sure. I sure have, too.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

I have.

[Rosie Guerin]

This is my second apartment in New York many, many years ago. Meet a friend over who came out of our bathroom white as a ghost and she was, like, trembling, said that she found a giant roach on the head of one of our toothbrushes. I thought we were never going to see her again. That's horrible.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Well, okay, obviously a roach infestation is disgusting.

[Rosie Guerin]

Ants are pretty bad, too.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Ants are gross, too. These are not fun problems to have. And sometimes the solution is pretty simple. Just close clean up. But sometimes the answer is not so simple. Sometimes it's. It's like pervasive. It's really hard to take care of. And so today we are going to call our favorite pest management expert wirecutter senior staff writer Doug Mahoney, who has also shared with us how to get rid of other creepy crawly things in your home.

[Kyra Blackwell]

If you're a regular listener of the show. You probably already know Doug, and you might also remember that he lives on a hobby farm in New Hampshire where he has combated rats in his barn, where he's contracted Lyme disease five times from ticks, and he's tested all, all kinds of bug repellents. Doug's going to fill us in on what works and when. You should just call it quits and actually call a pro, because if you're not careful, you can make an ant or roach infestation much worse.

[Rosie Guerin]

This poor guy has seen it all.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

He really has. We'll take a quick break and when we're back, we'll get into the first steps you should take if you see ants or roaches in your home. We'll be right back.

[Sponsor Announcement]

The Wirecutter show is supported by Nordstrom. The Nordstrom anniversary sale is on now. It's a big deal with new arrivals on sale for a limited time. Save up to 33% on brands like Ugg, All Saints, Charlotte Tilbury, Steve Madden, Bobby Brown and more. Plus, stock up on once a year beauty exclusives from winning brands. The best deals go fast in stores [e-mail] prices go up August 4th.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Welcome back. With us now is Doug Mahoney. He's Wirecutter's senior staff writer, covering home improvement and pest management gear. In addition to writing our guides to ant and roach traps, Doug has written about mosquitoes, flies, bug zappers, wasps, and horrid ant sprays and bug repellents, and also why essential oils are not good bug repellents. For our coverage, he's interviewed a lot of pest management experts, entomologists, and other bug experts.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Welcome, Doug. It's so good to have you back.

[Doug Mahoney]

Hi. How is everybody?

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

We are good. You know, Doug, at this point, you're such a regular on the show, could we just maybe install a podcast studio in your barn? I feel like you live on this farm in New Hampshire. What is the bug situation there? What are the. What you. Do you have ants? Do you have roaches? Are roaches a thing?

[Doug Mahoney]

In New England, we have ants. Sort of a seasonal summer ant thing. Just like a lot of people, we really don't deal with roaches. I don't have a ton of firsthand, thankfully, a ton of firsthand experience combating roaches, but flies are certainly an issue, especially if you have animals.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I would take a million flies over one roach.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Yeah, they're gross.

[Kyra Blackwell]

So, Doug, in our mice and rat episode, you quizzed us on our rodent iq and I think you've come Prepared with another quiz. So you're going to test us today about our ant and roach iq, right?

[Doug Mahoney]

Yes. Let's see how you guys do. Okay, so the first one. Ants do not sleep like humans. Instead, they take a series of naps over the course of a day. So how many naps on average does an ant take in a day? A, 25. B, 50. C, 150. D, 250.

[Rosie Guerin]

God, 250 naps is my dream. That's actually my dream.

[Kyra Blackwell]

What qualifies as a nap? Like, three seconds. How do you take 250 naps in a day?

[Rosie Guerin]

My gut says 150.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I was going to say.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

That's good. I'm going to go with 150.

[Doug Mahoney]

Also the correct answer. Ants take 250 micro naps in a day, each lasting about a minute a piece.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Oh, my God. Wait, that's really cute. I don't know why.

[Doug Mahoney]

Which adds up to about four to five hours of sleep each day.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

And is that just because they are literally working so hard, they have to take these little minute naps?

[Doug Mahoney]

I don't know. I think that's just how they just. How they roll. They just go plugging along and shut down for just a little bit.

[Rosie Guerin]

And how many micronamps do you think I can fit into this episode?

[Doug Mahoney]

Okay, so the second question. How long can a cockroach live without its head? A, one hour. B, one day. C, a couple days. D, a couple weeks.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I think it's a couple weeks.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Oh, my God. Of these options, I am praying it's number one, because that is just frightening. If it's any longer than. What did you say, an hour?

[Doug Mahoney]

One hour. One hour. One day. A couple days or a couple weeks?

[Rosie Guerin]

I think one day.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

I'm gonna say an hour. I'm just praying, like, I want it to be an hour.

[Doug Mahoney]

I'm sorry, Christine. It's a couple weeks. What?

[Kyra Blackwell]

That was right the first time.

[Rosie Guerin]

I hate this so much.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Wait, so what do you have to do to actually kill this thing? Like, is it, like, a vampire? You have to, like, spike it with, like, a wood spike.

[Kyra Blackwell]

You have to kill the whole thing.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Is crushing it completely with my foot gonna kill it?

[Doug Mahoney]

That'll probably do it.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Okay.

[Doug Mahoney]

That'll probably do it.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

All right.

[Doug Mahoney]

Okay. So we all know about cockroaches surviving the nuclear war. So true or false? Of insects, cockroaches are the most resistant to radiation.

[Rosie Guerin]

True, true, false, false.

[Doug Mahoney]

Mythbusters actually did a piece on this. They exposed cockroaches, fruit flies, and flower beetles to different levels of radiation. And it was the flower beetle that performed the best. After exposure to 100,000 rad unit of radiation measurement, which is about 100 times what a human could survive, 10% of the flower beetles were still alive.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

And how many of the cockroaches.

[Doug Mahoney]

No cockroaches made.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Thank God.

[Rosie Guerin]

Wow, Christine.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

I seem to know more about bugs than I want to.

[Rosie Guerin]

All right, so ants and roaches are clearly different. I would strongly argue roaches are the more disturbing problem. Do you treat these infestations in the same way, Doug?

[Doug Mahoney]

You basically do. There's certainly behavioral differences between those two bugs, but as far as the products you use and how you use them, it's basically the same.

[Rosie Guerin]

Okay, break it down.

[Doug Mahoney]

So basically, there are four things you want to do. First, you want to observe and identify the bugs. You want to find out really what you're dealing with, where they're coming, coming into your home, where they're spending their time. Then, as with any pests in the house, whether it's mice, rats, roaches, ants, you want to really just clean up, seal up any food, especially pet food. When researchers raise cockroaches, they feed them dog food.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Hate that.

[Doug Mahoney]

Yeah, they're particularly attracted to that. And you want to clean up things. Like you want to make sure the counter is wiped down every night. The sink is cleaned out, too. If you found out where they're coming in your home, you want to seal up any entry points. And then as far as getting rid of the bugs that are in your house, you want to use a bait.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Okay, so let's start with observing and identifying bugs. You know, is that. Is there any kind of difference in how you approach that with ants versus cockroaches?

[Doug Mahoney]

Not really. You want to just see that, really. As far as ants, it's sort of a pass fail test. You either have ants or you don't. Unless you're seeing signs of carpenter ants. And that's going to be little bits of sawdust or small holes bored into the wood of your home. If you see that, you should just immediately call a pest control operator. You're basically, you're on the clock already.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

So just to reiterate what you just said, basically, if you're seeing ants and you're seeing, like, sawdust, where you didn't create the sawdust, you probably have carpenter ants. And that's when you should call an exterminator.

[Doug Mahoney]

Right.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Otherwise, you might want to try some DIY methods to get rid of the ants before calling a pest control expert.

[Doug Mahoney]

Yeah, there's definitely different types of ants, but the differences between them aren't really going to affect much of the approach that you're going to take to get rid of them.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

And then for the difference between cockroaches, it doesn't matter what type of cockroach it is, you're going to kind of deal with it in the same way.

[Doug Mahoney]

Correct.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Are there particular places that roaches versus ants, like dark versus light or wet versus dry, anything like that?

[Doug Mahoney]

Definitely. So ants are going to tend to just go where the food is. The telltale sign of ants is ants. You're just going to see the little trail of ants. You'll see them walking in a row. It can be easier to find out how they're coming in. You just sort of trace their little trail back as far as you can and then look around the foundation of your house. If they're coming from outside, they may just be in your walls too. Roaches, on the other hand, roaches love, and this is a phrase used in the pest control world is cracks and crevices. So a roach is extremely happy if they have their feet on one surface and their back is against another surface. You want to look for them in like tight little spots. So like right between like the stove and the cabinetry, like a little, a little nook like that. They love being around the refrigerator because the fridge actually provides a good water source too because there's condensation from the compressor unit or maybe the gasket on the frid door isn't really tight so there might be some condensation there. Cockroaches, they love cardboard too. They raise them in cardboard when they raise them in labs.

[Rosie Guerin]

Why is that?

[Doug Mahoney]

Well, because it just provides so many of these little like little crooks and nannies, little cracks and crevices. Yep.

[Rosie Guerin]

All right. So Doug, how many bugs in this case, maybe roaches indicates a problem. If you see one, do you have an infestation? If you see one ant, does it mean you have more ants? What's the guidance there?

[Doug Mahoney]

Yeah, I would say if you have one ant, if you see one ant, you should, you should start thinking about doing something about it. Ants really don't operate on an individual basis, so you're not going to have just one. And roaches do not live in a colony the way ants do. But still, even if you have one roach, I think it's worth dealing with.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

This might be an old wives tale, but I have been told as a city dweller that if I see a really big cockroach, it's not as big of a problem as if I see a little tiny cockroach.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I've also heard this.

[Rosie Guerin]

I've also heard this. But I knew even while I was being told, I knew it was like a thing that they tell you so that you can sleep at night.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Is it.

[Rosie Guerin]

I mean, Doug, is it?

[Doug Mahoney]

I don't know. I haven't heard that.

[Rosie Guerin]

You've not heard that. So I think that's something that you would hear.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Yeah, I've been told, like, I had a friend who had a really bad roach infestation in their apartment. And they had all these tiny little roaches, and it wasn't like big ones, it was just like a bunch of little ones.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I've lived in a roach infested apartment before and I can corroborate that. They're always the small ones.

[Rosie Guerin]

I have also lived in a retrofested apartment and they were small and they were medium and they were big.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Oh, well, lucky you.

[Rosie Guerin]

My poor brother. His old house. They were big and they were bigger and they were biggest. And it was an infestation. And it. So I. I don't know if I buy that. I do like, I like this idea of like the individualist roach. Yeah, the Ralph Waldo Emerson.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Okay. So once you've figured out how the bugs are getting in and what you're dealing with, then I'm guess promising it's time to clean. Because that usually seems to be the right answer. This is also an important step in getting rid of rodents. But what's more important here, are you cleaning out crumbs in your kitchen or putting food in airtight containers? Like, what's the order of operations here?

[Doug Mahoney]

I would recommend both. You know, you want to give your kitchen like a really good cleaning and then at the same time, you want to make sure that, that your food is protected, especially roaches. If you keep like a little honey jar on your counter, that's going to be highly targeted by ants. So I would find a new way.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

To store that to this cleaning point. Going back to my friend who lived in this roach infested apartment. They kept things really clean and they could not get rid of this problem. After a while, they discovered that their landlord was keeping all of the yard trimmings in the basement. And it was just creating this area for all of these roaches to just chow down. So keeping things clean in your entire home is kind of key here, right?

[Doug Mahoney]

Yeah. And that's the difficulty with living in an apartment or a condo. You're only as good as the, as the entire structure. Really?

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Yeah.

[Rosie Guerin]

What do they eat or what do they like to eat? You mentioned dog food, is what they feed them when they're growing them in a lab. But are they going to essentially eat anything and drink any water source they can find?

[Doug Mahoney]

Yeah. Ants typically have more of a sugar diet. It actually can change over the course of a year. But during the summer, ants typically have a sugar based diet and they may switch to more of a protein based diet in the colder months. But roaches are more consistently a protein based diet.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

They're little weightlifters.

[Doug Mahoney]

They are.

[Rosie Guerin]

And then what about water? I mean, you mentioned the refrigerator. Is this also why you're finding roaches in and by a sink and in and by a shower tub and drain, that kind of thing?

[Doug Mahoney]

Yeah. Roaches, they can go quite a while without eating. I think they can go weeks without eating, but they can only go a few days without drinking. So they're going to definitely focus in on a water source, which again, like I said, it's why refrigerators provide a good opportunity for them because they not only get those small cracks and crevices, but they typically can get water there too.

[Kyra Blackwell]

But what about your sink? When you finish doing the dishes at the end of the night, are you supposed to wipe it down dry too? How do you keep them out of sources like that?

[Doug Mahoney]

You could try and do that. I mean, you just really got to do the best you can. I mean, if that means squeegeeing down your sink, I guess you could give that a shot.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Yikes.

[Rosie Guerin]

So the next step is to seal up holes. What is the best way to do that?

[Doug Mahoney]

Well, the best way to do that, like I said with ants, if you can, you can often find the trail of ants and you can sort of trace it back maybe if you're lucky, to where they're getting in the house. It's a matter of going around the outside of your house, looking at the condition of your foundation. Usually where the, where the framing, where the wood meets the foundation, there can be gaps there. Or if you have a fieldstone foundation like I do, that actually can be very, very difficult to patch up. But you want to just, just take some heavy duty caulk and just kind of fill the hole as best you can. A good silicone caulk will, will be good, especially if it's of your house, that's going to provide more flexibility for the freeze and thaw expansion contraction that your house goes through.

[Rosie Guerin]

So to recap what you're going to want to do here, and this goes for roaches this goes for ants. Observe what the bugs are, identify them and identify where they're coming from. Find where they're coming into your home, where they're spending their time. At least you will know the source. And this can be much easier said than done, but that's kind of going to be your first step. The second step, clean up. Clean, clean, clean food. Put food away airtight, seal it, seal up your cracks that you can see. And finally what you're going to want to do is use a bait. We're going to get into that with Doug after a break and we'll also ask about why people should avoid certain pest treatments and if it's time to stop faffing about and call a pro. We will be right back.

[Kyra Blackwell]

The Wirecutter show is supported by Intuit QuickBooks. Do you own a business that's ready to thrive? It's time to let Intuit QuickBooks take things like unpaid invoices and tracking expenses off your plate so you can take things to the next level. QuickBooks is an all in one business solution that can help with those day to day tasks like invoicing and expenses. Manage and grow your business all in one place. Intuit QuickBooks your way to money. Get 90% off for 3 months, limited time Only terms and conditions apply. Welcome back, Doug. Before the break we talked about the first steps in combating an ant or roach infestation. But now let's talk about bait traps, which is what you'd recommend for both ants and roaches. Right. So what exactly is a bait trap and how does it work? Exactly?

[Doug Mahoney]

So a bait, a bait is a mixture of food and a slow acting poison. And the theory behind it is that in the case of ants specifically, they'll collect the food and then they bring it back to the colony and they distribute it so that ultimately kills all the other ants and then eventually the queen. The model's bait comes in a bunch of different forms. We prefer the ones that are, they're called bait stations, which is like a little box that the bait comes in. The one unusual part about baits is that if you start seeing more ants, it might be a good thing because that means that they found the bait station. The toxin is mixed with an extremely attractive food. So once they find it, they'll just usually start lining up to get at it.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Oh, poor little guys.

[Doug Mahoney]

And so roaches, like I said, they don't live in colonies, but they share the bait amongst themselves using other ways. So what roaches will do is roaches might vomit and Another roach will eat it.

[Rosie Guerin]

Poor little guy.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

If they weren't appealing enough to begin.

[Doug Mahoney]

With, roaches, they may eat each other's feces, poor little guys. Or they may just die and be cannibalized by another roach.

[Rosie Guerin]

Poor little guys.

[Kyra Blackwell]

It's like the road out there. Roach world.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Yeah, it is kind of like the road in roach world. So it sounds like, okay, ants and roaches, they live in different types of communities. Are the traps themselves the same or are they different? Because it sounds like they eat slightly different foods.

[Doug Mahoney]

A bait station made for ants is not really going to attract roaches. So it's two different products. There's two different toxins and two different food sources. The general theory is the same, but the details are not. So ants go for a sweet diet. So the food that's mixed with that poison is sweet almost, but it seems like it's like a honey or like a maple syrup. It's a very liquidy, very, very sweet thing. And then the roach one is more of like a paste. It's more of like a protein based like muscle milk.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

That's right, muscle milk for those little weight lifters. And what do you, what, what traps do you like? What bait stations do you like for ants and roaches?

[Doug Mahoney]

We like the ones from Taro. Taro makes liquid ant baits and they also make roach baits. Their liquid ant baits are notable. There is in all the product reviewing and testing I do, it is rare to find as much consensus as there is about how well the Taro ant baits work. When I was looking at all these ant baits, I set maybe five or six of them out when we had our own ant problem. And all of the ants, they went right to Taro and they cleaned that one out. And all the other ones, all the other bait stations were like right next to it. So I'm not sure what they put in their little sugary mix, but whatever they do, it is highly, highly effective. We have a number of colleagues who have had really good experience with Ptero ant baits too.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Okay, so you've gotten a little bit into how you test these. Can you tell us more? You said you don't have cockroaches, so how are you testing those?

[Doug Mahoney]

We test when it comes to all sort of our ant and pest control, for the most part, we don't test for efficacy. We test for usability. So we'll get the products in our hands and we'll use them as anyone would use them. See which ones, in the case of bait stations, which Ones are easier to monitor, which ones are easier to open, which ones are just generally easier to use, how many you get in a pack, that sort of thing. But it just does not make sense for us to do efficacy testing on this. There's just too many variables involved as far as what season it is for the ants, which ants you're trying to get rid of, which roaches you're trying to get rid of, what their specific diets are. So there is a huge body of literature already out there as far as the effectiveness of different toxins. So we look at that, and then we also speak with pest control operators, we speak with entomologists, we speak with people at extension offices and get their input as well.

[Rosie Guerin]

So, again, are roaches and ants going into these little poison homes, and that's how they're getting the bait and then taking it out and then coming back and doing the same thing over and over?

[Doug Mahoney]

Yep, that's exactly it.

[Rosie Guerin]

Fun.

[Doug Mahoney]

And in the case of ants, you'll just have a line of ants going across your kitchen right to the bait, and then a line of ants right next to it going back to the colony.

[Rosie Guerin]

And so then where are you meant to put the traps, particularly if you don't. I mean, obviously you put them where the source is, but if you don't know, how do you figure that out?

[Doug Mahoney]

Well, you really want to put them sort of where you see the bugs. It's not going to make much sense to put them, like in the middle of your room. So along, like the baseboards would be good. Or on your counters. If that's where you see ants with roaches, you can put them around, like I said, around the refrigerator. You can put them in places where there are those sort of cracks and.

[Rosie Guerin]

Crevices you mention the countertop. Do these bait traps pose any risk to kids or any risk to pets? Should people be careful where they're placing them for those reasons?

[Doug Mahoney]

Well, as with any of, you know, handling any. Any kind of toxin, you definitely want to be aware with kids and pets. I will say the ant baits, their active ingredient is borax, which is commonly used as a laundry detergent. So that is about. It's about as benign as it gets, but it can spill out, and you don't want your dog eating it up, you don't want your kids drinking it. So it comes in different forms. We like the bait stations because it's a little more contained. Roach baits, they use a stronger active ingredient, but it's a thick paste and it doesn't Easily fall out of the bait station. So that one is a little safer as far as if a kid goes over and just picks it up or if a dog knocks it over.

[Kyra Blackwell]

From your reporting, Doug, I know that there are other types of pesticides that you could use, like gels and powders, but when would you go for one of those?

[Doug Mahoney]

Well, what we've been talking about are bait stations. And so that is when, like I said, the bait comes in the little compartment. But most manufacturers, they'll sell the same bait, the same mixture of the poison and the food, but they'll sell it in just a different format. So you can often get them in a powder or in a gel, and that can work depending on the situation. So especially with cockroaches, the gel is, like, sticky. So you could kind of, like, smear some, maybe kind of on the side of a cabinet that's near your stove, or it's just not a place where you want to put a bait station. You could do a little bit of the gel, the powder it comes in. You could just puff a few little bits of this powder, like, underneath the refrigerator. We find that they're harder to use, they're harder to monitor, and they're a little tougher around kids and pets. So we prefer the bait stations.

[Rosie Guerin]

I remember when I had a roach infestation. I remember feeling like anything that has any kind of review, I want to get it, and I want to pour it all over the apartment, and I want to do everything at once. Is there any detriment to doing more things, you know, reaching for more than one type of bait or type of solution at once?

[Doug Mahoney]

No, not really. I mean, I think it's a fact that there's no one product that's always going to work all the time. And I think one of the things to keep in mind in approaching this is to always have the flexibility to switch to a different product, a different active ingredient. There are times when the bugs will sort of have just sort of an aversion to a bait for whatever reason. But that doesn't mean that they'll also be averse to one that comes from another company or one that uses a different active ingredient or has a different recipe.

[Rosie Guerin]

But by the same token, whatever you choose, you want to give it the time to work.

[Doug Mahoney]

Yep. Maybe like a week or two and see how it's going. The Ptero bait station, one thing we like about them is that they're clear, so they're really easy to monitor. So you'll usually, if they're working you'll see some ants that kind of drown themselves in there. So you should know if it's working, you'll be able to see.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Okay. So we've talked about bait stations, we've talked about gels, we've talked about powders. There are other types of products you can treat ants and roaches with. Right. What are some of those? And why don't you advise using them?

[Doug Mahoney]

Yeah, so there's the kill on contact sprays. Those are not going to do any good because you're just going to be killing the ants that are right in front of you. And that, as we know, is not going to affect the colony and it's really not going to change the behavior of the ants. What's more is I've been told that you can, if you use those kill in contact sprays, that you can actually split the colony. And so then it'll make the infestation worse. There's also bug bombs, which are those foggers, which you sort of set a bunch of them off in a room and then you vacate the room or you vacate your house. Those don't tend to work. They don't tend to get into the cracks and crevices where cockroaches live. And then there was even a story where somebody set a ton of them off and they use butane as part of the mixture in the aerosol can. And then I think it might have been. There might have been a spark from the stove or from the fridge or something. But I believe the entire house blew up.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Oh, my God.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Oh my gosh.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I mean, they solved the infestation problem.

[Rosie Guerin]

That is dark. So are those kill on contact sprays not good for roaches either.

[Doug Mahoney]

It may not get all of the roaches. I think the bait, it's gonna be a more passive way and have a better chance at getting all of the roaches.

[Rosie Guerin]

I'll tell you what, I was walking around the house like with a holster and keeping like raid in my pocket and I was just like. Cause you see one of these in the daytime and you're not gonna be like, well, I guess I'll just take myself into another room and hope that the bait works. Overnight you're like screaming and then spraying this thing until it flips over on its back. So I don't know. I don't know what my question is. I'm clearly still haunted.

[Doug Mahoney]

Yeah, they can certainly be added to your arsenal, but I think that it would be in conjunction with a bait.

[Rosie Guerin]

Got it.

[Kyra Blackwell]

So, Doug on TikTok, I Sometimes see, quote unquote, non toxic ways people can deal with bug problems, like things like tea tree oil, vinegar. And I even saw something called diatomaceous earth, which is like this white chalky substance made from fossilized sea creatures. I don't know why I bought this, but it's supposed to be one of those natural remedies that keeps ants and roaches away. I want to know your thoughts on that.

[Doug Mahoney]

Yeah, there are definitely, with essential oils, there's definitely a lot of essential oils that have bug repellent capabilities. The problem with essential oils is that their effectiveness does not last very long. Diametaceous earth can be very effective. It's a very, very, very fine powder. It's often just sort of like a messy alternative to deal with. They have to actually walk through it and get it on their bodies for it to work. It's just a little trickier. I know anecdotally there's a lot of people who swear by diatomaceous earth and I'm sure that it works to a certain degree. I believe it dries them out. But again, it's just sort of a messier option where I think a bait is probably a little, just easier to deal with.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

So if you are dealing with bugs, you want to do what we talked about in the first part of this episode. You want to identify, you want to clean, and then you want to seal up any holes. And then you want to turn to bait traps and you want to get different kinds. For ants and roaches, bait traps are generally going to be the most effective. You can also use gels and powders that have some of the same insecticides in them. But Doug, you recommend avoiding instant kill aerosol sprays for ants because it can make the infestation worse. If you split the colony, you, you might want to consider using them for roaches. If you're looking for an extra little gung ho treatment there, you recommend avoiding these like total release foggers, these bug bombs, because they're not that effective and they can also be dangerous. And then also you might try some of these natural treatments, but they're not going to be as effective as the traps.

[Doug Mahoney]

Probably not. I mean, baits are really the standard, especially with ants. I would say with cockroaches too, it's a very reliable and it doesn't really get you in contact with the bugs. It's actually a fairly clean way to go about it.

[Rosie Guerin]

So you've done all of these things that Christine just mentioned. It's not working. When is it time to call an Exterminator Doug.

[Doug Mahoney]

Well, that's sort of your call, your comfort level. Like if you want to keep trying something else, but, you know, you don't want to let it get even further and further out of hand. So I would say once a. A couple baits are out, I'd monitor em for a couple weeks or however long you can handle it. Definitely don't be afraid to just call it quits and call a pest control operator.

[Rosie Guerin]

Doug, it's time you get in the hot seat. We're gonna test you.

[Doug Mahoney]

Really?

[Rosie Guerin]

We started this with you quizzing us. It's only fair we return the favor. So we're gonna play a little round of. Would you rather.

[Doug Mahoney]

Oh, boy.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

I'll start. I've been thinking about this. I've been thinking about how I wanna test you. Would you rather eat chocolate covered roaches or chocolate covered ants?

[Doug Mahoney]

Chocolate covered ants, yeah, they're smaller.

[Rosie Guerin]

Would you rather have roaches that could fly or ants that could bite?

[Doug Mahoney]

I would probably go flying. Like really, like biting ants. Sounds awful.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Yikes. Okay. Would you rather have a roach infestation or a rat infestation?

[Doug Mahoney]

Ooh. Huh. I would say that's. That's tricky. That's tricky. I have more experience with rats. So as gross as it is, I would probably rather have a rat infestation because I kind of know the enemy, you know? I know the enemy. Yeah.

[Rosie Guerin]

Okay, so before we wrap, Kyra usually asks all of our guests one final question. What's the last thing you bought that you really loved? But because Doug is a regular, and more than that, because Doug famously doesn't buy all that much of anything, we're gonna spare him and just say, doug, you're wonderful. Thank you for coming back. Thank you for humoring us and haunting us.

[Doug Mahoney]

Well, it's a pleasure to be here. Thank you.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Well, that was thoroughly disgusting.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Yuck.

[Rosie Guerin]

I'm kind of surprised we made it through.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

I mean, but we're done. We're not gonna do any more of these. We promise.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Yeah, I'm gonna just like. Like all that we did that. Are this level of disgusting? I'm just gonna blank it out. It's going in the vault. I'm never remembering any of this.

[Rosie Guerin]

I do feel like we bonded through some shared misery.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Yeah, I know what to do the next time I see the little trail of ants in my apartment or the rogue cockroach. For me personally, I now know that if I see one cockroach, it's a problem. I always kind of thought if there was just one rogue one it had just wandered in. But now I know that they might be kind of like nesting around the pipes around my. In my sink and behind my refrigerator and all that good stuff.

[Kyra Blackwell]

You know what? I actually think ignorance is bliss. But if I do see another roach or just before that, I think I'm just gonna get some bait traps for roaches and ants just to be safe because I actually live in a ground floor apartment. I've been lucky so far, but I don't want to risk it.

[Rosie Guerin]

Yeah, I hope you stay safe out there.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Yeah.

[Rosie Guerin]

My big thing, it's annoying, but it's clean. It's clean, clean, clean, clean, clean. Having said that, when I had the roach problem, and actually I had an ant problem too, in a previous apartment, we cleaned and it didn't make a difference and we had to call a professional. So don't be a hero.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

That's right.

[Rosie Guerin]

If it's not working, call someone for help.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

That's right. Give it like a week or two with your bait traps and then call the pros.

[Rosie Guerin]

If you want to find out more about Wirecutter's coverage, or if you want to check out Doug's reporting, head to our website. You can also have a look at our show notes. That's it for us. Sorry for creeping y' all out.

[Doug Mahoney]

See ya.

[Rosie Guerin]

Thanks for listening.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Bye. The Wirecutter show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel. Engineering support from Maddie Mazziello and Nick Pittman. Today's episode was made by Katherine Anderson. Original music by Dan Powell, Marian Lozano, Alicia Ba Itup and Diane Wong. Wirecutter's deputy publisher is Cliff Levy. Ben Fruman is Wirecutter's editor in chief. I'm Kyra Blackwell.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

I'm Christine Cyrclassette.

[Rosie Guerin]

And I'm Rosie Guerin.

[Kyra Blackwell]

Thanks for listening.

[Christine Cyr Clisette]

Well, that was gross.

[Kyra Blackwell]

I was not expecting that.

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