Orange Guard

If you are chemically sensitive, have pets or children, it's likely you have problems with typical ant/bug killers, even "odorless" ones that claim they're safe once they're dry.

Orange Guard has been my staple indoor pesticide for at least six years. I've tried other "natural" orange pesticides, notably one by Ortho available in stores like Lowes. Instant headache. My sinuses picked up the trace of petroliate so minor it's not even listed. (I inquired -- the nose knew.)

Orange Guard has nothing but orange. My cats can blithely walk through the spray and while felines aren't citrus fans, they can proceed to lick themselves silly and nothing bad is going to happen.

Natural products do not have the staying power of serious chemical pesticides and you can't expect them to. During the current heatwave, a morning invasion of ants through kitchen plumbing crevices is normal. I've been comparing Orange Guard with another natural insecticide (pyrethrins) via Safer Tomato & Vegetable pesticide. Pyrethrins is also considered safe for use around food and animals. The odor is minor, inoffensive, and causes no twitching of the sinuses. However, the spray will keep ants out only an hour or two when their invasion is of Normandy-proportions. Orange Guard holds up 6-12 hours. In normal usage -- when ants aren't as desperate -- it lasts several days and that's usually long enough for them to look for more friendly places to live.

If you like citrus, the fragrance is wonderful, pure and fresh. Leftovers (year-old Orange Guard) should be used outdoors because the smell strengthens and becomes somewhat obnoxious -- just like aging oranges. But you can avoid that by using it as an air freshner or wiping your wood furniture with it. The slight amount of orange oil will make your wood happy.

12/7/08 -- While Orange Guard is unavailable on Amazon right now, it's easy to find. A number of hardware store chains carry it. Google will help.

8/2009: [...] is listing many outlets now. Ace Hardware and OSH and Whole Foods are among them.

Also, someone asked about cockroaches. I don't know about Orange Guard, but a safe and excellent little known remedy is "roach chalk." I think -- not positive -- it's made of boric acid. You simply draw lines around areas to protect. It's available in Chinese markets. Hmmm. I wonder if Amazon has it. . .

Aug 2009: Update on Chinese roach chalk - it's illegal due to impurities in the imported variety. You know, like lead. But you can find safe brands on line and in larger home stores.