Review: EcoSmart Organic Insecticide

Thank you to EcoSmart for participating in the Goodie Goodie Gumdrops Earth Week Event!

I love the season of spring and its sense of renewal with all the beautiful flowers, plants and trees in bloom. But I'm not a fan of all the bugs that come out of hiding and into my home. Living in the Mid-Atlantic region, we get all sorts of creepy crawlies from spiders and mosquitoes to ticks and ants. I definitely want to snuff them out and keep the invasions under control. But I don't want to asphyxiate on toxic fumes either. Thanks to EcoSmart, safe home pest control is not something I have to worry about any longer.

EcoSmart was the first company in the world to offer 100% safe pesticides, using essential oils as a natural defense against pests. They were kind enough to send me their Safe Home Value Bundle, which includes:

• Ant and Roach Killer (14 oz. can)
• Home Pest Control (24 oz. spray)
• Flying Insect Killer (14 oz. can)
• Insect Repellent (6 oz. bottle)

Sure enough, soon after I received my package, we got some much-needed spring rain. And with that, came the ants. Since Nate's highchair sits close to our back sliding glass doors, the crumbs and bits of food thrown/dropped from his tray fall prey to the little black creatures, who squeeze in through any crack or crevice they can find. I try to keep the floor clean and clear of debris but sometimes I miss a spot or can't get to it right away and when I return, I find a trail of the buggers, noshing away. Sometimes it seems that I just cleaned the floor a few hours ago and already, they're back. Here's photographic evidence of my dilemma:



Keep in mind that this extended the length of the wall in my kitchen. This was just one small area. No food on the floor; they were just hanging out and taking shelter from the wet outdoors. Something had to be done before the infestation got worse (or my toddler spotted them and assumed they were a protein-packed snack).

I pulled out my EcoSmart Ant & Roach Killer and sprayed in short bursts along the bottom baseboard. I immediately noticed the potent minty scent (from the peppermint oil). It was very strong and lingered all day afterward but it was admittedly better than any horrid chemical smell. I would just recommend opening some windows or using a fan to vent/circulate the air if you are sensitive to smell. A photo of dead ants would just be morbid so you will just have to trust me when I say that EcoSmart worked like a charm. No sooner did I spray than I noticed the ants freeze in their tracks. I wiped up the trail and went back to my daily grind. The next day, I checked the scene of the crime and there were no ants to be seen. Yippee skippee!

Since we also have little brown spiders visit us now and again from our front porch, I had my husband spray outside with the Home Pest Control. It too had a strong scent but I am happy to report that we have not seen a spider in days. Could be a coincidence with the rain but I believe the EcoSmart is playing a large role in their absence.

While mosquitoes are not very prevalent on our own property, we do have neighbors with standing water in their yard and hence, plentiful buggers. The EcoSmart Insect Repellent is perfect for those outdoor playdates. I love that it is all-natural and DEET-free so I can use it on the whole family, kiddo included. The lemony scent is much more enjoyable than other repellents we've tried and if you follow the directions to reapply every 2-3 hours, it really works. There was only one time that I got bit while wearing it and the bite was on my knuckle so I probably missed that spot spraying. Another hit from EcoSmart!

We haven't yet tried the Flying Insect Repellent but I like knowing we have it on hand in case we ever have a moth, wasp or hornet situation.

Bottom line: While the scents can be a bit overpowering, I would happily put up with that for an effective, organic product. I love that they are safe for children, pets and the environment. I would gladly recommend EcoSmart's revolutionary bug sprays for every household.

BUY IT: You can purchase the Safe Home Value Kit (ARV $24) and other EcoSmart products online at www.ecosmart.com.

WIN IT: Want to give it a try yourself? EcoSmart is giving one lucky GGG reader their own Safe Home Value Kit in honor of Earth Week here! Good luck!

Disclaimer: I received a Safe Home Value Kit from Kyra at EcoSmart in exchange for my candid review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are purely mine and as such, your experience may differ.