Is Ortho Home Defense Safe for Pets?

If you’re a homeowner dealing with a pest infestation, you’ll want to take care of it as quickly and efficiently as possible. For some people, this means calling in a professional to inspect your home and come up with a comprehensive treatment plan to address the problem.

However, working with the best pest control companies isn't cheap. When you ask yourself, “How much does pest control cost?” you may be surprised to see quotes from professional exterminators that range from $100 to $800, and if you’re trying to save money you may want to first try a DIY option. If you do decide to tackle the bugs on your own, one of the most popular products on the market for homeowners is called Ortho Home Defense.

About Ortho Home Defense

The Ortho pest control product line is owned by the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, a reputable lawn care company that’s been in business for over 150 years. In 1999, the company decided to expand into the pesticide industry when it purchased the Ortho brand. Ortho offers consumers a range of products for dealing with indoor insects, outdoor insects, weeds, and other garden diseases all at affordable prices.

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Is Ortho Home Defense Safe for Pets?

One of its most popular items is Ortho Home Defense, which can target and kill almost all of the most common household insects. However, when applying any product or pesticide in or around your home, you’ll naturally want to be sure it’s not only effective but that it’s also safe for your family and your pets.

We’ll cover everything you need to know about this Ortho product and how you can ensure the safety of your four-legged family members while also taking care of your pest problems.

Ingredients in Ortho Home Defense

Since the 1950s, most commercially available pesticides have been made from chemicals naturally found in the chrysanthemum flower called pyrethrins.

Pyrethrins are highly toxic to insects and are very effective at killing them almost immediately. They do this by interfering with the bug’s nervous system, binding itself to the nerves of the insect which ultimately leads to paralysis.

Pyrethrins are also toxic to other animals including humans, but mammals can break down the active chemicals much better than insects, and exposure will generally only cause minor skin and eye irritation. In fact, pyrethrins are often used in topical flea medications for both cats and dogs.

For pest control, Ortho Home Defense uses a synthetic version of pyrethrins (called pyrethroids) in two different forms, bifenthrin and zeta-cypermethrin. When the product is applied around your home and property, insects walk across it getting it on their feet and legs, and later ingest the toxin when they clean themselves.

Bifenthrin

Bifenthrin is part of the pyrethroid family (synthetic pyrethrins) and was registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1985. It can be applied in either spray or granular form. Although it’s used most commonly in agriculture, it’s also widely used in home pest control. It’s considered highly effective at killing pests and insects and is also one of the least toxic pesticides to people and animals. According to the product label, Ortho Home Defense contains 0.0500% of Bifenthrin 1.

Bifenthrin is often seen as a better option than the naturally-produced pyrethrins found in the chrysanthemum flower since the synthetic versions are much more photostable (meaning they break down when exposed to sunlight). Natural pyrethrins are less effective when used in outdoor applications because the molecules break down quickly and multiple applications are needed.

Zeta-cypermethrin

Like bifenthrin, zeta-cypermethrin is also a pyrethroid, but is much newer than bifenthrin and was only registered with the EPA in 2022. Compared with an earlier version of this compound called cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin works faster and is more effective. It’s also less toxic to mammals, but more toxic to both fish and bees. There is 0.0125% of Zeta-Cypermethrin2 in Ortho Home Defense.

What Pests Will Ortho Home Defense Kill?

According to the company, Ortho Home Defense kills the following insects:

However, it should be noted that not all of these insects will have the same interactions with the product as others. For instance, because the product requires insects to crawl across it, some flying insects like mosquitoes may be less likely to encounter it, thus making it less effective in eradicating them. 

How Long Does Ortho Home Defense Last?

Anyone who’s dealt with pests in the past knows that it can sometimes take multiple treatments to truly get rid of them. And, even if you do manage to ward them off for a season or a full year, there’s always a chance they’ll come back again. Because of this, you want to make sure that the products you choose will do what they say they will and will last for a considerable amount of time.

When used according to the manufacturer’s label, Ortho Home Defense should last on non-porous surfaces for up to 12 months inside your home against ants, roaches, and spiders. If you use the product on porous surfaces (like drywall, carpet, or wallpaper), or if the treated surface was cleaned after application, you may wish to retreat sooner.

Ortho Home Defense also claims to work outdoors for up to three months and retreatment is recommended once per season when using it outside. However, the product can be reapplied inside or outside anytime you notice new insect activity in your home.

Where To Spray Ortho Home Defense

The product label for Ortho Home Defense contains very specific instructions on how it’s to be used. It’s very important to follow these directions. It can be used both inside your home and outside along the perimeter of your home.

Inside Your Home

Most Ortho products come with a battery-operated spray wand that allows you to reach all areas of your home and ensure a continuous spray. When used inside, you should spray Ortho Home Defense in a four-inch wide band along any surfaces that need to be treated such as along the bottom of cabinets, floorboards, doors, and windowsills.

It’s important that before spraying, all food is properly stored and any utensils or food processing surfaces are thoroughly covered before applying. For added safety, you should also rewash food prep spaces and utensils with soap and water after the application is complete.

Outside Your Home

Per the product label, when used outside the home, you should spray Ortho Home Defense as a “crack-and-crevice” treatment only or in the following areas:

• Under eaves, doors, or windows that are protected from rainfall or rain run-off
• Along the perimeter of your house, but no more than seven feet from the base or until it hits a pervious surface like soil or grass
• Around doorways or windows in a band of less than one inch

Any time this product is used outside, it must not come into contact with any water supplies, be sprayed directly into the air, or be applied to a surface where the run-off will drain into your lawn, ditches, storm drains, or other water sources since it’s highly toxic to fish.

How To Use Ortho Home Defense If You Have Pets

Ortho Home Defense is safe to use in a home with pets, but certain precautions must be taken and other pest control tips followed to ensure your pets are kept away from pesticides. To begin, make sure all your pet’s food is put away and will not come into contact with the product when it's applied. You can also use this product around pet resting areas, but any old bedding should be removed and replaced.

The company also suggests simultaneously treating your pet with flea or tick medication (depending on the pest issue you’re facing) to ensure the problem is taken care of, but you should never put Ortho Home Defense directly on your pet. Pets and people can reenter the home as soon as the product has completely dried to the touch. This typically takes at least an hour, so plan on having everyone out of the house for at least that long to ensure safety.

All in all, Ortho Home Defense is a pest control product that homeowners and pet owners can feel comfortable using. Not only is it safe for both people and pets when used properly, but it’s also extremely effective at eradicating insects.