Don't Get Ants In Your Pants (Nippon Ant Killer Powder)

Member Name: ickleannie

Product:	Nippon Ant Killer Powder
Date:	11/06/09 (238 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Works a Treat

Disadvantages: Can Be Dangerous To The Environment

Introduction

We had a family party at the weekend and as the weather was quite nice for a change. Yes the sun does occasionally shine in Glasgow!!!! We decided that we would have a kind of garden party/ stroke barbeque hence catering for all tastes and preferences as food was being served both buffet style and made to order. (Personally I can't stand the taste of charred food so opted for the pizza and sausage rolls). All went well and a good time was had by all. Too good a time in some cases judging by the very sore heads that presented themselves in the morning. Anyway I get to the point after a mass tidy up the following day and thinking that I would make myself a cup of tea and sit out in the sun for a while I noticed some odd dark shapes on my kitchen floor next to where the bin sits. Upon examination I was horrified to discover that the grey shadows where in fact a sea of ants, pulling out the bin I noticed that there trail was coming from a small gap next to the kitchen door where a few crumbs of food had been dropped and not noticed. Well although I don't usually mind creepy crawlies as such I really did not particularly want my new houseguests to become a permanent fixture so I headed off to my local B&Q where I invested in a tub of Nippon Ant Killer powder. Cruel I know however I knew that they would just keep coming back if I didn't take drastic measures quickly.

The Product

This product cost £3.49 for a 300g bottle. Which I thought was very reasonable. I have used products from this manufacturer before so felt that it would be a good investment to rid me of my pesky little visitors. This product claims that it will kill ants, woodlice, cockroaches and other crawling insects. In addition it will also destroy wasp nests too. The other main reason for purchase was due to it being pet and child friendly and the packaging explains that they will not be needed to be excluded from treated areas. Keep babies away though as they are forever putting their hands in their mouths certainly not recommended.


The Packaging

The product packaging is extremely distinctive and stands out very prominently on the shelf. It has the Nippon logo in white the predominant colours are red and black. You can't miss this item as there is a picture of a rather hideous looking giant ant on the front of the product. It states that this is ant killer powder. It has a child safety security cap due to its potent nature which I have to admit took me a good few attempts to open so rest-assured child proof!!!


Application

I would suggest reading the full instructions on the back of the product before using just to ensure safety and prevent possible damage to the environment from unsafe disposal of the empty packaging. After all it does contain chemicals. The product itself is in a white powder form this is handy as you can see where you have put it down. To use remove the cap completely and hold the container pointing slightly downwards. Apply a fine dusting of powder to the surfaces you have identified as being problematic. I put mine along the door and down the crack that was obviously the ant's source of entry to my kitchen. Remember to replace the cap after use.

For ant infestation where possible find the source of the nest and open it up as much as possible, dust well with the powder and then tread down. It is important to also dust powder along the ant runs, cracks and crevices and other possible places close by. Entrances to nests should be liberally dusted particularly in cases where the ants cannot be disturbed. As in my case where the ants had invaded my house I also applied to points of access such as doorsteps, window frames, etc.

For crawling insects for example cockroaches, beetles, earwigs, silverfish, woodlice and other insects apply the product around cracks and other entry points. It is important to leave the powder undisturbed and re-apply as necessary

For wasp nests apply liberally into the nest or apply in piles at the nest entrance. It is best to carry out this treatment in the evening or on dull days when wasp activity is at a minimum. It is vital that you do not disturb the colony and do not return to the nest until all wasp activity has ceased


Conditions Relating To Product Use

This has been taken from the back of the packaging to ensure I don't leave out any important points!!! This product is to be used only as an insecticide I cant actually think of anything else you would use it for to be honest. Apply the product as recommended and re-apply if required. I used this on one occasion and left it for an hour then cleaned up. It was so effective that I didn't have to retreat the areas which I have to say I was very pleased about. For that reason I would certainly recommend its use. It is important that you try not to breathe in the dust. I actually suffer from asthma and I was concerned that it might be quite potent however this was not the case and I felt no irritant effects from using the product. It is also important to cover food, food preparation areas equipment and eating utensils before application. The manufacture explains that it is vital that you should take care not to contaminate water bodies or watercourses with chemicals or the used container. In addition do not apply to surfaces on which food or feed is stored, prepared or eaten. The product itself is very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long term effects in the aquatic environment. Do not empty into drains. It should also be disposed of in a safe way.

Overall

I found application of the product very simple and straight forward. The powder does come out of the bottle quickly so bear this in mind and use it as sparingly as possible particularly inside the house. Ensure that all possible cracks and entry points are covered with the product. I was impressed with the efficiency of the product and my little invaders disappeared as quickly as they had arrived and I have seen no sign of them since initial application. Unfortunately I am unable to comment regarding other crawling insects or wasps nests as I have not had any experience in this area however I would certainly bear this product in mind if I am ever faced with this problem in the future. The only downside I suppose was having to clear the product up after use. It was a bit like clearing up talc a bit irritating and time-consuming however you really have to invest the time and effort to ensure that it is completely removed and safely. A little goes a long way with this product and a 300g tub is a good investment as I would have enough for another couple of applications if required. Highly recommended.

Other Info

I discovered a few useful facts when researching for this review and I thought I would list a few of them although fairly self-explanatory really (courtesy of SC Johnson)

It is important to clean up food crumbs and liquid spills. A tiny crumb is enough to attract dozens of ants into your home.
Food should be packaged tightly and in closed containers.
Ants can travel down the threads of a screw-top jar (YUCK)
Dry out bathtubs and sinks after use.
Rinse glass, metal, plastic and paper food containers before throwing them in the bin to avoid ant infestation.

Summary: Really Effective