Does Ajax Kill Insects? All You Need to Know

Do you hate seeing insect pests scurrying around your house? If so, you’re not alone. Luckily, some household products like Ajax bleach are helpful in killing a few insects. But is it the best choice? Here’s the answer:

Ajax is ineffective in killing most insects like cockroaches, mice, and bugs. It can be useful to kill fleas and ants. You can make an insect repellant spray by mixing Ajax soap cleaner with clean water.

Ajax dish soap and powder cleanser are common household items in the US. They are great for cleaning dishes, countertops, and tables.

But some people go the extra mile and try to solve their pest problems with Ajax.

In this article, I’ll help you with some Ajax pest control tips so you don’t have to call an exterminator for common infestations.

Stay tuned!

How Does Ajax Kill Insects?

Ajax kills insects by suffocating them. The detergents in Ajax such as Calcium carbonate and Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate increase the water adhesion. Thus, soapy water clings to insects’ bodies and kills them due to suffocation.

When pests’ exoskeletons are fully covered with Ajax soapy water, there is no way out for them.

Ajax powder cleanser has the following ingredients:

• Calcium carbonate
• Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate
• Soda Ash
• Trichlorocyanuric Acid
• Fragrance
• Dye

As you can see from the ingredients, it’s more of a cleaning product than a pesticide. It’s still an effective solution to small-scale pest problems.

What Insects Can Be Killed By Ajax?

In this section, I will reveal what insects can be killed by Ajax. Here they are:

Fleas

Ajax soap kills fleas. Although it doesn’t repel or prevent infestation, it’s a temporary fix to get rid of fleas infestation. However, using Ajax or any other cleaning product on your pets isn’t recommended.

If you do use it on your pets, check with their veterinarian first. Since the soap can be toxic for some animals, keep an eye out for symptoms such as rashes, hair loss, hotspots, etc.

Mice

Ajax smell is so undesirable to rodents like mice. Hence, it repels them. The chances of killing a mouse with Ajax bleach are minimum unless the mouse inhales a large quantity of the bleach.

If you want to kill a mouse, you would need bait with a pleasant smell.

Ajax can’t be used as a mouse bait as its smell is quite a deterrent.

Ants

Ajax is often used to kill ants. The mixture of dishwashing liquid and water is effective in killing ants on spot. However, Ajax can’t get rid of severe ant infestation as it is not a good bait due to its strong smell.

I would personally not recommend using Ajax as an ant killer. Try using Raid instead.

Cockroaches

Ajax bleach doesn’t kill roaches as they don’t come near it because of a strong smell. The only way to a cockroach with Ajax is to drown it. There are definitely much more effective ways of killing roaches rather than drowning them with Ajax.

Ajax bleach can also damage the surface on which it’s that much sprayed.

Small cockroaches can hide in crevices and can’t be killed with Ajax.

Spiders

Ajax doesn’t really help killing spiders unless you drown them in it. It’s better to use a bug spray to kill spiders instead of using Ajax dishwashing soap or bleach.

Windex and Pinesol are better at killing spiders than Ajax.

Bed Bugs

Ajax doesn’t kill bed bugs. It’s very ineffective in dealing with a severe infestation. However, you can use it to remove them from your furniture and other objects.

Although Ajax bleach might technically kill bed bugs by oxidizing their outer shell with sodium hypochlorite, you would have to spray directly on them.

Since most bed bugs would be hiding inside your furniture, killing one or two bugs with Ajax isn’t your victory — You need to eliminate them all.

Termites

Ajax isn’t effective against termite infestation. Termite control is complex and needs a better and more organized approach to get rid of the infestation. Ajax cleaner can’t be used to kill termites.

Therefore, hold up your Ajax spray bottle — It’s useless against these termites!

Safety Precautions

Here are some precautions to take while spraying Ajax on insects:

• You can also use plastic gloves to prevent any residue from adhering to your hands as you clean your apartment or room.
• Wear masks when spraying bleach.
• Avoid spraying Ajax in large quantities on the floor and wall surfaces.
• Store unused Ajax bleach in its original container out of reach from children.

Can I Mix Ajax and Bleach?

Never mix bleach with Ajax or any other dish soap. Bleach is highly reactive and can create fumes while mixing it with Ajax. The reaction gives off Chlorine gas when mixed.

This means that you can use straight-up water or vinegar to clean your dishware, sink, and other kitchen surfaces or for killing insects without the worry of forming dangerous gas fumes in your home later on afterward.

Conclusion

Although Ajax bleach is definitely less toxic and poisonous to insecticides, it’s not the best way of pest control.

I would strongly suggest using it only when you’ve no other pest poison available.