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in House & Home

Fighting Pests and Weeds the Easy Way

This post about fighting pests with the new AMDRO PowerFlex system is brought to you by Central Garden & Pet. We don’t have a lot of issues (knock on wood) with pests and/or insects inside the house, but we do have pests in the form of weeds and more weeds. Plus they always bring their friends. While we don’t treat areas near our well at all, we do have areas in the yard that we’ve used weed killer on or other pest control products- but it’s always several different products in different packaging and different applicators. In other words, lots of space taken up and lots of things to go through. The new AMDRO PowerFlex is designed to streamline the whole weed and grass, indoor and outdoor insect problem by having one kind of universal applicator and smaller concentrates that you can quickly and easily change depending on your need at the moment. They’ve simplified the process to a 1-2-3 step thing!!
amdro powerflex

Step 1: Fill the gallon sized container with water (I’d like to thank the folks who designed this for making it a smaller sized container- it means those of us who aren’t super strong can still be able to use the product system).
Step 2: Twist on the concentrate you’d like to use
Step 3: Spray your product onto the pests or weeds. That’s it.

Want to change to another product quickly? Simply remove the concentrate you are finished with, flush the system for about 10 seconds, and twist a new concentrate into place. Easy, peasy. The system itself has a spot to store and go with 2 concentrates so you can cover more area or change to different product applications without having to walk back to the shed, garage, etc.

Flex Some Muscle_Infographic

There are 4 varieties of concentrate you can get with the AMDRO PowerFlex system-
1. Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate
2. Lawn Weed Killer Concentrate
3. Yard & Perimeter Outdoor Insect Killer Concentrate
4. Home Pest Indoor Killer Concentrate


AMDRO PowerFlex Pest & Weed System
· AMDRO is introducing a revolutionary all-in-one system – AMDRO PowerFlex – created to simplify indoor and outdoor pest and weed control unlike any other product on the market.
· The AMDRO PowerFlex Pest & Weed System moves pest and weed control into the 21st century of technology by creating one innovative solution that fits all of consumers’ control needs.
· The battery-powered sprayer features four specialty formulated cartridges that eliminate a wide range of pests – from ants and cockroaches to dandelion and many other hard-to-control weeds.
· Available cartridges include: Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate; Lawn Weed Killer Concentrate; Yard & Perimeter Outdoor Insect Killer Concentrate; and Home Pest Indoor Killer Concentrate.
· AMDRO PowerFlex products range from $11.99 to $14.99 and are available at The Home Depot, Walmart and select regional retailers.
Please feel free to watch my video of how to use this system and watch how easy it is (would be with 2 hands anyway) to change cartridges!! (Also, please feel free to laugh, I do).

One reader will win a $50 American Express Gift Card to buy their own AMDRO PowerFlex System – or whatever you’d like to use it on!

Central Garden & Pet partnered with bloggers such as me to help educate us all about their AMDRO products. As part of this program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the use of the products. Central Garden & Pet believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Central Garden & Pet’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. A winner will be chosen by random and gift card fulfillment will be handled by a third party.

About Brett

I'm a 40 something lifestyle blogger living in Connecticut with my husband and our 3 kids, plus our two rescue pups. We love to hike, travel, play games, watch movies, and just be outside together! Having 3 active kids makes for a hectic schedule and I try to share content, recipes and other things that can help to make today's busy family life simpler, easier, or just plain more fun!

I started working full time at a local middle school in fall 2021 and some of my students are insistent that I am mean.

Comments

  1. Brian E. says

    Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic & safe to use indoors for crawling insects; great to use in the garden too.

  9. Samantha says

    kill them before you even see them. Once they start and grow, they’re harder to maintain

  10. Karen A. says

    I spray around the outside of the house to keep the bugs from getting inside (especially spiders…yuck)

  15. elishia bakle says

    planting onions and garlic next to all my peppers seems to help keep the bugs away

  19. Denise says

    The way weed poisons are designed to work, you need to spray them while they are actively growing.

  22. Patrice says

    Get the weeds up as soon as they emerge, before they set seed and start spreading.

  26. Crystal F says

    The only thing that I can say is spray as well as possible. Make sure you spray all around your door and windows to keep bugs out. Thank you!

  33. Jennifer Reed says

    My tip is to use high quality products even if the price is higher so you only have to do the job once.

  35. Mary Cloud says

    Pour hot grease on weeds after cooking will kill them
    annabella @ centurytel dot net

  39. Christine M says

    We just use vinegar or dish soap and water in a spray bottle to kill weeds and pests.

  53. Gaye M says

    My grandkids are looking forward to seeing Man of Steel, so I guess I must be too. : )

  55. Maryam Zeibaq says

    I’ve had gardens in the past and the best thing that I found to get rid of pest was taking cat sand and laying that around the garden or cut hair.

  60. SYLVIE W says

    For problems with slugs, place crumbled egg shells around your plants. The slugs will not want to glide along the rough shells. Plants are protected!

  64. Pamela Halligan says

    Vinegar is handy for battling weeds and ants. I fill a spray bottle with vinegar and target weeds. For large weedy areas, I use a bottle of vinegar. It kills them in a couple of days. I wipe down my kitchen counters with vinegar. Not only does it kill germs, it deters ants.

  68. Jaque R. says

    Pouring boiling water on weeds will kill them and won’t put chemicals into the environment. 🙂 Thank you.

  69. Renea Greathouse says

    I have used vinegar mixed with salt to kill poison ivy but it does nothing to kill kudzu and other weeds. I’m eager to try Amdro. Portions of our yard is being claimed by kudzu and the only way we have of getting rid of it is to chop it back and do the same thing next year. ACK!! What a pain. an epic pain.

  70. Deb C says

    My favorite tip is to buy a toad house and put it in your garden and hope a toad moves in. Toads eat some pests and slugs.

  71. Stacy says

    Plant natural pest resistant plants to help enhance your garden and keep the pests away

  74. Sabrina Radke says

    We just got a house with a yard and I don’t have any tips to share quite yet but am anxious to try these 🙂

  76. Natalie Finch says

    I don’t have a good tip. I just try to be diligent on weeding regularly.

  78. Danielle Papsis says

    Salt will kill slugs and is a cheap way to get rid of them. I really just try to keep everything wiped down all the time so as not to attract pests inside the house.

  79. Sarah says

    My biggest thing is to stay on top of weeding, it’s much more manageable to pull weeds when you see them than try to tackle a month’s worth all at once.

  83. Angel Wolf says

    Pull the weeds at the roots.. but we also use a pesticide. 😛
    I’m not the gardener in the family, my grandparents are.

  85. maleficent m says

    I don’t have a green thumb but i know you should pull the weeds up by the roots.

  87. Beth Hill says

    Before I spread mulch in the spring, I spread preen to prevent spreading of weeds and plants.

  90. lisagee1234 says

    Cedar repels fleas so when building something outdoors, I will use this wood.
    In whole or in chips.

  95. Melanie Montgomery says

    I really don’t have any yet because I don’t have my own garden. We live in an apartment.

  97. kim says

    Amdro is actually my best pest tip I have had small ant on my kitchen counters for 2 years and tried everything for 2 years until I found amdro and it got rid of them completely and they have not come back it it wonderful

  98. Tim says

    My favorite weed tip is to use gasoline along the curb — works great and keeps the weeds away!

  106. Amanda Alvarado says

    We are new to gardening so I really don’t have any tips but I loved reading the ones here! I’m going to have to try the newspaper under mulch for weeds where we have our rose bushes planted!

  107. Nancy says

    My favorite pest tip it to plant marigolds in your vegetable gardens to help keep the pests away.

  110. Linda Meyers-Gabbard says

    I have never done yard work. Have always rented. We are looking for our first home though. I will need to read and find out what to do. I have used ant and fly sprays inside

  112. PF Sweepstakes says

    Laying down weed cloth before mulching is the way the pros prevent weeds.

  117. Brynn says

    Placing newspaper between the mulch and plants to deter pests and weeds and its a greener option!

  119. LAMusing says

    My only pest tip is using chalk to keep ants away – it’s true they won’t cross the line (or if a brave one does the chalk will coat it’s legs and it will die). Nice because it’s non-toxic and won’t hurt pets or kids.

  120. Seyma Shabbir says

    Take care of it quick and early (before it begins is best). If you let them take over it is expensive and HARDER to treat

  122. Geoff K says

    We use vinegar to kill weeds and place old mats or rugs between garden rows to help deter pests and moles.

  124. Sheila Vives says

    To get rid of weeds you must get rid of the root and all. Best to burn, and do not throw in the compost pile as they will come back.

  125. Maureen G says

    After an awful experience dealing with poison ivy, I always wear gloves when weeding/gardening and use lots of soap and water to clean up afterwards

  126. Danizilla says

    My best pest tip just has to do with prevention. I try to plant things in my very shady yard that deter mosquitoes such as catnip. As a bonus, my cat gets fresh catnip!

  130. Jessica Lodge says

    I live in NYC so I don’t have a garden but my Mom does and I know she has used beer to keep slugs away from her plants.

  131. nannypanpan says

    my best weed tip is to put down the weed killer before the weeds have the ability to get roots

  132. Stephanie Larison says

    Mow them down! We have yet to find a good solution to weeds around the yard, so hubby just cuts them down.

  135. Cheryl says

    We hand pick bugs from our vegetable plants and use mulched grass to keep weeds down.

  136. Sarah VM says

    We put down mulch and try to keep up with pulling the weeds as much as possible.

  138. Fawn H says

    I start pulling weeds early in the season and use landscaping fabric in my flower beds. It doesn’t completely stop the weeds but it helps.

  141. jill rivera says

    I have these weeeds on my retainer wall. I am looking forward to see if this product can attack the weeds.

  145. Jodi says

    My tip is only to weed often enough so you don’t get behind! Spending hours weeding is no fun!

  146. Michelle C says

    My husband takes care of most of the yard work, but I’ve noticed that he puts out a lot of mulch to help with weed control. Thanks for the chance to win!
    mrsmchappell at gmail dot com

  153. Wanda McHenry says

    We spray weed and feed along with a yard pesticide about once per month. We also have a professional spray our yard every 6 month, I live in the southeast and we are always battling bugs.

  156. Barbara Montag says

    Stay on top of the weeding so it doesn’t become such a chore.
    Thank you.

  157. kelly Nicholson says

    Share your favorite pest and weed tips

    but if i killed all the golfers they would lock me up and thow away the key….oh Gophers!..I can do that!

  158. Ellen Anderson says

    Bonus S Plus on my lawn at least three times every summer! Really helps with the southern weeds!

  161. Misha Lynn Estrada says

    I just pull weeds, I haven’t tried anything else on them before. I do sometimes spray around my back door/porch, so ants and bugs won’t come in my kitchen.

  162. krista grandstaff says

    My kids and I are super excited to see this movie… They love the old Superman movie with Christopher Reeves, so to take them to see this one will be a huge treat 🙂

  163. krista grandstaff says

    My latest pest issue actually involves my dogs, and biting flies…ugh! I was tired of buying “horse” sprays to keep the flies off of them while they are outside, so I mixed a cup of listerine with 2 parts water…put it in a spray bottle, and spray them fairly liberally… The minty smell is nice, and the flies aren’t biting my Dane’s ears any longer 🙂

  166. Jessica M. says

    If I see weeds, I try to keep them pulled. Other than that a professional.

  168. Austin Baroudi says

    We have a really good friend who does it all for us fo free!!! My tip would be to make a friend like that 😛

  169. Julie Lutz says

    If you put dry corn meal or dry grits on an ant mound the ants will eat it and then drink water causing them to pop when the grain absorbs the water ((this can only be used in dry weather)

  171. Katie Roch says

    My favorite tip is to cover bare soil with mulch to prevent weeds from growing

  180. Elizabeth Owens says

    You have to be determined. When I loose steam and not give it my all, I notice my lawn does not look like it should. So I stick with fighting the weeds until I beat them! 🙂

  188. Tracy Robertson says

    I don’t know any great tips (but I’m learning some from the other responses) other than to hire a professional.

  190. Tim says

    My favorite pest and weed tips are:

    1.) keep your house clean — should keep the pests away

    2.) weed your garden often — hard work but it works.

  191. Claudia Davis says

    I keep the spray bottle outside and spray constantly as I quickly walk the yard daily to ensure its done often.

  192. Sharon Kaminski says

    borax works great for ants and for fruit flies a small glass with a little water in it covered with saran wrap and a little hole for them to go in and they cannot get out

  193. Wild Orchid says

    My favorite tip is to spray the weeds as close to the root as possible.
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

  197. Ann Fantom says

    I put newspaper on the ground between the plants in our garden to keep the weeds at a minimum.

  203. Ari says

    Make sure that your weed killer won’t kill all your grass along with the weeds. If you have the ability to spot treat your weeds, an organic way to kill them is by directly applying a solution of diluted vinegar + dish wash liquid to the area.

  210. Tina says

    We use to have a problem with ants. My tips would be I cleaned with orange cleaner. They seem to hate that. I also would put a jar with a little bit of water in it..the ants would crawl in but not crawl out.

  211. Myrna says

    Like everyone else is saying, you just have to keep up with them. Easier said than done.

  214. Susan Johnson says

    Always pull weeds out by the root- otherwise there’s no use in pulling them! When using weed killer, follow the directions closely, too little, nothing dies, too much, everything dies. Don’t spray if it has rained in the last 24-48 hours, or if you water your lawn every evening- the moisture in the soil will allow the weed killer to seep away from the weeds and kill your grass. Make sure there are no leaks in your sprayer!! If it drips at all, find a way to stop it, or you can wind up stepping on the drips and tracking it all over your lawn– it does make for and interesting design in your lawn, especially the footprint shapes! As for bugs, clear leaf and other debris from around the perimeter of your house, and if possible, spray non-porous surfaces.

  218. latoya says

    I check for weeds weekly, I think if you check for them regularly, its easier to keep them from spreading.

  221. Jill A. Collins says

    Weeding tip – always wear sunscreen. Weeding is no fun, but being burned for days after is worse!

  222. Sandy VanHoey says

    Our tips aren’t too good. My daughter went out to weed and we ended up with stripes in the lawn. Maybe it was all weeds but and she didn’t apply correctly so it killed lawn. We had one stripe untouched, other bare, etc. Hmmm, we are trying

  225. Jill Edwards says

    Best weed tip…don’t let them grow too long..some of those weeds have deep roots and take a lot of muscle to pull out.

  226. Heather S says

    My best weed tip is to try to keep on top of them by weeding once a week, and also pull them out when you walk past and spot them!

  227. steve weber says

    do not spray weed killer if you know it’s going to rain in the next few days.

  231. Colleen Maurina says

    My tip is to be sure to put mulch down after you finish weeding to keep them from coming back.

  233. Marti Parks says

    The only thing I know to do about weeds is to just pull them constantly. That’s what I do and I still can’t seem to stay on top of them.

  238. annie page says

    I use sevin dust indoor and outside it will not harm pets. for ants I use baking soda.

  239. Candice says

    Use weed and feed a couple of times a year, and stay on top of weeds before they get out of control.

  241. veronica vaughn says

    Well I don’t garden so I don’t worry about weeds but to keep away pests I spray with cyper8

  242. Margaret Smith says

    In our garden, we hang fragrant bar soap to keep the deer away. This works pretty well. We also spray around our whole house foundation each spring with insect spray to help keep them out of the house.

  245. Colleen Boudreau says

    Pick the weeds as you see them so they don’t spread and become overwhelming.

  247. Katie K says

    I use Preen feed and weed supplement to stop some weeds before they start. Also, I pick weeds as soon as I can get the whole root up, rather than waiting forever and giving them the chance to seed.

  248. Lisa B. says

    I use water and vinegar and the kids will also pull some but these methods don’t work that well!

  249. julie matek says

    we use home defense ortho for pests and roundup outside for weeds;)

    jmatek At WI dot rr DOT com

  251. Christina says

    I use a few drops of dawn dish soap in a spray bottle of water to help keep bugs out of my garden. No standing water around the yard, keep brush and leaves picked up.

  252. Trisha B. says

    For me,the best way to get rid of the weeds is to just pull them every week.It seems to be better than paying for any weed killer that just doesn’t cut it.I see results when I pull them by hand 🙂

  255. Lyn says

    I usually pull weeds. getting down to the bottom of their roots and spray the really stickery kind. Pests on the inside get the fly swatter!

  256. Julie says

    we use weed and feed and also I use eucalyptus to get rid of my ants for me it works

  260. Karen Glatt says

    I use a natural bug killer for my plants outside that really works, and I use a weed wacker to cut down the weeds. I do not want to use a chemical weed killer with my dog walking around in the yard. For ants I use ant traps, and for flying bugs, I use the sticky strips and a good old fashioned fly swatter.

  264. Kim Henrichs says

    I cover the walkway weeds in my garden with mulch usually. Under that if you can put newspaper that keeps weeds at bay as well. I have such pesky ones around the mailbox and fences though, this stuff looks great!

  266. Janet W. says

    Use a weed and feed several times a year. That should help cut down on the amount of weeds popping up. Also, pull weeds when you see them.

  269. Eileen says

    Right now I use a product that contains cinnamon and other spices. It knocks the ants right out. But needing help getting them from marching into our house. Ick.

    The biggest pest, disease causing ticks is my nightmare. Cut grass short and use repellent.

  271. Sarah L says

    My tip: live in a condo and let other people do the work.
    Thanks for the contest.

  272. Jill H says

    My tip is to plant marigolds next to tomato plants to help keep bugs away from your tomato plants

  276. amber says

    my fave pest tip is to use little dishes of beer to attract and get rid of slugs

  277. Kelly D says

    I always put down a weed barrier, it’s extra work but saves time not having to pull weeds in the long run.

  278. Robert Pyszk says

    If you have pets make sure to keep the floor clean around the bowl and clean any plates you might have wet food on don’t leave them on the floor. Might attract pests

  281. Mami2jcn says

    Get the kids to help out with weed pulling. They enjoy it and the work gets done faster with their help.

  282. Lisa Brown says

    For pests, I tend to use more natural remedies like cinnamon or orange oil for ants. For weeds, use ground cover as much as possible.

  284. Jeanna says

    You have to keep up with it. You can’t get rid of them once & think they are gone forever! It’s a process!

  285. beth m says

    a professional told me to keep plants and shrubs at least a couple inches away from your foundation to help with pest problems.

  286. Anne says

    If you catch unwanted plants before they get too big, it’s easier to pull them, and they won’t be able to flower and set seed if you pull them early, too.

  287. Cynthia R says

    put a lawyer of wet newpaper before you mulch, prevents weeks from sprouting up

  288. Jessica B. says

    Dawn dish soap is supposed to help kill weeds. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’d be curious to see if it works.

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