Water Soluble Powders

barrier treatment

Solutions Pest & Lawn carries some of the market's best water-soluble packets or soluble powders. These products are effective and are a great formulation to consider for your pest control program.

Soluble powders are a specialized formulation of insecticides in which the active ingredient comes in powder form (much like wettable powders) but can blend into a complete solution. This solution can be sprayed onto surfaces, cracks, crevices, and voids to control problematic pests.

This page will touch on the benefits of soluble powders, how they are formulated, and how to properly apply these products to achieve the best possible results.

What is a Water Soluble Powder?

Soluble powder formulations (water-soluble powders or water-soluble packets, or WSP for short) look similar to wettable powders. However, the main difference is that when mixed with water, soluble powders dissolve readily and form a true solution, much like sugar dissolves into water.

A proper solution is when one chemical is fully dissolved into another, and the resulting liquid is clear (particles of added material completely disassociate into individual molecules). Particles in the solution cannot be seen or separated by physical or mechanical methods.

Once soluble powders are initially agitated and thoroughly mixed, there’s no need for further shaking to agitate the chemicals. The amount of active ingredient in soluble powders ranges from 15% to 95% by weight; it usually is more than 50%. The percentage of the active ingredients in a soluble powder is higher than in Emulsifiable Concentrates and wetable powders.

Water soluble powders have all the advantages of wettable powders and none of the disadvantages except the inhalation hazard during mixing. Few pesticides are available in this formulation because few active ingredients are readily soluble in water.

Conditions for Using Water-Soluble Powders

Water-soluble powders are great for general pest control sprayings indoors and around your yard. Depending on the active ingredient, they can treat a variety of pests, and in herbicide form, they can eliminate invasive weeds.

Water-soluble powders treat pests in agricultural, ornamental, turf, forestry, structural (residential and commercial), food processing, livestock, and public health settings. They are also adaptable to many types of application equipment, from small, portable sprayers to hydraulic sprayers, low-volume ground sprayers, mist blowers, and low-volume aircraft sprayers.

Water-soluble powders often come in water-soluble packets, which is convenient because the right dosage is in the packet, and there’s no need to measure the powder to ensure the right amount.

Because water-soluble powders have larger particle sizes than SC and EC formulations, they work very well on porous surfaces such as brick, concrete, and raw wood. The larger particle size sits on the surface and is not absorbed into the material.

Benefits of Using Water-Soluble Powders

Water-soluble powders (WSPs) contain many of the benefits of wettable powders. Soluble powders and water-soluble packets are simple to manufacture, transport, and store. They are not abrasive and will not clog screens and nozzles. Unlike wettable powders, WSPs leave no visible residue on treated surfaces and require little agitation because they will not settle out or separate when equipment is used.

Water-soluble powders are easy to use—mix a small amount of the powder or use a pre-measured water-soluble packet with water according to the label instructions, and you’re set. WSPs usually dry quickly and clear and have a great residual effect, which may last between 28 and 90 days. Because of their high concentrations of active ingredient soluble, powder products are typically cheaper for treatments requiring a large amount of spraying.

Water Soluble Powder Drawbacks

There is a minimal availability and variety of water-soluble powder products because not many active ingredients can dissolve into water to form a proper solution.

Our Recommendations

Cyper WSP - Cyper WSP Insecticide is a cypermethrin water-soluble powder insecticide in convenient water-soluble packets. The pre-measured packets are dropped into a spray tank and dissolved to make an insecticide spray. Cyper WSP controls over 30 insects and provides a powerful residual barrier.

Tools Needed

To use a water-soluble powder, you must dilute and mix the powder with water in a handheld sprayer. Always wear the necessary PPE for safety before mixing and applying.

User Guide

Mixing packet of Cyper WSP

Step 1: Add Packet to Sprayer and Mix

Water Soluble Packets will come with a dosing spoon or be in individual-use packets.

Calculate the square footage of the treatment area to determine how much Cyper WSP you will need. Measure the area's length and width in feet, then multiply them together (length x width = square footage).

One packet of Cyper WSP can treat 800 to 1,600 sq. ft. when mixed with 1 to 5 gallons of water. So, if you measured 1,500 sq. ft. to treat, you would need one packet in at least one gallon of water.

Fill the sprayer halfway with water, add the water-soluble packet, and allow 1 to 2 minutes for the packet to dissolve. Fill the sprayer with the rest of the water and then shake the sprayer well to mix the solution properly.

Step 2: Apply Product

Spray around your exterior windows, the eaves of the house, and other areas with cracks and crevices. Once the product dries, it is left on the surface as a residue. Outdoors and WSP solutions are great for spraying upon porous surfaces like brick or raw wood. The powder makes the product denser, so it does not absorb into the material and will stay on the surface as a barrier.

Key Takeaways

What are Water Soluble Powders?

Water-soluble powders dissolve quickly into water, much like sugar. They are a famous formulation in pest control because they are easy to use and usually come in pre-measured packets.