Is a flea infestation in your home driving you crazy? Among the options of sprays, traps and flea bombs, you probably have not known what elimination method to choose. Each of these products has its own pros and cons. However, if you are facing a bad situation in a large space, a flea bomb might be the right choice. Having purchased one canister, do you find that you don’t know how to flea bomb a house? This article is just what you need.
What is a flea bomb?
A flea bomb, also called as a flea fogger, is a small aerosol canister containing insecticide. Generally, the insecticides used are cypermethrin, methroprene, nylar, permethrin and tetramethrin, which will take on the responsibility for killing your flea outbreak. When you push down the trigger, the entire contents of the can are sprayed upward like a mist.
You should remember that flea bombs often achieve only an 80% removal rate in a furnished house. Because of the fact that flea bombs work best in an empty room and that the chemicals can damage your furniture, you should remove as many items as you can from your house to allow the insecticide to penetrate better. Better yet, have your furniture and appliance insured in times like this that you have to do flea bombing. How to do that? Apply for a home insurance, but make sure you have a good credit history or your ChexSystems Score is good enough because insurance companies might look for your credit history when approving your insurance application. Click here to know more about it.
How to flea bomb a house?
Preparation
In whatever we do, preparation always plays a key role to success. In the process of killing fleas, what should you do prior to bombing?
The chemicals may be dangerous for all living things in your house while they are sprayed. Therefore, make sure that all people and pets are removed far away from the house for 8 to 9 hours after fogging. As for fish tanks, seal them up with a drop cloth or move them out if possible.
Completely turn off the electricity. The ingredients in flea bombs are flammable, so it is crucial to get rid of any potential sources of flame or else your house might blow up. Besides that, protect your food, cooking utensils, dishes, toiletries and any sensitive items from toxins.
On the one hand, close all exterior doors and windows. Place a sign on the door that dangerous insecticides are in use. On the other hand, open all interior doors and even closets if there is no clothing inside. This will allow the chemicals to reach everywhere.
Thoroughly clean your home to force hidden insects out of their hiding places. Vacuum very well, and attach special importance to places where your pet regularly visits like carpeting, benches, curtains, bedding and more.
Wear protective gear like a mask, gloves, boots and clothing. Always pay special attention to safety because the chemicals can be detrimental to your health, therefore, please restrict your exposure to them to the lowest possible level. Never start bombing before you have your protective gear on.
Purchase a good quality brand flea bomb. The more trustworthy the brand is, the higher your level of success will be. Make use of each and every source of information available to you such as veterinarians, friends, family, online feedbacks and reviews and so on. Do work out what the best is via your search. Work out the area of your home and how many canisters you will need.
Start bombing
Put one canister on some sheets of old newspaper. Do the same for other canisters in different places. This step can help stop the residues of the product from staining the floor directly around the flea bomb.
Check the process of preparation once more time listed above to ensure that you don’t skip anything. Read the instructions on the package thoroughly to know exactly how to use your product and any other noteworthy points, then put on all your protective gear.
Shake up the chemicals. Use the flea fogger by pushing the trigger down really hard. If you don’t do it well, the bomb might stop when you release the trigger. In case of dealing with a flea infestation in many different rooms, it is highly recommended that you ask for a companion to help you set off the other bombs. You can watch this video for more information:
On counting to three, you and your friend both push down the triggers and then run for the door as fast as possible. This will definitely help you minimize your exposure to the toxic fog. Finally, close and lock the door behind you, then stay away from your house for the next 9 hours.
After bombing
After about 9 hours, come back home, remove and discard the newspaper and empty bombs, and open all the windows and doors in order to let the air circulate for around an hour. You also can turn on the fans and air conditioners to speed up the process.
After fogging, the surfaces in your home will be coated in a layer of dangerous pesticide, so cleaning thoroughly is a really important step (house cleaning – Simplymaid). Before starting to vacuum the floors, wipe down the counter tops with a wet soapy cloth and wash any items that have potentially been exposed to the mist. Do wear gloves and a mask while doing so.
Do not vacuum your house immediately as they are still a safe place for fleas. Do it after around 2 days to get rid of all dead eggs.
Repeat this task every two months to eliminate this problem for good.
Tips for using flea bombs safely and effectively
Because the chemicals need plenty of time to kill fleas and they are not good for your health, the best time to bomb a house is just before you go on holiday with the family.
Bear in mind that flea bombs cannot achieve a 100% removal rate, as a result, you ought to apply several different treatments at the same time, especially pet treatments since pets are usually the sources of flea infestations.
Other things you should remember:
- There must be no exposure to your pets.
- No electricity must be on while implementing the treatment.
- Use only one single canister per room. No more.
- Don’t use the bombs in an enclosed space, like a cupboard.
- Be careful of using flea bombs when anyone in your home suffers from an asthma problem.
- Never breath in the gas from the bombs, wear protective clothes and try to expose yourself to the mist as little as possible.
- Move your bird feeders far away from the windows.
To Sum Up
Taking everything into consideration, flea bombs are an effective flea control method. Each flea fogger can treat an area of up to 5000 cubic feet and most will prevent further flea infestations for up to 6 months.
Besides that, some annoying insects such as silverfish, ants and cockroaches are also killed by these insecticides. However, because of their toxic chemicals, you should not abuse them and must exactly know how to flea bomb a house in the right way.
I hope this article has been helpful to you, and wish you all the best as you eliminate these pests from your living space.
Thanks for reading!
