If you have decided to use a flea bomb then we take it that your home is suffering from a serious flea infestation and all that vacuuming, use of pesticides and other flea treatments have made no difference.
So now you are looking into the flea bombs for your home and we think that is a great idea, considering the rate of success they have with getting rid of every single flea, along with the eggs, from your home. But before we begin and give you a run down on how to use a flea bomb, let us answer a very important question-
How do a flea bombs work?
If you are guessing from the name that flea bombs actually work like bombs that are activated when triggered then yes, you are absolutely right!
Flea bombs contain a string dose of insecticide that gets released in the air when triggered, filling up the whole room and all exposed surfaces with its poisonous contents.
This has an advantage over flea sprays or other treatments where there is a chance of missed spots. One disadvantage is that even though the flea bomb works pretty fast and kills the fleas within minutes. You will be advised to stay away from your home or the room where the flea bomb was used, until the fumes have completely gone.
So now that you have all that information, we will guide you through how to use a flea bomb successfully and also provide you with some flea prevention tips to keep your home free from fleas after the treatment.
Part. 1
Identifying The Flea Infested Area
If you are not completely sure whether your home is infested by fleas or if you are trying to figure out where the infested areas are then there are a few signs to look out for.
1. Flea Dirt
Fleas usually leave droppings for their young to feed on and these droppings are not hard to miss if you look carefully. They look like black pepper and will leave red marks on white clothes or paper when rubbed.
If you notice these droppings along the floor or carpets, then use a saturated towel to rub them off and if your towel has signs of red marks then you know for sure that those are flea dirt.
2. Flea Eggs
Fleas sometimes lay eggs in carpets. So if you don’t mind doing some experimenting with your own hands then you could run them through the carpets to look for any signs of eggs. As flea eggs are tiny and not always visible to the naked eye, you may need to use a magnifying glass to check them out properly.
3. Check the Outdoors
Fleas are not only found inside the house, they can also hide in your yard, mostly in moist areas. Check in places like around the trees where there is always shade and under entries where the sun cannot directly shine on. Once you can identify the areas where fleas have infested you can start the treatment and expect better results.
4. Calculate the Amount of Area That Needs to Be Treated
In order to determine what size of flea bomb you will be requiring, you will need to calculate the square footage of the room or particular area that you will be treating. The labels on flea bomb tins or cans should indicate the size of the room that it will treat.
Part. 2
Read The Safety Warnings Properly!
Although most flea bombs work in the same way and are safe to use as long as you stay away from the area after the bomb is triggered. You still need to read the safety warnings and follow the instructions precisely.
Stick to a quality brand and check with friends or others you know with experience using flea bombs for recommendations and any safety tips that you may use.
Part. 3
How to Flea Bomb a House
1. Preparation Before Flea Fogging
- Set a schedule for the day you wish to use the flea bomb. Remember that you and your whole family, including pets, need to clear the house and stay away for several hours during and after the treatment.
- Remove all food, appliances, crockery, utensils and other items used for cooking or eating and store them away, preferably in a room where you will not be using a flea bomb. By leaving them in their places you will need to wash them after the treatment which will not only take up a lot of time but also be risky as there may be chances of the poison sticking on. Some items such as appliances cannot really be washed so its best you remove them from the area.
- Leave all cabinet and drawer doors open. This will help the poison enter these places where fleas may hide or even leave eggs. Make sure these cabinets and drawers are all empty.
- Cover tables, countertops, equipment and all furniture. Basically anything valuable that you cannot move, must be covered with sheets or plastic to avoid damage caused by the chemicals in the flea bomb.
- Clean your house and remove all dirty laundry. Fleas can also lay eggs in your dirty clothes and if that is the case then those eggs will remain safe even during the treatment. To avoid this, clean your clothes to get rid of any signs of flea eggs or larvae.
- Close all windows and main doors to ensure that the flea bomb remains within the area and has maximum effect. If any windows or doors are open, then the fumes will escape too fast and the treatment won’t be as effective.
- Turn off all electric devices and lights. Most of the chemicals in flea bombs are flammable so turn off everything starting from the heater to the air conditioners to all the lights and fans.
2. Important Steps for Actually Deploying the Fogger
- Place the flea bomb on a newspaper and position it right in the middle of the room. This will protect your floors from any residue and also ensure that the whole room is being treated equally from all sides.
- If you are using more than one flea bomb or treating more than one room, then prepare and position all flea bombs accordingly so that you do not have to come back to active them.
- Activate the flea bombs only when you think you are ready to leave the house and then immediately vacant the house.
- Do not reenter your home and stay out until it is safe to get back inside. The flea bomb you use should mention the number of hours that you will need to stay away.
- You could use the time to take your pets to the vet and have them checked for fleas because if they are carrying any fleas then that will just start the infestation all over again.
3. Things to Do After Bombing the House
- As soon as you return, open all windows and doors to let the fumes out. With proper ventilation your home will soon get rid of all the odor.
- Vacuum the carpets and sweep and mop the floors. You are most likely going to see traces of dead fleas, other dead bugs, dust and chemical residue all over the house.
- Always wear gloves when cleaning the house after a treatment.
- Clean tables, countertops, changes the bed sheets and wipe all furniture to remove any traces of the poison.
- Vacuum daily for at least 2 weeks after the treatment to get rid of any fleas that may have survived the treatment or were hatched afterwards.
Part. 4
Flea Prevention Tips
- Start by keeping your yard clean. Mow the grass and trim shrubs to prevent fleas from hiding there.
- Try to keep untamed pets from coming near our home as they usually carry fleas.
- Monitor your home regularly for signs of fleas, especially if you have pets or have just moved in to a new house.
- Give your home multiple flea treatments to increase the effects of treatments.
- Check your pets or take them to the vet for regular checkups
Part. 5
Other Flea Treatment Options
Depending on what you want to treat, there are a number of other flea treatments available.
If your pets have fleas then there are ointments and oral medication that a vet can prescribe. The fleas can also be brushed off using flea combs.
If it is your home that needs treating, then a spray insecticide can be used. These sprays contain ingredients that kill eggs and pupae.
Diatomaceous earth and dried pennyroyal leaves are two natural products that are effective in controlling fleas.
Borax dehydrates fleas and helps to treat infestations but use it with caution around pets.
Our Last Opinion
Fleas can multiple pretty quick and can cause serious problems once the infestation gets out of hand. So it is important to choose the right treatment to get rid of these pests as fast as possible.
Out of all the other flea treatments, flea bombs are known to be really effective and when used correctly. They can get rid of all fleas and their eggs within hours.
However, treatments may need to be repeated to kill any newly hatched fleas and prevent future infestations.
Remember to keep your home clean and check for any signs of fleas even after the treatments.
