Treating A Home With Flea Bombs

Flea bombs or foggers are pressurized cans of insecticide that totally release their contents once the trigger is pressed and locked to the on position. Flea bombs or foggers are placed upright in the center of the room and when the trigger is pressed the entire contents of the can are sprayed upward as a fine spray or mist — once started the trigger cannot be shut off. These bombs contain an insecticide to control adult fleas plus an insect growth regulator that prevents flea larvae from developing into adults. This will break the lifecycle of the flea. There are several organic insecticides that work equally well, such as the ones used to kill bed mites.

Zodiac FleaTrol Fogger

The Zodiac FleaTrol Fogger comes in a three-pack. The intent of the flea bomb is to kill fleas and the eggs that they leave behind. The Zodiac FleaTrol Fogger will treat up to 2,250 square feet and does not leave a lingering odor. Look at your room and figure out where the best places to have the three bombs or foggers go off might be. Vacuum the room thoroughly before triggering the flea bombs or foggers. This ensures that any eggs trapped in the carpeting will be pulled up into the sweeper or be available to the insecticide fog. Before you set up a flea bomb ensure that you have a flea infestation and not a bed bug rash caused by bed bugs. The bite marks can often look very similar.

Breathing In Insecticide Fumes Can Be Harmful

1. It is important to remove all pets, people, and food substances from the area that is going to be bombed. Breathing in the insecticide fumes is harmful — even when using an organic insecticide.

2. Also many of these insecticides are flammable — be sure to turn off any pilot light appliances in the fogging area.

3. The flea bomb must be elevated so that it sprays a large area. Often a cardboard box for each bomb works well.

4. Keep the bombed room closed off for at least two hours and then ventilate that area for one additional hour.

Negative Points Of Flea Bombs

Flea bombs and other total release sprays are not a particularly good way to apply insecticides.

  • The bombs produce droplets that are too large to stay suspended in air.

  • This is a gross spray of the infested area and does not disperse to every crack and crevice in the room and any surface that is hidden by furniture is not treated.

  • Another negative is that surfaces that don't need to be treated, such as table tops, food preparation areas, and open shelves well get sprayed with insecticide unless they are well protected.

Make Use Of Pump Sprayers

It is recommended that pump sprayers be used for applying insecticides. The operator can carefully place insecticides exactly where they are needed — under and behind furniture and not on table tops. Also non-aerosol insecticides are cheaper than flea bombs or foggers. With aerosols you have to dispose of the empty can — some areas of the country consider these cans as a hazardous material and you must find a legal way to dispose of them. Hand pumps produce a large droplet so that it stays where the nozzle places the insecticide. Often insecticides are packaged within the hand pump spray bottle. The operator merely breaks the factory seal to use. These are both easy to use and very economical compared to flea bombs and foggers.