Difference between revisions of "Flea Bomb a House"
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| − | + | Flea Bombs spray a continuous stream of pesticides designed to treat a large area all at once. When used properly, they are an effective method of treating flea infestations. This article will show you how to safely use a flea bomb in your home. | |
== 10 Second Summary == | == 10 Second Summary == | ||
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== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Preparing the House=== | ===Preparing the House=== | ||
| − | #Calculate the square footage of the area you will be treating. Flea bombs come in a variety of sizes depending on the brand and chemicals they contain. In general you will need 1 bomb per room you are treating; however in some cases, 1 bomb in a hallway adjacent to open doors can treat multiple rooms. Read the label carefully to determine the size of the area the product treats.<ref>http://www2.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/safety-precautions-total-release-foggers</ref> | + | #Calculate the square footage of the area you will be treating. Flea bombs come in a variety of sizes depending on the brand and chemicals they contain. In general you will need 1 bomb per room you are treating; however in some cases, 1 bomb in a hallway adjacent to open doors can treat multiple rooms. Read the label carefully to determine the size of the area the product treats.<ref name="rf15558">http://www2.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/safety-precautions-total-release-foggers</ref> |
#Purchase a quality brand flea bomb. Ask your veterinarian for his or her advice on which products they recommend. Check with friends and family for their opinions on the effectiveness of a flea bomb they might have used, or check online for feedback and reviews. Ask sales associates at your local home improvement or hardware store for any information they may have concerning flea bombs, but always back up what you're told by a retailer with your own quality research. | #Purchase a quality brand flea bomb. Ask your veterinarian for his or her advice on which products they recommend. Check with friends and family for their opinions on the effectiveness of a flea bomb they might have used, or check online for feedback and reviews. Ask sales associates at your local home improvement or hardware store for any information they may have concerning flea bombs, but always back up what you're told by a retailer with your own quality research. | ||
#Read the package instructions completely. Most flea bombs operate in similar ways. Ensure that you have read the directions carefully and fully prior to setting off the flea bomb in your home. | #Read the package instructions completely. Most flea bombs operate in similar ways. Ensure that you have read the directions carefully and fully prior to setting off the flea bomb in your home. | ||
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#Open doors and drawers. Open all doors to infested rooms so the chemicals from the flea bomb can kill the fleas. Open cabinet doors and drawers to kill fleas inside furniture. | #Open doors and drawers. Open all doors to infested rooms so the chemicals from the flea bomb can kill the fleas. Open cabinet doors and drawers to kill fleas inside furniture. | ||
#Remove eating utensils, food, small appliances, and crockery. Remove such items from open cabinet doors or drawers to keep them away from the spray. Storing items away from the chemicals is much easier than cleaning them when the flea bomb is finished. | #Remove eating utensils, food, small appliances, and crockery. Remove such items from open cabinet doors or drawers to keep them away from the spray. Storing items away from the chemicals is much easier than cleaning them when the flea bomb is finished. | ||
| − | #Cover your tabletops, countertops, special furniture and electronic equipment. The chemicals from the flea bomb can soil furniture, tables and countertops or damage electronic equipment. Cover these items with sheets or plastic tarps to prevent damage.<ref>http://fleacures.com/flea-bombs/</ref> | + | #Cover your tabletops, countertops, special furniture and electronic equipment. The chemicals from the flea bomb can soil furniture, tables and countertops or damage electronic equipment. Cover these items with sheets or plastic tarps to prevent damage.<ref name="rf15559">http://fleacures.com/flea-bombs/</ref> |
#*Old sheets can be found easily at your local thrift store. Plastic painting tarps are available from hardware and auto stores. | #*Old sheets can be found easily at your local thrift store. Plastic painting tarps are available from hardware and auto stores. | ||
#Seal up or move your fish tank. Chemicals in a flea bomb are dangerous to fish. If you can't move your fish tank to another location, cover it up well and seal it tightly with plastic wrap. | #Seal up or move your fish tank. Chemicals in a flea bomb are dangerous to fish. If you can't move your fish tank to another location, cover it up well and seal it tightly with plastic wrap. | ||
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#Close all windows prior to treatment. Make sure that the flea bomb chemicals do not leak outside the house and have maximum effectiveness by closing all openings to the outside prior to treatment. | #Close all windows prior to treatment. Make sure that the flea bomb chemicals do not leak outside the house and have maximum effectiveness by closing all openings to the outside prior to treatment. | ||
===Treating the House=== | ===Treating the House=== | ||
| − | #Vacuum and clean your house immediately prior to treatment. The vibrations from a vacuum cleaner cause flea larvae to emerge making your flea bomb treatment as effective as possible.<ref>http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7419.html</ref> | + | #Vacuum and clean your house immediately prior to treatment. The vibrations from a vacuum cleaner cause flea larvae to emerge making your flea bomb treatment as effective as possible.<ref name="rf15560">http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7419.html</ref> |
| − | #Remove all dirty laundry from the house. Flea eggs and larvae may find shelter in piles of dirty clothes. Ensure that you have laundered all of your clothes, or bag the clothes and take to a laundry mat while you are bombing the house.<ref>http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/on-dealing-with-fleas-once-and-122456</ref> | + | #Remove all dirty laundry from the house. Flea eggs and larvae may find shelter in piles of dirty clothes. Ensure that you have laundered all of your clothes, or bag the clothes and take to a laundry mat while you are bombing the house.<ref name="rf15561">http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/on-dealing-with-fleas-once-and-122456</ref> |
#Position the flea bombs on newspaper or plastic bags in the middle of the rooms you are treating. Placing a protective covering under the flea bomb will prevent the residues from the product from staining the floor directly around the flea bomb. | #Position the flea bombs on newspaper or plastic bags in the middle of the rooms you are treating. Placing a protective covering under the flea bomb will prevent the residues from the product from staining the floor directly around the flea bomb. | ||
#Ensure all the flea bombs are in place prior to activating any of the bombs. Once a flea bomb is activated you should vacate the house immediately to prevent illness due to pesticide exposure. | #Ensure all the flea bombs are in place prior to activating any of the bombs. Once a flea bomb is activated you should vacate the house immediately to prevent illness due to pesticide exposure. | ||
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#Stay out of the house. Avoid unnecessary exposure to the chemicals in a flea bomb by keeping all pets and people out of the house for 2 to 4 hours. Read the label carefully to determine the recommended time frame to be away from the house. | #Stay out of the house. Avoid unnecessary exposure to the chemicals in a flea bomb by keeping all pets and people out of the house for 2 to 4 hours. Read the label carefully to determine the recommended time frame to be away from the house. | ||
#Treat your pet for fleas. While you are away from the home it is important to remove fleas from your pet so they do not bring them back into the home as soon as you return. | #Treat your pet for fleas. While you are away from the home it is important to remove fleas from your pet so they do not bring them back into the home as soon as you return. | ||
| − | #* Ask your veterinarian about pills containing nitenpyram<ref>http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/archives/fdaDrugInfo.cfm?archiveid=13672</ref> to kill any adult fleas that are on your pet. | + | #* Ask your veterinarian about pills containing nitenpyram<ref name="rf15562">http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/archives/fdaDrugInfo.cfm?archiveid=13672</ref> to kill any adult fleas that are on your pet. |
#* Bathe your pet with a flea controlling shampoo. | #* Bathe your pet with a flea controlling shampoo. | ||
#* Take your pet to a groomer to get a professional flea treatment or dip. | #* Take your pet to a groomer to get a professional flea treatment or dip. | ||
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#Clean your house when you return. Dead fleas, chemical residue and a coating of dust are common things to find after a flea bomb treatment. Vacuum and mop floors thoroughly, clean tables and countertops, wash sheets and clothes, and wash all surfaces. | #Clean your house when you return. Dead fleas, chemical residue and a coating of dust are common things to find after a flea bomb treatment. Vacuum and mop floors thoroughly, clean tables and countertops, wash sheets and clothes, and wash all surfaces. | ||
#*It's recommended that you wear gloves when cleaning, and dispose of the gloves after cleaning to avoid picking up chemical traces on your skin. | #*It's recommended that you wear gloves when cleaning, and dispose of the gloves after cleaning to avoid picking up chemical traces on your skin. | ||
| − | #Open windows to ventilate the house and reduce odors. The smell of the pesticides may persist for several hours or days after treatment. Open doors and turn on any ceiling or ventilation fans to help remove the odors from the flea bomb from the house.<ref>http://theorganicsinstitute.com/the-shocking-truth-about-air-fresheners/</ref> | + | #Open windows to ventilate the house and reduce odors. The smell of the pesticides may persist for several hours or days after treatment. Open doors and turn on any ceiling or ventilation fans to help remove the odors from the flea bomb from the house.<ref name="rf15563">http://theorganicsinstitute.com/the-shocking-truth-about-air-fresheners/</ref> |
| − | #Vacuum daily for 10-14 days. Daily vacuuming will remove any newly hatched adult fleas that may have survived the flea bomb.<ref>http://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/evr_multi_understanding_the_flea_life_cycle#</ref> | + | #Vacuum daily for 10-14 days. Daily vacuuming will remove any newly hatched adult fleas that may have survived the flea bomb.<ref name="rf15564">http://www.petmd.com/dog/parasites/evr_multi_understanding_the_flea_life_cycle#</ref> |
| − | #Be prepared for multiple treatments. Some products are not effective at killing flea eggs. Flea eggs and larvae may hatch days or weeks after your first treatment. Monitor your house and pets for several weeks following initial treatment to watch for signs of fleas.<ref>http://www.orkin.com/other/fleas/fleas-life-cycle/</ref> | + | #Be prepared for multiple treatments. Some products are not effective at killing flea eggs. Flea eggs and larvae may hatch days or weeks after your first treatment. Monitor your house and pets for several weeks following initial treatment to watch for signs of fleas.<ref name="rf15565">http://www.orkin.com/other/fleas/fleas-life-cycle/</ref> |
| − | #Monitor your pet for signs of re-infestation. Flea dirt or droppings appear as reddish brown specks on your pet. If your pet is scratching, use a flea comb to check under their fur for signs of flea dirt or adult fleas.<ref>http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Articles/flea_faq.cfm</ref> | + | #Monitor your pet for signs of re-infestation. Flea dirt or droppings appear as reddish brown specks on your pet. If your pet is scratching, use a flea comb to check under their fur for signs of flea dirt or adult fleas.<ref name="rf15566">http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Articles/flea_faq.cfm</ref> |
== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
