Flea fumigation is one method of control that lots of homeowners will rather adopt when faced with a difficult pest problem.
While fumigation is a viable option to consider, several questions need to be answered when it comes to getting rid of fleas. Not just any answer will suffice.
In other words, satisfactory answers need to be given to common questions raised. We seek to achieve just that with this article.
Join us as we discuss the procedures involved, preparation, chemicals used, time is taken for the process and how long the effect lasts.
Are there health risks to fumigating fleas? What are the common safety tips? These and several other points will be discussed.
This article is a comprehensive guide that’ll explain all you need to know about flea fumigation.
Flea Fumigation Procedure
Effective flea fumigation relies heavily on some defined steps. This helps achieve the objective; fast and comprehensive flea extermination.
Fleas find their way indoors through your pets.
These insects feed on blood. It doesn’t matter whether such blood is yours or your pet’s. Apart from feeding on blood, fleas also harbor diseases. Their feeding activity makes it easy to transmit such diseases.
Before fumigating for fleas, there needs to be a need for it.
In other words, an exterminator will need to assess an infested area before fumigation is recommended. Inspection of the infested area includes assessing the indoor and outdoor environments. Fleas in indoor environments originate from the outdoors.
Due to this fact, you’d need to fumigate your outdoor surroundings for effective control.
Fumigation involves the application of gaseous chemicals or pesticides. These chemicals are also known as fumigants. By poisoning fleas, such fumigants help tackle the problem directly.
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Treatment Plan
This is a part of the extermination procedure which involves drawing out a plan based on your circumstances.
Drafting a treatment plan only comes after an assessment. The situation on the ground, as well as the assessment, will help determine whether fumigation is the best approach.
If it’s not, other methods will be recommended by the exterminator.
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Fumigants
Fumigants used for flea control are varied.
However, certain chemicals are preferred over others due to several reasons. One such feature includes having a residual impact or after-effects.
The residual impact of certain fumigants lingers for considerable lengths of time and can last up to 2 weeks, a month, or more.
During this time, fleas (and other insects) are exterminated when they come in contact with such surfaces. Flea larvae and eggs aren’t left out either.
Fumigants are dispersed over surfaces in a fine mist using a spray or similar equipment.
i. Insect Growth Regulator
Good flea fumigants come with an insect growth regulator. This consists of a chemical that is known to inhibit the life cycle of fleas.
The inhibition significantly alters their life cycle and is most effective at the larval stages of development.
ii. Active Ingredients
A good flea fumigant must also have powerful active ingredients such as fipronil and permethrin. These compounds have instant effects on fleas.
Fleas are exterminated once they come in contact with this class of chemicals.
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Preparing for Flea Fumigation
This is one of the most basic actions which must be taken before the commencement of fumigation.
Preparation is of great importance and helps limit risks associated with fumigant use. Your exterminator should be able to tell you some of the things you should put away.
We’ve included a few of these and they include the following;
Food and cooking utensils should be covered and stored properly. This prevents the mist from fumigation chemicals to settle on them. To further reduce health risks, stored utensils should be properly washed after fumigation.
Do you have pets? Pets should first be treated for fleas and then removed from your home during fumigation. Pet bedding should be treated separately as well.
The last step involves moving out of your home during fumigation to prevents the inhalation of poisonous gases.
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Post Fumigation Guidelines
After your home has been fully fumigated for fleas, you should take certain precautionary measures.
These precautions include allowing sufficient time to pass for surfaces to dry out.
You must have cleaned your home before fumigation. After fumigation, you should not rush to start cleaning again. This is because the residue from fumigants will continue acting on fleas, larvae, and eggs, so don’t hurry to clean areas such as your carpets.
Proper aeration is highly essential. This can’t be stressed enough. It should be the first step you take when stepping into your home.
Open the doors and windows and put on the fan or AC units to help with aeration. Stay out for at least 20 to 30 minutes to allow for thorough ventilation.
Here is a guide showing how long you should wait after fumigation before returning home.
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Chemicals Used For Flea Fumigation
A chemical must meet certain criteria to qualify as an effective flea fumigant. There are many brands out there, each boasting of its efficacy against fleas and other insects.
We won’t be able to list all of them. However, a few of the most popular ones have been included. This does not mean the listed chemicals are more effective than those which were not mentioned.
Common flea fumigation chemicals include Nitenpyram, Spinosad, Pyriproxyfen, Imidacloprid, and Fipronil. Others are Lufenuron and Selamectin.
These are fast-acting chemicals, with strong after-effects that continue to exterminate fleas long after application.
For non-professional use, ensure you follow all safety guidelines to substantially limit exposure risks.
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How Long to Wait After Each Type of Agent Used
We’ve mentioned some of the common fumigant agents used. Each of these products comes with unique features. Instead of dwelling on each characteristic, we are should also be concerned with the time it takes for the chemicals to fully act on fleas.
Nitenpyram, for instance, is orally administered to pets. It takes only 30 minutes to begin acting on fleas. This isn’t a fumigant, yet is used in conjunction with fumigants to achieve the best results possible.
Most flea fumigants will require from 3 to 12 hours to fully act on fleas.
The type of fumigant used will determine the waiting time. Time is also critical to safety. You must wait out the period specified before returning to your home.
Not doing this may result in inhaling toxic chemicals. This precaution also applies to kids and pets.
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Health Risks and Safety Tips
Before settling for any fumigation method, inherent risks must be fully assessed. Taking a measured approach helps in preventing deadly exposure to toxic chemicals.
There are also safety tips you must observe as they help curtail your exposure to harmful chemicals.
Flea fumigation-related health risks come mainly from exposure. By inhaling toxic chemicals, you expose yourself to all its potentially adverse effects.
After exposure, common symptoms you may notice include nausea, vomiting, secretion of excess saliva, laborious breathing, itchy skin, coughing, and red eyes.
These are some of the abnormal signs you’d notice when exposed to fumigants.
i. Safety Tips
It’s best to use the services of a licensed and professional exterminator.
This way, your safety concerns are adequately addressed. An exterminator gives you all the expert advice needed to protect you from exposure to harmful chemical fumigants.
However, for this to be effective, you must adhere to all of such instructions.
There is also the need to prepare for flea fumigation. This is because your exterminator won’t tell you everything.
You need to make your research (like you’re doing now) by reading on the best ways to safeguard against toxic fumigant exposure.
- The most obvious action you must take includes getting everyone out of the house as well as your pets.
- Proper storage of food is also necessary. You must place all food into secure containers and store them in a refrigerator. Nylofume bags can also be used in sealing food.
- Medications should be removed too.
- Consider excluding, removing, or covering anything which may be consumed or applied to the body.
These safety tips should be sufficient to ensure an incident-free fumigation exercise. Also, discuss with your exterminator to find out if you’ve skipped a crucial safety step.
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Flea Fumigation Side Effects and What to Do
We’ve highlighted some common side effects associated with exposure to fumigant fumes.
These signs may develop as a result of getting in too early, improper ventilation after fumigation or not using protective gear during application.
The side effects are signs that your body shows to let you know that all is not well.
The best way to handle exposure is by calling for immediate medical attention. In many cases, exposures can be life-threatening and should be treated in record time.
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Cleaning Up
After fumigation, there’s a need to clean up dead fleas. This phase shouldn’t be rushed.
- Allow for sufficient time to pass before cleaning, say at least a week or more.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to clean up your carpets and floors, as well as couches for dead fleas.
Flea fumigation is something you must carefully assess and implement for maximum benefit. This is because getting everything right depends on the strategies you adopt.
Another good solution you should check out is killing fleas using heat treatment.
Overall, we have provided practical information on the best ways to fumigate fleas and we strongly believe you should get satisfactory results following the steps above.
