We are referred to you as the best source for do-it-yourself pest control.
After renters departed (with their 3 pitbulls)…
After 1 week the room the dogs were in was flea infested. We treated with store bought products
After 2 wks fleas had spread through-out house, We again treated while painting.
After 3 wks we bombed.
Now there are small fleas still inside
Yard was had annual termite treatment and flea treatment during this time
Please help! House is 1700sq ft, Screen porch/pool area 1200sq ft.
What product and application will solve this so we can rent our house. Only 4 rooms have carpet.
First, you should read through our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE so you can learn what's happening. As you will find out, our FLEA TRAPS will be a big help given the set of circumstances surrounding your current infestation. Rental properties can be real headache when it comes to flea control but with the right products and some diligence, the fleas can be defeated.
You don't mention if there is anyone living in the house now nor do you mention if there are any pets. This will ultimately factor in when deciding what will be your best treatment option. At this point (if there is no one and no pets in the home), I would say to apply the ONCE A YEAR GRANULES to the carpeting. Next, install FLEA TRAPS throughout. Wait 3-6 days and then start spraying over the surface with PERMETHRIN EC to kill off any adult fleas the traps aren't catching. The combination of Flea Granules, people moving in the house and the Flea Traps should get the pupa hatching and over the course of a few weeks, they should run out and the infestation should be over.
If there are tenants or pets in the home right now, you may have to adjust some of these recommendations. For more advice, give us a call at 1-800-877-7290. We're open Mon-Sat and can further advise on the phone.
I just came across your website and have a question for you. I have a flea problem. What I need to know is how can I get rid of my fleas by using some sort of non-toxic means? I have 3 dogs, a cat, a rabbit and I have birds (parrots to be exact) and am unable to use any toxins that pollute the air because the birds are very sensitive and the toxins can be absorbed through their skin and make them very sick or even kill them. I would appreciate any help you can give me. I bathe my dogs every other day and spray my cat with a pyrethrin (spelling?) spray. I vacuum my floors wash the dogs bedding. As I said, any help and advice would be appreciated.
Thank you,
T.
Non toxic flea control is best achieved with the ONCE A YEAR FLEA POWDER and the FLEA TRAPS we have featured in our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE. The granules are arguably the best flea product out there and in my opinion the most effective way to treat. I prefer it over sprays and aerosols and having used it many years, I've found it works better and is easier to employ as well. Additionally, neither pose a hazard to your pets – even when walked upon.
As our article explains, the Flea Trap is an excellent tool that when used with the Flea Granules will help you achieve the best results possible. Most homes will require 3-4 traps to get optimal results but it's well worth the investment. As long as you vacuum the "non rug" areas of the home – specifically the hardwood, tile or cement areas – you should be able to keep these untreated areas clean and free of the debris flea larvae need to prosper. In the carpet, the Flea Granules will provide long term control and after a few weeks following the initial treatment, you should be well on your way of achieving "flea free" status.
One last note; start using the PETCOR on the pets to insure you are breaking the flea cycle that could be happening on them. Pyrethrin based spray by itself isn't going to break this cycle and as our article explains, this can be a major contributor to the problem.
Lastly, if you suspect there could be a problem outside, treat the yard as explained in our article.
Can your products be used on dogs? In particular the Stinger Stopper? What other products, if any, are safe to use on dogs?
Thank you,
C. in Georgetown, SC w/her dog who has developed allergies to insect bites!!
Stinger Stopper could be used on dogs but it would be overkill, a bit messy and more costly than a true "pet" option. If you go through our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you'll find we have several options listed which are designed for this issue. Dogs, cats and many animals can develop skin rash and allergy from insect bites. Fortunately there are specific products that are designed to both heal them and make the itching more tolerable.
First, the OXY MED ITCH RELIEF is ideal for spot treating the bites. It will get the pet to stop itching which in turn will stop skin irritation. At the same time you should start using MELALUCA SHAMPOO at least once a week. This will also promote healing and take away the itch. The big key is to stop using any kind of insect killer on them during the healing time so if there are fleas, mosquitoes or some other insect problem where the pet resides, be sure and take care of it ASAP. Allowing the insects to go untreated will not help the pet in the long run so this issue must be addressed at the same time.
If you need some help identifying the insect causing the bites, give our office a call at 1.800.877.7290 and one of our tech reps will be able to offer some advice.
We get a lot of questions about our Flea Trap. Most people are asking "what makes it so effective" and others are wondering if it "will work for my situation". The bottom line is that our Flea Trap does a great job of attracting and catching fleas in homes, apartments and most any structure. Keep one installed where you suspect fleas are active – especially if you don't have a pet or people moving much in the structure – since the trap does a great job of "rounding up" rogue fleas. Realtors and landlords should be especially interested since a vacant property full of fleas can't sell or rent. Install some Flea Traps and you'll see a big reduction of this menacing pest making the property a lot more marketable.
The following video shows the Flea Trap in detail along with some results after being installed for just one day.
I am looking at the First Defense product to help us deal with a flea problem. Our house is mostly hardwood floors, but we also have wall-to-wall carpets and rugs, including oriental rugs. I’d like to know whether the product can cause any damage to carpets or rugs, and whether it will leave any visible trace or residue on any of them, including ones with dark colors. Also, can you tell me whether the product lasts as long on woven rugs, which are not as thick and don’t have the same texture.
Thanks!
The once-a-year flea granules, First Defense, will not stain or discolor any rug when used properly. I don't think it could change the color of any carpet unless you pour a whole container out in one location and left it there for several weeks. Maybe then the color would fad a bit but I doubt it; the product is just not that caustic and has never shown any type of bleaching characteristic in all the years we've been selling it. If it did, someone would have said something. I personally have used it on all kinds of carpet and furniture varying in color from light to dark and it's never altered any of the treatment surfaces/material. And when applied as it's supposed to be applied ( as the following clips shows), for sure nothing will happen. As you can see, very little of it actually comes out so it's just not enough to really matter. In fact, once it settles in, you won't even know it's there.
On carpets with little to no nap like low laying oriental rugs, you can still use it but it definitely won't last as long. For obvious reasons, the product does vacuum up rather easily without long carpet fibers to hold it in place. First Defense typically adheres to the long strings of standard carpet fibers and on low profile rugs (carpet lacking long carpet fibers), it just doesn't do a good job of lasting as long as it normally can. If you are treating a situation with no current flea problem, I would stick with the First Defense and use it on these low risk rugs trying to hold off vacuuming them as long as possible. And remember, the vacuum can do a good job of removing all the flea eggs and other debris from oriental rugs and other low nap carpeting. It's the long string, more common wall to wall carpeting that poses the real risk and not these low nap area rugs. So even if you don't treat them with the First Defense, a good vacuuming can do wonders and will keep them flea free.
But if you really want to treat them (for example, if you have an active flea infestation and don't want to take any chances), go with the Precor 2000 listed in our Flea Control article. It's what we recommend for use on hardwood floors too so you'd have a few locations where you could put it to use anyway.
Lastly, don't forget to install some of the Heated Flea Traps. They do a great job of monitoring local activity and if you have an ongoing flea pupae problem, the traps will really make the problem more tolearble.
I ordered your product and in conjunction with Ultracide for my house, I am hoping to be rid of those dastardly fleas. I have 5 cats. They have never been outside a day in their life, but I have probably brought fleas in and have had 5 cats in misery despite the fact that for the past 4 months, they have been on Frontline Plus. Another mystery to me.
My cats have long hair and I have found it nearly impossible to get the spray through the hair and to their skin in all instances. I also worry as they try to clean themselves after I have sprayed. I sprayed them a week ago, and have noticed them scratching. Today, in combing, I was able to get 1 or 2 fleas from 3 of my 5 cats.
I worry that I will not get rid of these fleas before the weather changes and it is time to put on the heat. My question is … once I have treated the house, if the cats still have a flea or 2, will I have to treat the house again? Should I worry that they may have ingested a bit of the spray in their incessant grooming after being treated? And finally, if after being treated twice, do I need to try another strategy?
First, as explained in great detail in our FLEA CONTROL article, pets can many times accumulate adult fleas whether they are on Frontline or some other treatment. An adult flea can withstand these materials for several days so if the cat is in an environment which is producing fleas, expect them to keep getting more on them until the "flea factory" is shut down. Remember, products like Frontline are really targeting the larvae stage of fleas and are not well suited for dealing with adults.
Second, as also explained in our Flea Control article, in virtually every case of indoor pets that have fleas, the fleas are usually reproducing somewhere in the home. Since it only takes one flea hitching a ride on someone that enters the home to get the home infested, failure to treat the home annually will eventually lead to an outbreak (flea infestation). It sounds like this is currently the situation at your house at this time. We always recommend treating homes at least once a year for fleas whether you have them or not. Following this routine insures you'll never have to endure a flea problem; failure to treat is like rolling the dice at some game at Vegas: at some point your luck will run out. Take "luck" out of the equation and start doing some preventive treatments. This approach will hold off fleas effectively which in the long run will make it so much more comfortable for the people and pets of the household.
Third, as our article explains, the best product to use for such homes is the ONCE A YEAR FLEA GRANULES. This odorless, non spray approach is ideal when you have chemical sensitive pets active like cats. Since it only has to be applied once a year, it's also the easiest to employ. I strongly recommend you get some of this product applied regardless of the fact that you are planning on using the Ultracide. In fact, we recommend using the Flea Granules for carpet and furniture and then some PRECOR 2000 for any hardwood or tiled floors in the home. Ultracide is like Precor 2000 so using it on hardwoods or tiled floors would be the best place to employ it. We haven't seen it (or the Precor 2000) work that great on carpeted areas so we recommend the liquid or granules for these areas. If you wish to get the best results possible that will last the longest, follow this advice. If you stick to using just the Ultracide, expect to be doing several applications.
Additionally, you really need to employ some of the FLEA TRAPS we have listed in our article. Generally 2-3 are enough. Since they help collect the hatching pupae, complete control is obtained that much faster when you have some out. The flea traps will also spare your cats some discomfort since the traps will absorb some of the hatching fleas. This means less around to disturb the pets.
As for your concern about getting "rid of fleas before the weather changes"; your fear is unfounded. Fleas will thrive inside during any season if there are conditions conducive for their survival. And in cases where they have been breeding in the home from the start, like they have in your situation, the weather outside has no impact at all. Expect the present situation to continue until control measures are put in place.
As for your questions… Treating the house over and over will be needed if you only rely on the Ultracide. This is because it won't do anything for the hatching adults (as explained in our article) so you are forced to let the problem run it's course. This will take many weeks. Alternatively, if you apply the Once a Year Flea Granules, you'll break their cycle that much faster since the granules causes the pupae to hatch out faster than normal. And with some Flea Traps installed, even faster yet.
Regarding the pets and ingesting of the treatment; for the most part it's a non issue. You should only be applying a small amount to them and this amount should not have any impact. And as we explain in our article, it's most important to get the product deep down to their skin, which is where all the flea action is happening, so do take the time to rub it or brush it in if need be. Dipping a FLEA COMB and lightly combing them where their hair meets their skin is usually a great way to get good coverage on the most important part of their anatomy. The point is if you get it there where it really matters, you'll reduce the exposure to them (compared to just spraying their hair which they can lick pretty easily) and you'll be having a much greater impact on the source of the problem.
hello,
I am in a daze, and dont know what to do. we recently had a new furnace put in, and duck work. our crawlspaces, insolated. great. but 1 week latter we went into basement, and we were attacked, and covered in fleas.
we never had this problem before. no, fleas. we do have 6 dogs, but, I vacum 2 times daily. wash floors. the fleas are not upstairs,just in the basement. I have covered registers, to keep them from getting upstairs. I have a critically ill husband , and a citically ill son , in the home . I have empizema.
what do we do???????????????????????????
First, you need to read our on line FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE which will explain all you need to know about this pest. There are several things you'll learn but some of the important ones will be that first, they don't "travel" or migrate on their own so there is no risk of them moving to the other areas of the house. That being said, the other thing you'll learn is that the most common carrier or transporter are pets or people. So if anyone or any pet is going down to the basement, they could easily be transporting the problem to other locations in the home.
Second, 20-25% of our flea control customers are people who do not have pets so any house can get the problem. If you have a pet, the odds are much greater. If you have 6 pets? I don't know how you couldn't get them! As our Flea Control article explains, most animals present or active in the yard can carry fleas. This would include squirrels, chipmunks, cats, mice and anything that you see as well as many animals you don't see. As a pet owner – especially a dog owner – it's highly likely they are going outside into areas where fleas are active. All it takes is one flea jumping on one of your 6 dogs and it's game over: the house can get infested.
So, now that you have them, what should you do? All is explained in great detail in our Flea Control article with the link above but here is the brief summary of what I know will solve the problem and pose no hazard to you or your family.
I'm not sure if the pets, the basement or the yard is your "key" area so for now, I'm going to say you need to treat all three locations. Use the BIFEN GRANULES and the TEMPO to treat this area. Failure to treat where they most likely came from means you'll keep bringing more inside (as will the pets) so you cannot ignore these areas.
Next, get the dogs treated. The PETCOR will get all stages of the fleas and if you treat them 1-2 a week, you should be able to stop the vicious flea cycle that can effectively infest any home if given the chance.
Lastly, get the basement treated with the ONCE A YEAR FLEA POWDER and some FLEA TRAPS. I also recommend setting up some traps in the living area to make sure a problem doesn't develop where everyone is living.
Remember, this problem didn't happen overnight and it's not likely that it will be gone in a day. As our article explains, breaking the cycle can take weeks so have patience and keep going down in the basement to get the flea pupae to hatch out. This will really help get through the cycle completely and get them to "run out" the supply of eggs and pupae which will make conditions that much more tolerable.
Hello,
How are you? I am a potential customer who is looking for flea control products that really work. I am looking for my mother who is living in Taiwan, where is very humid and warm. She has been having flea problems for a long time, and she has been fighting with fleas without effective tools.
It seems like right now the main problem area is within her and my dad's long term unworn clothes. She was organizing the clothes one day and got tons of flea bites afterward. So we were wondering is there any kind of flea killing detergent that can be used with the clothes? Or the PERMETHRIN REPELLENT the only choice? Also, she personally prefers spray over other methods; which spray would you recommend to use on the furniture, curtains and rugs as to prevent from getting the fleas or to kill the fleas?
Your help would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you in advance and may you have a nice day!!
If you take a little time to review our extensive FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you will see we have several options that will help your Mother's situation. The one common product we mention a lot is Permethrin because you can get it in the AEROSOL form as well as a CONCENTRATED form that you can mix up and spray onto carpets, furniture and rugs. I would say for the clothing, get the PERMETHRIN AEROSOL and before she puts anything away, she can give the clothing a quick spray to insure it doesn't get contaminated.
As for the rest of the house, have them spray with the PERMETHRIN CONCENTRATE and NYLAR GROWTH REGULATOR tank mix. They'll have to apply these with a good PUMP SPRAYER and it will take 1-2 gallons to spray the average home but within a few weeks the problem should be cured.
I also think installing a few FLEA TRAPS would be wise. These will capture any rogue fleas as well as other local pests that could be a problem which would enable them to properly identify anything else that might be biting her.
Lastly, we do sell a type of a detergent that can be added to the laundry which is mostly designed to stop lice and bedbugs. But over the years, we have had people use it for fleas too. It comes in a little bottle and is known as KLEEN FREE. This might be the best option for them to use in the wash.
I've seen a few fleas on my cat and I know I have to treat the problem before it gets worse. I'm thinking the once a year flea granules would be a good choice since I hate to spray but I just want to make sure it's safe for her. Also, do you recommend flea traps? We're going to the vet today to make sure she's properly treated too.
It's fairly common to have a cat which gets some fleas so don't feel too badly. The key is to take care of the problem once it starts so the pet doesn't have to suffer needlessly. The ONCE A YEAR FLEA TREATMENT is a great way to treat the house. It's easy to apply, safe to the people and pets inside and lasts a long time. When done properly, treatments should last a year or more.
FLEA TRAPS should be installed if you're seeing fleas throughout the house which you didn't mention. As explained in our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, the pupae of the flea cannot be killed so seeing some following the treatment is to be expected. A few fleas would be tolerable but if you think there are too many around, set out some traps to help minimize this last phase of the problem. Usually within a few weeks the average problem is handled and no longer active.
Fleas seem to be everywhere in my house right now and I need to do something right away. I don't know if it's due to the excessive rain we've had or the heat or maybe both. But right now I see them on the dog and in my carpet and furniture. I have looked at your site and I like the carpet granules but can I still spray on top of it to kill all the adults instead of using just the traps? Also, is it ok to spray the furniture or is there something else I should use on it? I don't want to ruin any of the fabric.
Fleas have been quite active the past month so you're not alone. If you have a pet that goes outside, there is a good chance that it will be bringing in some fleas. If the home isn't pre treated with one of the products we have listed in our FLEAS ARTICLE, an infestation could blossom.
Clearly the ONCE A YEAR FLEA GRANULES are one of the best and easiest things you can do to treat the problem. They're both easy to apply, long lasting and highly effective. But since they don't kill adults, they do require some patience as you must wait for hatching pupae to run their course before the activity subsides. This can be quite painful if you have a lot of fleas.
To help deal with the current adult and hatching pupae, it's perfectly OK to spray over the top with some PERMETHRIN. This will offer immediate relief and won't affect the granules. Setting out some FLEA TRAPS can also help reduce the activity and is strongly recommended. In the end, it's usually a combination of both that will do the trick for fast results even though the granules by themselves will do the job over time.
Lastly, it should be OK to spray any furniture where fleas have been seen. If the fabric on the furniture is smooth, a good vacuuming on it will usually get rid of all the fleas, eggs and larvae so you shouldn't have to spray it but if you insist, test it first by spraying the underside of a cushion to see that the fabric is OK getting wet. Remember, it's mostly water you're spraying so if the fabric can withstand water, it should be fine. Good luck!
Could you tell me where I can buy these flea traps? I live in southern california.
At this time we don't know anyone that has our FLEA TRAPS in your region. But you can get them direct from us and we ship within one day. To Southern California, it usually only takes 3-4 days to arrive. Here is a link to it in our shopping cart where you can order on line which gets you a 5% discount as well: FLEA TRAPS
Do you carry any non-toxic spray for fleas and their eggs?
We have some really low impact type sprays and treatment options that you might can call a non-toxic spray for fleas. Mind you these won't work as quickly because they won't be acutely toxic. But they will be equally if not better in the long run. As explained in our FLEA CONTROL article, breaking the flea cycle is paramount to long term flea control.
Our favorite non-toxic flea product is the ONCE A YEAR FLEA TREATMENT. These boron based granules are like salt. Simply sprinkle them out over carpeted areas, broom them and leave them there for a year or more. They work by dehydrating flea egges and larvae so it's very effective for long term control. Unfortunately it's not going to do anything for the adult fleas so you should consider setting out some FLEA TRAPS to help with any that are active. The Traps will catch adult fleas quite well and this will make the residence livable.
Another option to consider is the ECO IC CONCENTRATE. This product is made from Food and will control many insects including fleas. You can read information we have posted on our NON TOXIC PEST CONTROL site; here is a direct link to the ECO IC.
I have a flea infestation and was wondering what kind of remedies you offer that would be safe to use. I don't like spraying because it takes so long for my carpets to dry. but right now the fleas are so bad my cat doesn't want to be on the floor and it seems like they're worse than ever before. Is there something I can use that will be safe for my pet and still be effective?
Fleas can readily take over any house or apartment if given the chance. Areas left untreated can quickly become a flea breeding ground inside as explained in our FLEA CONTROL article. Cats, dogs and many other common household pets can all contribute to such an infestation and though most people think fleas come from "outside", in most cases the key to getting rid of the fleas is to treat inside.
Flea infestation remedies range from liquid to aerosol to powder to granules. Clearly products like PRECOR 2000 and PERMETHRIN and NYLAR applied to carpeting and hardwood floors can do wonders at reducing the local flea population. But the ONCE A YEAR FLEA GRANULES are very effective and one of the most mild treatment options currently available. Odorless and long lasting, I suggest this flea remedy quite often and our customers love it. Simply sprinkle it out, broom it into the carpet and you're done for a good year. Combine this treatment with some FLEA TRAPS and you'll be able to keep the house protected without having the inconvenience of normal flea sprays.
My dog has been suffering with a lot of flea bites from a recent problem we had in the house. I got your once a yr flea powder and some traps and that has worked wonders. Now I'm hoping you have something that can help my dog! Any suggestions for her irritated skin?
Flea bites on a person or pet can lead to a skin condition. We've seen some bad situations over the years so it's fairly common. Some time ago we started selling a MELALEUCA SHAMPOO which works wonders. Combine it with the OXY ITCH SPRAY and I think you'll see a fast turnaround. The scratching should subside after the shampoos and with the spray applied, the bites should heal nicely. Give it 10-14 days and be sure to treat daily if needed.
I've been using flea bombs over and over and I don't think they're working. Did they change something in the formulation? This year the fleas are so bad I bomb and then like the next day I have fleas again. What's going on? My cat is staying up on the countertop and I think that makes harder for me and my husband. Funny thing is this year even he is getting bit so it must be bad!!!! What can I do?
Flea bombs or total release aerosols aren't going to provide real flea control in the home. Once the flea cycle is established, it will take a few treatments with one of our professional grade products to get the flea cycle stopped. For now, I suggest you review our online article about FLEA CONTROL. In the article you'll learn why this pest is such a problem once the flea cycle is started. You'll also learn all the treatment options are both tried and true.
Once you do some reading you should be able to decide if you want to spray with some PERMETHRIN and IGR or if you are more inclined to use the ONCE A YEAR FLEA TREATMENT. If you set this powder out along with some FLEA TRAPS, you'll eventually get the cycle broken and the problem will be pretty much under control. To help during the last part of the problem, you might want to use some FLEA BOMBS but again, they're really only good at killing the hatched out adults and till you have either the spray or granules listed above applied, I wouldn't be using anything else.
