These small spray bottles are designed to be set up in the home, usually in the middle of the affected room, and set off. The insecticide spray then permeates the home, carpets and other areas, killing fleas, as well as flea eggs and larva. At least, that's the idea.
Is it really that easy?
Flea bombs often seem like the ideal solution, since they're quite easy to use, and seem like a simple, low maintenance way to control fleas. However, the indirect application of insecticides to your carpets, pet bedding, or other areas that might be infested with fleas, is much less effective than applying them directly.
What's a better way?
A better way to apply spray insecticides is directly to the areas infested with fleas. In most homes with pets, this usually means the pet's bed and bedding, carpets, and any other ares the pet frequents. The advantage of applying insecticide spray directly is that you can use much less of the toxic substance.
flea powder
In addition, when you apply the spray by hand, as opposed to setting off a bomb in the middle of your living room, you can move furniture and other obstacles, and apply the spray to the exposed area. Flea bombs do not allow you this flexibility.
Use a multi-pronged approach for best success
This website is dedicated to providing you with the most accurate and helpful information on flea control. As you will see, the best approach involves treating the infestation in your home as well as your pet. If doesn't make much sense to treat one and not the other, since one will just re-infest the other if they're not both treated.
So, although it might be tempting to just buy a couple of flea bombs, set them off in your house, and call it a day, for the best long term results you will probably have to take a more careful and comprehensive approach. Fortunately, with careful and consistent care, you can eliminate fleas from your life for good.
For many people, treated flea collars seem like a safe and convenient method to control fleas on their pets. Unfortunately, despite what manufacturers may claim, collars alone are not very effective at controlling fleas. Flea collars generally work in one of two ways - either by emitting a toxic gas, or by releasing toxins that are absorbed into the layer of fat beneath the pet's skin.
The toxic gas method is usually only effective in the immediate area of the collar, i.e. the pet's head and neck. These collars are best used in vacuum cleaner bags, where the gas is contained, and can be effective against fleas that are vacuumed up.
Flea collars that release toxins that are absorbed into the fat layer are much more effective. These can contain pyrethrins, as well as IGR's, or insect growth regulators that inhibit flea egg and larva growth. Remember, controlling the early stages of the flea life cycle is just as important as killing adult fleas.
Ask your vet for recommendations bout the best collar for your pet. Some ingredients, such as permethrins, should not be used on cats. Your vet should be able to recommend, and even provide, the best flea collar option for your pet.
