Flea foggers: what they do and what works instead

University of Kentucky entomologists don't recommend foggers for fleas. The pesticide goes up into the air and settles on open surfaces, so it often doesn't reach the places where young fleas develop, such as deep in carpet, under furniture and beneath cushions.²

They add that very little fogger spray gets into cracks and other hidden places, and that the ingredients tend to drive insects deeper into walls and crevices. A spray aimed where the pests are works better, and that includes fleas.³

The EPA's safety steps for foggers:¹

• Use the right size. Read the label for the space it covers. Too much spray can build up flammable vapor. Use no more than one fogger per room, and never in a small closed space like a closet or cabinet.
• Keep it away from flames and sparks. Place it at least six feet from pilot lights and from appliances that switch on and off, such as a refrigerator or air conditioner.
• Tell everyone. Make sure family members, neighbors and anyone else who might come in knows not to enter.
• Get everyone out, pets too. Stay out for the time on the label, usually two to four hours.
• Air it out. When you come back, open the doors and windows before you stay.

Remove children, pets, toys and uncovered food first, and keep the Poison Control number, 1-800-222-1222, handy.¹ Kentucky's entomologists add that people with asthma can react badly to pyrethrins, a common fogger ingredient, and that the spray settles on counters, bedding and furniture.³

Kentucky's flea guide starts with the pet. Most adult fleas live on the dog or cat, not in the carpet, so treating the pet is the step you can't skip. They suggest asking a veterinarian which product fits your pet, and never using a carpet or yard product on an animal.²

For the house, the same guide says to:²

• Clear the floors of toys, clothes and stored things, and wash the pet's bedding.
• Vacuum thoroughly, above all where pets rest and sleep, along the edges of rooms and under furniture and cushions. Seal the vacuum bag in a garbage bag and put it in an outdoor bin.
• Spray where fleas grow, if you treat: carpets, rugs, and under beds, furniture and cushions where pets sleep, with a product whose label lists an adult flea killer and an insect growth regulator. Keep people and pets off until it dries.
• Keep vacuuming. Expect to see some fleas for a few weeks as new ones hatch. If adult fleas are still around after four weeks, the house or the pets may need treating again.

Kentucky's guide says a pest control company can treat the home for you if you'd rather not do it yourself.² A one-time general pest treatment runs $100 to $600 by published national ranges.^4-7 That range isn't a quote. What pest control costs has the rest of the published ranges, and you can get quotes from pest control companies near you.

If you're not sure fleas are the cause, Bed bugs, chiggers, fleas or dust mites: what's biting you? covers how to tell.