If you are a dog owner, then it is highly likely that you have had to deal with fleas and ticks at some point or other. Not only are these parasites a nuisance to our pets, but they are also troublesome to humans. Unfortunately, fleas are a common issue in doggy households, especially in the summer months.
Experienced dog owners know that when it comes to fleas, prevention is the best cure. And therefore, most of them use flea drops, flea collars, shampoos, baths, and powders to prevent fleas on their beloved pets. But what about the carpets? Fleas drop their eggs in carpets and they can hatch when the time is right, leading to a re-infestation. That is why you need to ensure eliminating fleas from the carpets too.
So let us find out what to do about these fleas. We will also discuss flea powders for carpets and the best brands available.
Does flea powder for carpets work?
Yes, good quality flea carpets are as effective as the best flea spray for home and furniture. They kill all four stages of fleas: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult fleas. Thus, they help break the lifecycle of fleas and control and prevent re-infestation for nearly 6-12 months. Flea powders for carpets must definitely be used as part of an integrated pest management approach to eliminate fleas. What this means is: you must not rely solely on this method of killing fleas.
What is the best flea treatment for carpets and furniture?
As stated before, flea carpet powders are safe and effective but they are not the sole method for flea elimination. You need to use multiple steps to eliminate fleas. Here are the most effective steps for the best flea treatment to ensure complete flea removal:
- Start with your pet. Bathe him well using anti-flea shampoo. Use flea drops or flea collar, once he is dry. Check with your veterinarian about the dose and how many times to reapply the medicine.
- Conduct a comprehensive survey of your home paying special attention to where your dogs or cats sleep. Look out for dried flea feces, blood, and other debris fleas leave behind.
- Thoroughly clean all these areas by vacuuming carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, curtains, beds, and linen. You will even have to wash some of these items in hot water, bleach, and detergent. After the wash cycle, dry these items on hottest setting of the dryer. This will ensure killing all of the eggs, larvae, and pupae. You must launder all pet bedding once a week.
- Thoroughly sprinkle the flea powder for carpets on the rugs, couches, sofas, dog beds, mattresses, box springs, etc.
- Leave the flea carpet powder in place overnight (or for 24 hours at least0. Next morning, vacuum the treated areas. It is best to delay vacuuming for 24 hours after application. This will give the flea powder adequate time to work on fleas.
- Repeat application (and vacuuming) every 3 days to get rid of newly hatched fleas.
Is flea carpet powder safe?
Good quality flea powders are completely safe. You can even use it around young puppies and kittens. Most flea powders contain an Insect Growth Regulator or IGR; namely pyrethrin. IGRs break the cycle of fleas and prevent and control re-infestation for months. The best part is that flea powders also leave a pleasant scent in your home and end up not only killing fleas but also deodorizing the house.
Having said so, a few humans and dogs have had a bad allergic reaction to certain brands of flea powders for carpets. Based on flea powder reviews, some people have had headaches, watery eyes, itchy skin, and burning of the lungs due to the airborne dust left behind by fine powders. A few pets have experienced vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite with such powders. Some dogs refused to enter the home after it was treated with strongly-scented flea powders.
Caution: Some cats and kittens have died due to the use of certain pyrethrin based carpet flea powders. Always speak to a vet before use.
Best flea powder reviews
Adams Carpet Flea Powder
Adams is a big name when it comes to fleas and tick management. Adams flea powder for carpets is one of the bestsellers as far as carpet flea powders are concerned. Here are the pros and cons based on honest flea powder reviews about Adams carpet flea powder:
Pros
- Effective. People who use this powder have not seen fleas for nearly 6 months.
- Has a pleasant lemon scent
- Fleas die within a few hours; you will see dead fleas in your vacuum
- Prevent re-infestation for months.
Cons
- Very fine dust blows up everywhere when you sprinkle it. So cover up your mouth and nose with a mask.
- One can isn’t enough to get the job done. You will need at least 3-4 cans to cover an entire home of approximately 900 square feet.
- It tends to clog up certain types of vacuum cleaners.
- Leaves a residue on wooden floors.
- Contains pyrethrins and pyrethroids which are harmful to cats.
- Residual fragrance can be annoying to some people and tends to last for weeks.
Zodiac carpet powder for fleas
Zodiac flea powder for carpets and rugs has a strong fruity scent and powerful action that eliminates fleas within hours. Here are some of the pros and cons of the product:
Pros
- Has a fresh citrusy scent
- Controls infestations for nearly 12 months
- 3 cans of 16 oz each can treat an area of up to 400 square feet.
Cons
- The powder is difficult to distribute everywhere as it is very fine.
- Be prepared for some heavy-duty vacuuming and cleaning.
- Some users found the scent too strong; many experienced a headache after use.
- People with sensitive skin experienced rashes. Some users reported burning of eyes with Zodiac flea powder for carpets and rugs.
- A few pets experienced vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Some dogs refused to enter the home after this was used.
Bio Spot Active Care Flea and Tick Powder for Carpets and Upholstery
The active ingredients in Bio Spot Flea and Tick powder for carpets are linalool and Pyrethrins. These kill fleas, eggs, larvae, and pupae and break their lifecycle. Here are the pros and cons of Bio Spot Flea and Tick powder for carpets:
Pros
- Starts working on contact
- Prevents re-infestation for almost a year
- Leaves your carpets smelling fresh.
Cons
- It is toxic to kittens; some reviews have mentioned that their pet kittens died following the use of this flea powder.
- Did not work for very large infestations.
- Has a strong chemical odor which some people could not tolerate.
Sentry flea and tick carpet powder
This is a must-have anti-flea product for people who have pets. It kills fleas and brown dog ticks and works on all life cycle stages.
Pros
- Works not only on larvae, pupae, eggs, and adult fleas but also on all stages of brown ticks.
- It prevents a re-infestation for nearly 7 months.
- Easy to use
Cons
- Harsh smell that refuses to go away
- Not safe for use around young pets and kids.
Conclusion
Pets are everything to some people but the fact that they bring in fleas and ticks is also inevitable. Thankfully, you do not have to suffer horrible bites on your ankles and legs, owing to fleas. Use flea powders for carpets from time to time, and vacuum regularly to minimize chances of re-infestation. Always use good spot-treatment for flea control in order to ensure keeping fleas away for good!