Since more than three-quarters of a flea's life is spent somewhere other than on the host animal, it is not adequate to treat only the host; it is important also to treat the host's environment. Thorough vacuuming, washing linens in hot water, and treating all hosts in the immediate environment (the entire household, for example) is essential for successful eradication. These steps should be performed on a regular basis. [4] Bathing dramatically reduces the flea population on a badly infested animal, especially when in combination with a mild detergent or shampoo and brushing or combing. After your home has been fully fumigated for fleas, you should take certain precautionary measures. Common flea fumigation chemicals include Nitenpyram, Spinosad, Pyriproxyfen, Imidacloprid, and Fipronil. Others are Lufenuron and Selamectin. Mr Craig Bond, Pan Pacific Hotels Group senior vice-president of operations, said one precautionary measure they are taking is encasing their mattresses with waterproof protectors.

In rare cases involving bedbug infestation, our hotels will immediately isolate the affected room and its surrounding areas for comprehensive cleaning and extermination procedures to ensure other rooms and guests remain unaffected,” he added.

Commercial Pest Control

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. The last step involves moving out of your home during fumigation to prevents the inhalation of poisonous gases.

These are fast-acting chemicals, with strong after-effects that continue to exterminate fleas long after application. 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. Temperature. Fleas cannot withstand high temperatures, so a turn through the dryer on medium or high kills fleas on clothing. [10]

Your Trusted Pest Control Experts

Gary R. Mullen; Lance A. Durden (April 22, 2009). Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-08-091969-0. Flea fumigation-related health risks come mainly from exposure. By inhaling toxic chemicals, you expose yourself to all its potentially adverse effects. 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. MHR oversees hotels in Singapore such as M Social, Orchard Hotel and Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

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. 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. Discover Entomology at Texas A&M University - Extension Publication E-433: Controlling Fleas". Insects.tamu.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-05-16 . Retrieved 2014-01-24.Mr Andy Tan, senior vice-president of global operations and partnership at Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR), said MHR conducts preventive maintenance programmes through a contracted professional pest controller to prevent bedbugs in its hotels. The residual impact of certain fumigants lingers for considerable lengths of time and can last up to 2 weeks, a month, or more.

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. For non-professional use, ensure you follow all safety guidelines to substantially limit exposure risks. 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. There is also the need to prepare for flea fumigation. This is because your exterminator won’t tell you everything.

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. Modern flea control is approached using integrated pest management (IPM) protocols at the host (pet) level. IPM is achieved by targeting fleas during at least two separate life stages, with at least two separate molecules. This is typically achieved using an adulticide to kill adult fleas and an insect development inhibitor (IDI), such as lufenuron, or insect growth regulator (IGR), such as methoprene, to prevent development of immature stages. 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. Potter, Daniel (1998). Destructive Turfgrass Insects: Biology, Diagnosis, and Control. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-57504-023-3. Before settling for any fumigation method, inherent risks must be fully assessed. Taking a measured approach helps in preventing deadly exposure to toxic chemicals.