How Effective Is a Flea Fogger?

What is a Flea?

• Fleas are small, wingless parasites that live on the blood of animals. They cause irritation when they bite animals and humans. Fleas are an insect in the Siphonaptera family and they jump, rather than fly. This is one way to tell if a small insect is a flea or other small bug. If prevention isn't used, your household pets may bring fleas into your home, causing an infestation.
  
  

Are Flea Foggers Effective for Getting Rid of Fleas?

• If you are searching for ways to get rid of fleas, you've most likely seen flea foggers. They seem like a convenient option, since you're supposed to be able to set the foggers up around your house and let them do the work. They are rarely effective in getting rid of a flea problem, though. Foggers spray the pesticides up in the air and very little of it penetrates the hard-to-reach places where fleas live. Some of the ingredients in flea foggers act as a repellent, forcing fleas to hide deeper in hard-to-reach places.
  
  

Pesticides That are More Effective Than Foggers

• In addition to not being very effective, flea foggers are messy and require you to leave your house for part of the day. You will need to wash all of the surfaces that came in contact with fogging chemicals, including counters, cupboards, toys and dishes. This can be inconvenient and a considerable amount of work, especially for results that may not be effective. If you have a flea problem, consider other pesticides. You can use a spray that contains methoprene or pyriproxifen. Apply it directly to your carpets and any other surfaces. This will allow you to target all areas, unlike using a flea fogger. You will need to vacuum frequently and launder pet bedding during the application. It's still work, but is a more effective solution than flea foggers.
  
  

Preventing Infestations

• Flea foggers may seem convenient but they are not an effective way to get rid flea infestations. The best way is to use preventative measures. All animals in your house should be on some type of flea prevention. There are several options available, including oral treatments that contain lufenuron or "egg-stopper" collars. You may also be interested in spot-on treatments, like Frontline or Biospot. A treatment can be applied directly to your pet's shoulder blades and will last for one to three months. These will help prevent infestations so you don't have to deal with the hassles of flea foggers.