Flea Treatments
Fleas have a reproduction cycle of three to five weeks, which means that their eggs take that long to mature and get ready to hatch. Until they hatch they are protected and are not affected (killed) by pest control products. Therefore, only long lasting products will end a flea infestation with one treatment.
Many people try bombs and sprays to treat for fleas. These products, whether over-the-counter or professionally applied, are designed to give a powerful toxic burst that lasts from a few hours to a couple of days. When their effects wear off, there is no protection against the new fleas that will hatch. Such short-term applications must be repeated several times over the five week period in order to kill the fleas that emerge from their cocoons. With any break in this treatment schedule, more eggs will be laid and the cycle starts all over again. This can be very troublesome for the home owner since an evacuation period is always necessary when using poisonous products.
The Eco Smart solution to this problem is to use products that are long-lasting, effective, and environmentally friendly for both the home and the yard. These products will end the flea infestation with one application. The indoor Eco Smart powder is less toxic than table salt, will not harm humans or pets, and requires no evacuation during treatment. The indoor carpet treatment works so well that we guarantee you will be flea free for one year!*
Below are detailed descriptions of the flea treatments offered by Eco Smart for your home and yard.
Home Powder Flea Treatment
Our service technicians apply the patented Eco Smart powder to all of the carpeted areas in the home. The Eco Smart powder is less toxic than table salt and pH neutral, so it will not cause skin irritations; it has no odor and will not harm humans or animals. The powder is machined deeply into the carpet fibers where the fleas burrow and lay their eggs. The Eco Smart powder is electro-statically charged so that it adheres to the carpet fibers within 48 hours. Since the powder stays in the carpeting, as the fleas hatch from the egg stage or the pupa stage they are exposed to the powder that will kill them. Fleas break out of their shell in one second, but it takes them several minutes to die, therefore they can still jump and bite but will not have a chance to lay new eggs. Since the flea reproduction cycle lasts three to five weeks, it will take that long to end the infestation.
It is important to keep in mind that fleas hatch only in response to the presence of a host, which they detect via motion, carbon dioxide and/or warmth. Therefore it is important that a person or pet walk around the treated area for at least 10 minutes a day to trigger the fleas into hatching. Doing so will significantly shorten the elimination period, whereas keeping a unit vacant will delay the elimination period. It should come as no surprise that if a vacant house is treated and nobody comes in regularly to trigger the fleas into hatching, the new owners or tenants will be treated to a mass hatching upon move in.
After three to five weeks, the home is completely free of fleas. As pets and people bring in new fleas into the home from the outside and the fleas drop off into the treated areas, those fleas will be exposed to the powder that remains in the carpeting and they will die before laying eggs. This self-maintaining treatment is guaranteed for one year. The application usually takes about an hour to complete depending on the size of your home.
Yard Granular Flea Treatment
For yard treatments, our service technicians use two products: one is a granular product that looks like and has the same consistency as beach sand, and the other is a liquid spray. The granule is impregnated with a long lasting time release formula that is moisture activated. This product is applied to the yard, concentrating on areas that your pet frequents. This granular product stays active for about three months, surpassing the three to five week reproductive cycle of the flea. Once the service technician has applied the granular product he then sprays the yard with a water based mixture that will activate the granules and will also kill any adult fleas. It will take three to five weeks for all the fleas to hatch and die. This outdoor treatment ends the cycle of the flea and provides long lasting protection.
As is the case for in-home treatments, it is important that a person or pet walk around the treated area for at least 10 minutes a day to trigger the fleas into hatching. Doing so will significantly shorten the elimination period, whereas keeping a yard vacant will delay the elimination period.
Home and Yard Spray Flea Treatment
When there is no infestation, the spray treatments are a good solution for the required pet treatments in real estate transactions or to satisfy a lease agreement when moving out of a rental property. The interior spray treatment for fleas consists of a one time spray of a non-staining, non-odorous water based mixture over the entire floor area of the home. Yards can also be sprayed to satisfy real estate transactions.
Because the reproductive cycle of the flea is three to five weeks and the residual effect of the spray is only approximately three to four days, the spray treatments are not a long term solution when there is an infestation; in the case of infestation the indoor powder treatment and the outdoor granular treatment will give superior results.
Important Guarantee Information*
Eco Smart will guarantee a fully treated and carpeted residence after the fleas’ five week reproductive cycle. The house or apartment must be all or mostly carpeted. Fogging and spray treatments for hard floors are not as long lasting and not guaranteed. The carpet must not be shampooed or steam cleaned during the guarantee period. We strongly recommend our Cedar Bug-Free spray for your pets.
