Izzie from Redmond, Wa writes
We have a mild infestation of fleas. Thinking of applying permethrin on all the carpets.
We recommend using an insecticide and an IGR when treating for fleas. While most permethrin products would be considered safe for people and pets once the application is competely dry, there are newer products which do not have the petroleum distillates found in most permethrin products or have the odor of them. One great product for indoor flea control is PT Alpine Flea and Bed Bug Aerosol, which is a ready-to-use product that includes an insecticide and IGR in one product. This specific product is classified as a Reduced Risk pesticide by the EPA. It is easy to apply and dries quickly and evenly. You can purchase this product alone or in our Indoor Flea and Tick Kit which includes the CimeXa Dust, also. Most flea treatment products last about 14 days for indoor treatment since this is the recommended retreatment interval for this pest. We recommend treating every 14 days for fleas as long as you continue to see flea activity. This is in addition to vacuuming indoors every day or every other day and treating pets with products approved for this use. We discuss these and other tips in more detail in our online Flea Treatment Guide here. If you still have more of your IGR concentrate and prefer using an insecticide concentrate as well, then Zenprox EC is a great choice for use indoors. It comes in a convenient 2 oz bottle and also a pint. Diatomaceous earth can be used either as a crack and crevice treatment for general pest control, or it can be worked into carpeting using a broom or carpet brush for flea control (be sure the product you have is labeled for this use). It will not interfere with other treatments when used correctly. Let us know if you have additional questions anytime.
Answer last updated on: 11/30/2018
