Steri-Fab Insecticide - Questions & Answers

Steri-Fab will kill mites that are on the surface, but it is usually hard to get the mites that are deep down in the fiber base of the rug.  Having the rug professionally cleaned will ensure that the fibers deep down near the base of the rug are treated as well.

Sterifab is labeled to be sprayed directly on mattresses and upholstered furniture. You can spray in a room that does not have a window but you should exit the room after the application and give it about an hour to dry. Your mattress should be completely dry before putting the sheets back on and using it again. Sterifab provides a fast knockdown and kill to those bedbugs and bedbug eggs that are contacted with direct sprays of the product. Sterifab does not leave a long lasting residual so it should not be the only product you use to eliminate bedbugs. Please check out our Bedbug Kits to see the products we recommend you use for bedbug elimination.

While Steri-Fab Insecticide is not labeled for carpet beetles, it is alcohol based and could kill any sprayed directly, but we would not recommend it for them.  For indoor carpet beetle control you may want to consider a product such as Nyguard Plus. This product contains an insecticide to kill the roaming adults and an insect growth regulator to stop the harder to kill immature beetles from reaching a reproductive state which in turn will break the cycle of infestation. As an added bonus this product also contains a deodorizer for carpet applications.  It is also best to find and eliminate the source of the infestation to get complete control.  We have a great guide here that might help.

Since Sterifab is only a contact kill, yes it is safe to remain in the room after you have sprayed. Once the product has dried, there is no residual left behind. 

No, you should not spray Steri-Fab on personal items like bed sheets or clothing. Those items can be washed and dried, or you can use steam to treat them anytime. You can spray Steri-Fab on a mattress or box spring and then remake the bed once the application is completely dry.

We don't think the sterifab has anything to do with your sons sickness as if this was the only product he was using this is the same type of ingredients as rubbing alcohol you buy over the counter at any drug store. There are some other inert ingredients but none that should create any sickness in a person unless ingested. To be on the safe side, you can contact the manufacturer for further information regarding the safety of your son and any side effects the may come from using the product in that tight of a space. You can reach them at 914-664-5877. You can also find the product label and MSDS on the product page for sterifab in pdf format for viewing.

Sterifab will not harm birds, if they are out of the area you are treating in. PLease let us know if you have any more questions.

Steri-Fab is a ready to use product. It does not need to be diluted with water.

We recommend using a bedbug kit. The Bed Bug Kit #2 provides you with the professional products necessary to do a complete bed bug treatment in your home. This kit has just the right balance of products to treat at least two rooms completely, plus enough to do the several follow-up treatments that are crucial to success. Unlike other kits you may find, the Do My Own Pest Control kits contain the most effective products available based on the most current research. This kit contains 1 x 8 oz. bottle of FenvaStar EcoCap concentrate, 1 x 4 oz bottle of Cimexa Dust, 1 x Bellow Hand Duster dusting tool, 2 x 17 oz. cans of Bedlam Bed Bug Spray, and 1 pint of Steri-Fab. It is very important that you take the time to educate yourself on all of the places bedbugs can hide and all of the labor that is involved in preparing a room for a bedbug treatment. Please take a few moments to read over our Bedbug Guide to get a general idea of what needs to be done. We also recommend that you encase all of your mattresses and boxsprings withProtecta Bed Encasements as mattresses and boxsprings can be very difficult to impossible to treat because of all of the seams, folds, cracks and crevices.

For the area that you are wanting to treat we wold recommend purchasig at least a gallon. Coverage from a gallon of Steri-Fab is hard to gauge as it all depends on the heaviness of your spray and how often you want to spray. Typically, a gallon will treat about 8-10 pieces of upholstered furniture or 5 sets of mattresses and box springs. Yes, you may spray the kithen and bathrooms. Steri-Fab is a contact kill that does not leave a residue or residual killing power.

Steri-Fab can be applied to upholstered furniture. We recommend that you test a small inconspicous area to test the fabric first before treating the couch.

Steri-Fab Insecticide can be applied directly to mattresses for Dust Mites. You can treat the entire mattress.

Steri-Fab Insecticide when applied per label is not harmful to pregnant women. 

Steri-Fab Insecticide is a contact kill only for mold.  It will not prevent future growth.  The best way to prevent mold and mildew is eliminating the conditions that are allowing either to thrive.  If you are planning to treat raw wood that has not been painted, stained, or otherwise treated with anything, you could use Boracare with Mold-Care to treat and prevent mold. 

Sterifab is safe to spray on most surfaces. We do recommend that you spray a small inconspicuous area to test for staining or damage before you spray an entire area.

You cannot mix any other product with Sterifab. Spray one product and allow it to dry before spraying the second product.

Sterifab is used in nursing homes and hospitals without any issues. Having said that, we are not medical professionals and we do not know how you might be effected by Sterifab. If you decide to use the product it might be best if you let someone else apply it and not return to the room until the application has dried.

Here is our best advice on mite control:

It is important to be absolutely sure you are actually dealing with mites. Have the suspected mite identified by a reputable source, such as your local cooperative extension office or a reputable pest control operator. Treatments will vary for different pests. Treatment for say bedbugs is much different than the treatment for mites.  If you do indeed have mites, you must first find the source of the infestation, usually a bird nest or a dead rodent on or in the home. Removal of the infested nest or bird and a thorough cleanup is necessary. For treatment in the home, we recommend you frequently vacuum all carpet and upholstery and dispose of the bag or vacuum contents in a sealed bag outdoors. Spray Sterifab on couches, chairs and other upholstered furniture where you may spend time resting. Use Cimexa Dust in all cracks and crevices around the perimeter of the room. Apply a thin coat of MotherEarth dust to rugs and carpets. Rake (not sweep) nap back and forth, causing dust to enter rug or carpet. Let product sit overnight. Repeat application as necessary and vacuum every 3 - 4 days for effective control. MotherEarth dust does not have a fast knockdown, it can take several days for insects to die after they contact the dust. Onslaught can be used for a faster knockdown. Thoroughly apply as a fine particle broadcast spray using a hand pump sprayer to infested rugs and carpets and other cracks and crevices around the perimeter of each room. Put all clothes through the dryer on high heat to help kill mites and their eggs. We have had many customers use the above recommendations with great success. Most customers report that it can take several months to get rid of all of the mites. Finding and removing the source of the infestation is very important and is the key to getting rid of the mites for good. 

You need to stay out of the area treated with Steri-Fab Insecticide until the surfaces had dried completely and area is properly ventilated which is usually 30 minutes.

Steri-Fab is not labeled to be applied on skin or clothing.  You can treat clothing items for bed bugs by placing them in the dryer on medium to high heat for 20 to 30 minutes.