Fleas are annoying little pests that can go unnoticed in your home for quite some time. They can hide in your carpets and quickly multiply before you even spot them. Living with fleas can be a miserable experience. With the right product, elimination can be successfully accomplished quickly.
Flea powder is a great way to get rid of them because it’s inexpensive and easy to use.
What is the most effective flea powder for carpets? And what flea carpet powder is safe for cats and dogs?
Since flea powder is a pesticide and could potentially harm humans and pets, choose one that contains mostly natural ingredients (such as boric acid) and is designed to be long lasting. Fleabusters Rx for Fleas Plus is recommended in conjunction with preventive measures.
Continue reading to learn more about the importance of prevention and the best flea powders to use on carpet.
Best Practices for Preventing an Infestation
Fleas are tiny insects that are no bigger than ⅛ of an inch long. They’re usually a reddish-brown color but can also be a darker brown.
They have hairy little bodies that help them move around in animal fur more easily and long back legs that help them jump long distances.
Their feet are like little hooks that help them grab onto their host.
They’re usually brought inside on dogs and cats but will grab onto humans too.
Surprised? Don’t feel bad – a lot of people don’t realize that they might be the main cause of fleas in their home.
On animals, they tend to gather around the neck but can be found all over the body, especially on animals with long fur.
If you find fleas on yourself, you’ll probably find them on your ankles since they’re so close to the floor and easily within the flea’s reach.
Flea bites are often mistaken for mosquito and spider bites because they will be red, raised, and swollen, sometimes with a red ring around an individual bite.
You can tell it’s a flea bite because it is small, firm, and will turn into a scab in the center.
Basic Guidelines
Prevention is the best thing you can do to keep your home free of fleas. Prevention is fairly low effort and is far easier than dealing with an infestation.
Whether you have dogs, cats, or other animals that attract fleas, you can use any of the following methods.
- Keep your yard maintained – Long grass and bushy shrubs are perfect places for fleas to hide and lay their eggs. Keep the grass short and bushes trimmed to discourage fleas.
- Vacuum frequently – It’s recommended that you vacuum at least once a week to prevent fleas, as they like to hide and lay eggs in carpets and rugs. Focus on high-traffic areas and rooms your pet frequents.
- Wash blankets and pet beds often – Blankets, towels, pet beds, and clothing are great places for fleas to stay and should be washed every one to three weeks.
- Groom your pet daily – Flea combs (this set is ideal) are designed specifically to catch adult fleas, larvae, and eggs. Comb your pet daily and bathe routinely, especially after being around flea-infested areas.
Flea Powder – What to Look For
Flea powder is a convenient way to get rid of fleas once they’ve infiltrated your home.
Flea powders are classified as pesticides, so they’re not considered nontoxic, but it’s possible to use them safely and effectively in your home.
Consider the following when you’re choosing a flea powder for carpets.
Types of Flea Powder
- Derived from natural ingredients: Many powders contain natural ingredients like boric acid or diatomaceous earth. Unless specifically stated otherwise, they often have a toxin as well that technically makes them a pesticide.
- Made just for fleas: Some products might be tailored to killing fleas specifically.
- Made for most insects: Many powders will kill more than just fleas. These can save you some time and money if you have multiple insects invading your home that you need to kill.
Effectiveness
Before you buy a flea powder for carpets, you need to consider where you’re going to put the powder.
Pinpoint the areas where you see fleas as well as high traffic areas, and then calculate the square footage.
Each product will give an estimated amount of square footage that a single container of powder will be able to cover.
Where you place the powder can determine its effectiveness as well.
If you put it only in the corners of your home or rooms that you and pets don’t visit often, you’ll find that the flea population will still be pretty rampant in your home.
They tend to live in the busier areas of your home because they have a better chance at finding a host, whether it be you or your pet.
(Do you know how long a flea can survive if conditions are ideal? The answer will surprise you.)
Finally, look at each product to see how long it will last. Many products say they’ll kill fleas for up to a year while others may only last for a few months.
Consider how much time and effort you’re willing to put into covering your home with a flea powder.
If you’re not interested in reapplying the powder every two or three months, then you’ll want to invest in one that will last about a year.
Safe to Use Around People and Pets
Generally speaking, flea powders aren’t the safest option on the market. Pesticides contain chemicals, and those are always toxic when used incorrectly.
Powders can easily cause a cloud of dust when you sprinkle them around the room, even if you apply it directly on the floor.
Breathing in the particles can cause your pet harm by causing respiratory irritation, breathing problems, skin irritation, and more severe side effects that occasionally lead to death.
Adults and children can also experience side effects similar to these.
Using flea powder in your home doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to hurt your pets or children.
All products come with warnings and clear directions so you can know how to safely use it in your home.
You should always keep children and pets out of the rooms where you apply it and wear protective gear so you don’t breathe in the dust.
Once the dust settles, vacuum the excess powder before you allow everyone to come back into the room.
If you’re concerned about the toxicity of flea powders, diatomaceous earth is a good alternative (see below) that you can use in a similar manner, although it’s not quite as effective.
If you suspect your pet or domestic animal has had an unsafe exposure to pesticide, be sure to follow the EPA Exposure Incident Reporting guide.
Ease of Use
Flea powders for carpets are super easy to use. Most powders use the following directions:
- Sprinkle the powder on the floor.
- Use a broom to help make sure it gets deep into the carpet.
- Let it sit for the recommended amount of time according to the package.
- Vacuum to pick up excess powder.
All powders are disposable since they’re deposited into the carpet and vacuumed up.
They can’t be reused since it’d be pretty challenging to scoop up excess powder and put it back into the container.
Containers should always be disposed of once they’re empty since they held harmful chemicals.
Best Indoor Flea Powder
Here is our list of the best flea powders for carpets. Also included are a couple of natural products that work in a similar manner for less toxic alternatives.
For a complete guide on elimination methods and products, be sure to read our article, “How to Get Rid of Fleas in Carpet”
Fleabusters Rx for Fleas Plus
This flea powder is one of the better ones on the market because it’s mostly boric acid, which is a naturally occurring chemical.
It’s still toxic if ingested, but it’s a more natural option for flea control.
This three-pound container will cover up to 1,200 square feet (111.48 square meters).
This averages out to about five rooms in a home. However, this will vary depending on the size of your home and how much powder you apply in a single area.
Be careful when using this product because it’s prone to making dust clouds.
Protect your face and skin, and don’t let children and pets enter the area until after you vacuum.
Pros:
- Odorless.
- Derived from natural ingredients.
- Stays in carpet even after vacuuming.
Cons:
- Toxic even though it’s natural.
- Causes many dust clouds.
Adams Flea & Tick Carpet Powder
This carpet powder is a great option because it targets every stage of the flea – egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
It does so with an insect growth regulator (IGR). These affect the hormones of fleas and prevent them from growing and reproducing.
IGRs won’t kill adult fleas, but they’ll either prevent them from being able to lay eggs or stop the eggs from hatching.
This powder works best if it gets deep into the carpet because it will continue to kill eggs that are laid and hatched in the carpet.
According to the manufacturer, this powder prevents reinfestation for up to 365 days.
The powder has a citrus smell and covers up other odors, so it’s a pleasant product to use in your home.
A single can will cover up to 400 square feet (37.16 square meters), so you’ll probably need to buy multiple cans if you need more than one room covered.
Pros:
- Citrus scented.
- Kills fleas quickly.
- Contains insect growth regulator.
Cons:
- Tends to clog up vacuums.
- Small cans means you have to buy more.
Natural Care Flea and Tick Carpet Powder
This powder is made from natural ingredients, so it’ll only cause minor irritation for people and children.
Animals may show signs of sensitivity, so you should keep them out of the room in which you put the powder.
Pets that are younger than 12 weeks old shouldn’t be around the product at all.
The powder has a strong odor that might be irritating to some, and it’s prone to making dust clouds.
Even though it’s not as irritating as other powders, covering your face and skin is a good practice.
Pros:
- Made with natural ingredients.
- Won’t stain carpet or furniture.
- Only causes minor skin and eye irritation for people.
Cons:
- Shouldn’t be used near pets under 12 weeks old.
- Strong odor.
- Quite dusty.
Hartz UltraGuard Flea & Tick Carpet Powder
This is probably the most effective powder because it kills all fleas at any stage of life.
Many IGRs don’t contain ingredients that kill adult fleas, but this one does. It has a fresh scent, so it won’t make your home smell like you treated it for fleas.
The downside is that the container isn’t too clear about what ingredients are in it, but it is known to have 0.4% Phenothrin, 0.015% Pryproxyfen, 1% Piperonyl Butoxide, and 98.59% other ingredients.
Pros:
- Kills eggs and larva for up to a year.
- Kills adult fleas for up to a month.
- Only need to apply once a month.
Cons:
- Packaging isn’t clear about ingredients.
Enforcer Flea Killer
This is the quickest powder you can find because it only needs to sit for 30 minutes before you vacuum up the excess.
It also kills ticks, but if you want to use it for that, you need to let it sit for two hours.
Enforcer Flea Killer has an ocean breeze scent and will eliminate other odors. It also kills other pests like roaches, silverfish, and ticks.
This product makes pretty big dust clouds that will settle and can potentially cause harm to your pet, so be careful where and how you apply it.
As with all the other products, keep pets and children out of the area while you apply it.
Pros:
- Eliminates odors.
- Ocean breeze scent.
- Use in as little as 30 minutes.
Cons:
- Toxic to pets if used incorrectly.
Harris Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth comes straight from the ground. It’s fossilized algae frequently used for pest control.
The powder is abrasive and tears up the exoskeletons of insects, which causes them to become dehydrated and eventually die.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth is safe to use around children and pets, although it’s still a good idea to keep them away from it just to be safe.
You can put it in any room where you find fleas, and they should be killed within a couple of days.
The downside is that it only works on adults. The life cycle won’t be disrupted, but it will kill the adults and might do so before they have a chance to lay eggs.
(If you need to take elimination measure right away but don’t have any diatomaceous earth on hand, salt can be used in a pinch. This article explains why and how to use it.)
Pros:
- No harmful chemicals.
- Safe to use indoors.
- Safe to use around children and pets.
Cons:
- Doesn’t kill eggs, larvae, or pupa.
Ecoxall Boric Acid Powder
Boric acid is a common ingredient in most flea powders.
If you want to stick to natural solutions and avoid all the added chemicals, plain boric acid will perform as well as many powders.
Keep in mind that natural doesn’t mean harmless. In fact, boric acid is quite toxic and shouldn’t be ingested.
Keep it away from pets and children when you use it, and use protective gear while you’re applying it.
Pros:
- Naturally occurring ingredient.
- Kills most bugs.
- Can be used on carpet and around baseboards.
Cons:
- Toxic if ingested and can cause irritation to skin and lungs.
UPYEAL Flea Trap
This trap may not be a powder, but it is a great nontoxic option. It uses heat, light, and adhesive to take attract and kill fleas.
Just set it up where fleas are frequently encountered and wait for the insects to flock to it.
Fleas are nocturnal, so it will do most of its catching at night.
If you don’t put it in a spot where fleas like to congregate, this product might not work well for you.
Pros:
- Nontoxic.
- Works up to thirty feet.
- Uses heat and light instead of smells.
Cons:
- Success of the product depends on where you put it.
Best Outdoor Flea Solutions
Carpet flea powders can’t really be used outdoors, unless you want to use them on rugs by your door or on your patio.
Fleas aren’t terrible fussy about where they live, but they do certainly have preferences.
Find out if you’re more likely to find them living in lush grass or areas of bare dirt in your yard by reading this article.
Treating your yard is a key component in making sure fleas don’t get into your home, so we’ve provided a quick list of excellent flea control options you can use outside.
Remember, mowing your lawn and flea combing your pets before they come inside are incredibly quick but effective ways to make sure fleas don’t find their way inside.
Safer Diatomaceous Earth Ant & Crawling Insect Killer
This diatomaceous earth isn’t food grade, so it’s better to use it outdoors rather than indoors.
You can use it inside, but it’s less safe for children and pets.
It works the same way as food-grade diatomaceous earth; insects walk across it, their exoskeleton gets damaged, and they die soon of dehydration.
This bag by Safer is a little harsher on insects since it’s made with extra ingredients.
Pros:
- Mostly natural.
- Kills insects in about two days.
- Kills many other bugs.
Cons:
- Very dusty.
- Reapplication will be necessary after rain.
Ortho BugClear Insect Killer
Although it is not a powder, this Ortho granular insect killer will keep almost all bugs outside of your home by creating an effective barrier.
Simply spread it around your yard and the bugs will disappear.
This product may work a little too well – if you have fleas inside, they won’t leave if you have this near your door.
A single bag will cover up to 16,500 square feet (1533 square meters), so it should be able to last you a long time.
It’ll also continue to work for up to three months, so you only have to apply it a few times each year.
Pros:
- Lasts for three months.
- Kills insects before they get inside.
- Kills a long list of insects.
Cons:
- Might trap bugs inside.
- Might make the grass die.
Summary
Carpet flea powders are a great way to get rid of fleas; however, since they’re pesticides, they can harm both people and pets if you aren’t careful with them. Remember, if you suspect your pet or domestic animal has had an unsafe exposure to pesticide, be sure to follow the EPA Exposure Incident Reporting guide.
Use preventive measures to make sure fleas don’t take over your home, like regularly vacuuming or frequently washing pet beds and blankets.
Going over your pet with a flea comb routinely is always a great way to stop fleas from coming indoors.
Be sure to check out all of our flea articles and elimination guides.
You’ll find valuable tips and learn about additional products and techniques that will banish fleas from your home quickly and effectively.
