Summary
Zodiac Fleatrol Carpet & Upholstery is an aerosol insecticide used to control fleas indoors. Zodiac Fleatrol contains permethrin to quickly kill adult fleas. And methoprene, an insect growth regulator (IGR), remains active for 7 months to prevent new eggs and larvae from reaching adulthood.
Zodiac Fleatrol
Zodiac Fleatrol spray contains an IGR to control fleas indoors for 7 months.
Zodiac’s spray contains the same amount of IGR as other premise sprays. However, it has less adulticide and no synergists. Precor 2000 Plus is about the same price and contains these extra active ingredients, which may explain the better Amazon reviews.
| Product name | Zodiac Fleatrol Carpet and Upholstery Aerosol Spray |
| Active ingredients | 0.09% (s)-methoprene 0.50% permethrin 99.41% other ingredients |
| Target pest | Fleas & ticks |
| Kills | Adults, eggs & larvae |
| Duration | 7 months |
| Size | 16 ounces |
| Capacity | 2000 sq ft |
| Application | Aerosol spray |
| Use on | Home premises |
| Manufacturer | Wellmark International |
| UPCs | 041535609207 041535609108 |
| Product label | view |
| MSDS | view |
| Shop | Amazon.com |
| Price | $18 |
| Customer reviews | Read reviews |
| Competitors | Browse premise sprays |
- Prices are based on Amazon.com at time of publishing.
Details
How Zodiac Carpet & Upholstery Spray Works
Methoprene
Zodiac Carpet & Upholstery Spray contains (s)-methoprene, also called Precor. Methoprene is an insect growth regulator (IGR). It works by mimicking a natural insect hormone called juvenile hormone (JH). When JH or an IGR is present, immature insects aren’t able to complete their metamorphosis into adults. As a result, exposed flea eggs and larvae are stuck in immature form until they die. Also, exposed adult females can’t lay viable eggs.
IGRs are the most important active ingredient in flea premise sprays. This is because 95-99% of infestations consist of eggs, larvae, and pupae. These stages live in the environment, usually deep within carpeting. Traditional insecticides don’t work well for killing immature fleas, because sprays can’t penetrate deep enough into carpets, and they have a short residual effect. IGRs are better suited since they remain active for a long time (7 months indoors). IGRs are also considered safer than conventional insecticides, because they target hormones rarely found outside of insects.
Permethrin
Permethrin is used in Zodiac Fleatrol Spray to rapidly kill adult fleas. Permethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide. Pyrethroids are synthetic, chemically stable derivatives of pyrethrum, a botanical insecticide found in Chrysanthemum flowers. Permethrin acts on the nervous system of insects, causing spasms and death.
While permethrin will kill adult fleas in the environment, it isn’t the most effective method of control. Adult fleas only make up 1-5% of infestations, and most of those live on animals. Once an adult flea acquires a host, it’ll stay there. So, only a few newly emerging adults will be found in the environment at any given time. And, with a relatively short effect, permethrin may not kill new fleas even a few days after treatment.
Permethrin won’t affect many of the immature fleas, because they live at the base of carpets and are protected by the canopy. Eventually they will emerge as adults, which can mislead those who’ve sprayed into thinking the treatment was ineffective. However, this will be the last generation. Eggs that fall into the environment after spraying will be sterilized by the IGR.
Precor 2000 Plus
Precor 2000 Plus is priced like Zodiac, with more ingredients and better reviews.
Competitor Comparison
Zodiac Fleatrol Carpet & Upholstery Spray is similar to other premise sprays. However, it lacks some of the ingredients of highly rated competitors. Namely, it contains less adulticides (pyrethrins), and lacks synergists which boost the efficacy of pyrethroids and pyrethrins. This may explain Zodiac’s slightly lower rating, as adult fleas may not die as quickly. Still, Zodiac’s spray contains a comparable amount of IGR as other top sprays, which is the most important ingredient. Precor 2000 Plus may be the better value though. It’s about the same price as Zodiac Fleatrol, and contains more ingredients accompanied by better customer reviews.
Instructions
The following instructions were taken from the product label of Zodiac Fleatrol Carpet and Upholstery. Please view the label for the full directions and precautionary statements before use.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
It is a violation of Federal Law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. In the home, all food processing surfaces and utensils should be covered during treatment or thoroughly washed before use. Exposed food should be covered or removed.
SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT FOR USE ON HUMANS.
A single can (16 oz) treats 2,000 square feet. Remove protective cap, hold container upside down and spray from a distance of 2 to 3 feet. Remove pets and birds and cover and unplug aquariums before spraying. Vacate room after treatment and ventilate before reoccupying. Do not allow children or pets to contact treated areas until surfaces are dry.
FLEAS (Adults and Larvae) AND TICKS (Adults):
FOR USE IN HOME
For best results, pay special attention to areas your pets frequent. Avoid thoroughly wetting the area that needs treating. To kill adult fleas, flea larvae, and adult ticks in your home, hold container upside down 2 to 3 feet from surface, point actuator towards the surface, and push button.
For Surface/Carpet Spray: Vacuum thoroughly before spraying. A test application should be made to upholstery or drapery fabrics in an inconspicuous place before use. Apply uniformly with a sweeping motion to rugs, carpets, drapes, and all surfaces of upholstered furniture. Treat surfaces uniformly from one end to the other. Only complete coverage of carpets, upholstery, drapes, and other fabrics will provide thorough flea/tick elimination.
For Use in Pet Areas: Pay special attention to areas where pets frequent, such as in and around sleeping and resting areas. Treat pet bedding and other pet resting areas as these are primary hiding areas for fleas/ticks. For best results, pets should be treated before they return to the treated areas.
STORAGE and DISPOSAL
Storage: Store in a cool, dry area. Do not transport or store below 32°F. Disposal: Do Not Puncture or Incinerate! If empty: Place in trash or offer for recycling if available. If partly filled: Call your local solid waste agency for disposal instructions.
Tips for Success
Target Hot-Spots
Thoroughly spray the entire floor of infested rooms, but give special attention to potential flea hot-spots. Follow-up treatments can be limited to the hot-spots.
Fleas lay eggs on their hosts, but the eggs aren’t sticky and fall off within a few hours. The eggs can fall anywhere infested animals have access. However, most eggs end up where pets spend a lot of time sleeping, grooming, or eating. Hot-spots also tend to be next to furniture, where animals lay next to their owner.
Have Realistic Expectations
Having realistic expectations can help ease stress. There isn’t any product or method that can immediately end an infestation. Many immature stages reside deep within carpets where insecticides and vacuums can’t reach. These environmental stages must mature, emerge, and then die before the infestation is over. Usually it takes around 8 weeks for an infestation to end. Seeing fleas in the meantime is normal.
After spraying, new generations of eggs shouldn’t be able to survive. However, a large portion of pre-adult fleas already within carpeting may be unaffected. They will eventually mature and emerge as adults, which can give the false impression that the premise spray didn’t work. However, this should be the last generation of adults, and they should die from vacuuming or from jumping onto treated pets.
Pre-Emerged Adults
Cocooned adults can be troublesome when battling fleas. After maturing, adult fleas can choose to stay within their cocoons in a quiescent state for up to 5 months. However, a host resting on the cocoon (heat and pressure) will rapidly cause them to wake up and emerge. Vacuuming is a good way to simulate these host cues and trigger emergence.
Vacuuming Procedure
Vacuum carpets thoroughly before spraying. This will lift up the carpet fibers so that the insecticide can penetrate deeper into the carpet. After spraying, avoid vacuuming until the carpet has completely dried. Then begin vacuuming around every other day. Dry vacuuming shouldn’t reduce the efficacy of flea insecticides. In fact, it may improve efficacy by forcing cocooned adults to emerge into the insecticide.
Premise Sprays Aren’t Enough
Adult fleas live on pets and account for 1-5% of infestations. They won’t leave a host of their of volition. So, even if the environment is properly treated, adult fleas will continue living on pets. Each female adult will lay around 25 eggs a day. The eggs fall from the animal soon after being laid. If any eggs drop onto an untreated surface, then the infestation will continue.
This is why integrated flea control provides the best results. Treating pets and the environment with different methods (flea drops, premise sprays, vacuuming, and sanitation) is the fastest and easiest way to establish and maintain control.
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what is the best product to use for tick elimination indoors on carpet and furniture-
This website is focused on fleas, but hopefully someone will come along and answer this for you.