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If you live on the edge of the woods or you take your dog on a lot of hikes, fleas may be a concern for you. When an infestation happens, you can use a flea spray to get rid of these pesky insects. To help you choose the proper product for your yard, home, or pet, we researched the best flea sprays. Here are our top five recommendations.
Compare Top Flea Sprays
| Product | Application | Works On | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ortho Bed Bug, Flea, and Tick Killer | One-gallon jug with a spray wand | Bed bugs, fleas, and ticks | Synthetic chemicals |
| Adams Flea and Tick Home Spray | 24-ounce spray bottle | Bed bugs, fleas, ticks, cockroaches, ants, and more | Synthetic chemicals |
| Wondercide Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Spray | 32-ounce spray bottle | Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes | Natural ingredients |
| Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray | 32-ounce bottle with a hose attachment | Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes | Natural ingredients |
| Pet Naturals Flea and Tick Spray | Eight-ounce spray bottle | Fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes | Natural ingredients |
| Product | Application | Works On | Ingredients |
Most Coverage: Ortho Bed Bug, Flea, and Tick Killer
Ortho Bed Bug, Flea, and Tick Killer
- $19.97
- $22.99
- 13% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Comes with a long continuous spray wand for hard-to-reach areas
✔ Also kills flea eggs and larvae
✔ Lasts for up to two weeks before needing reapplication
✘ Has a strong odor from the chemicals in the formula
✘ Has to be kept away from children
What Customers Are Saying
We found that positive reviews said that this spray was easy to apply, worked quickly, and killed bed bugs effectively. However, unhappy customers had issues getting the wand to continuously and evenly spray the product.
Most Versatile: Adams Flea and Tick Home Spray
Adams Flea and Tick Home Spray
- $16.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Provides up to seven months of protection
✔ Kills fleas in as quickly as five minutes
✔ Dries quickly
✘ Doesn’t come in a large enough bottle to cover every affected surface
✘ Can’t be sprayed on pests directly
What Customers Are Saying
Our team noticed that satisfied customers liked that this spray was fast-acting and had a minimal smell. However, some users claimed that it didn’t always kill fleas upon contact, requiring several layers before it displayed any results.
Best Scent: Wondercide Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Spray
Wondercide Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Spray
- $36.99
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Uses essential oils to kill and disrupt the flea life cycle
✔ Can use it on dogs and cats of all ages
✔ Works on bedding, carpet, and upholstery
✘ Needs to be paired with the manufacturer’s yard spray to get rid of large infestations
✘ May need to spray it two to three times per day to see results
What Customers Are Saying
The majority of customers found this spray to have a pleasant scent, kill bugs on contact, and apply easily to pet coats. However, our team also took note that those who gave this product a negative review said that it was ineffective on ticks. Others stated that it made their cat sick.
Best For Yards: Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray
Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray
- $16.97
- $18.01
- 6% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Includes a hose attachment for easy spraying
✔ Not harmful to trees, shrubs, or flowers
✔ Certified as 100% natural
✘ Needs to be applied with a hose
✘ May require reapplication after rainfall
What Customers Are Saying
We found that customers gave this product positive reviews for being pet- and child-safe, killing a lot of ticks, and having a minty smell. However, dissatisfied customers said that it was difficult to spray and arrived poorly packaged.
Best For Targeted Treatment: Pet Naturals Flea and Tick Spray
Pet Naturals Flea and Tick Spray
- $21.25
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Pros and Cons
✔ Has a pleasant, refreshing smell
✔ Doesn’t contain synthetic chemicals
✔ Doesn’t leave behind a sticky residue
✘ May not be as effective as spray that’s made from synthetic chemicals
✘ Can’t treat a widespread infestation in your home or yard
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that this spray was able to repel insects that had already attached to their pet’s skin. We also saw that several liked its easy application and nice smell. However, unhappy customers commonly complained about the spray requiring constant reapplication and the nozzle being difficult to use.
Buyer’s Guide
To determine which flea spray works best for your infestation, there are several elements that you should take into consideration. Below, we explain some of the most important factors to keeping flea control in your home.
Ingredients
Flea sprays are either made with synthetic chemicals or natural ingredients. Chemical-based sprays may give you pause if you’re using them on your pets or around your children. However, natural sprays may be more expensive and less effective. If you’re using a chemical-based spray, read its ingredients closely to see what it’s made with. Some chemicals, including imidacloprid, fipronil, permethrin, methoprene, and pyriproxyfen, are known to cause health problems for animals.
Versatility
Some sprays work for more pest control in addition to fleas. They typically target a range of common household insects, including bed bugs, ticks, mosquitoes, carpenter ants, and spiders.
Application
With some flea sprays, you apply them to the area of your home or yard where you have seen fleas. They typically kill the fleas on contact. However, because they’re usually made from harsh chemicals, you have to leave the area clear for a period of time after application. Other sprays work by killing or detaching fleas that live on your pet’s fur, bedding, and collar.
Quantity
From one-gallon jugs to five-ounce bottles, flea sprays come in different quantities. You can determine how much spray you need by considering how often you plan to use it and how large the flea infestation is. If your pets spend a lot of time outside and you anticipate needing to reapply the flea spray monthly, weekly, or daily, opt for a large container. However, if you have a flea issue in a specific area, you can get just enough spray to treat it.
Results Time Frame
Some flea sprays kill the insects on contact, which can be useful if your dog has picked up a flea and you need it removed right away. However, if you have a large infestation, it may take days or weeks to fully eliminate the problem. Check the description of your flea spray carefully to see how quickly it can produce results for the size of your infestation.
How To Keep Your Pets Protected From Fleas
Flea spray is an essential item for any pet lover whose dog or cat spends a lot of time outdoors and lives in an area that’s highly susceptible to fleas. However, flea spray alone may not be enough to keep your furry friend safe. Here are some other steps our team recommends you can take to prevent and get rid of fleas.
Keep Your Home and Yard Clean
Changing your linens, vacuuming and mopping your floors, and wiping your counters limit the risk of fleas getting into your home. You should also maintain your yard, as mowing the grass, pruning the bushes, and removing the fallen leaves give fleas fewer places to set up camp.
Check Often
Any time your dog or cat spends a significant amount of time outside or displays unusual behavior, check their fur and skin for ticks right away. The more often you complete a thorough check, the more likely you are to catch the fleas early before they can become a bigger issue.
Consider a Flea Collar
With approval from your vet, a flea collar can help repel and kill fleas. Flea collars should fit firmly around your pet’s neck, touching their skin without constricting their breathing.
Be Careful in Warm Weather
Fleas are more prevalent during the warmer months of the year, so you should be especially careful with your pets during the summer. Try to limit the amount of time your pet spends outdoors in the heat of the day and at dusk and dawn.
Brush Your Pet With a Flea Comb
Brushing your dog or cat with a flea comb can help remove attached fleas and eggs from their fur. Keep a bucket of warm water by your side whenever you use a comb so that you can quickly drown any fleas you come across.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are flea sprays harmful to pets?
Many flea sprays are made with safe plant-based ingredients, but others contain chemicals that can cause allergies or sicknesses. To determine which type of spray you have, read the product description. If your pet displays concerning symptoms, such as skin irritation, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, or watery eyes, it may be a result of your flea spray, so wash it off immediately.
Does flea spray stain carpet or upholstery?
There’s a chance that your flea spray could leave a stain on your furniture or carpet depending on the spray’s formula and the surface’s material. However, the product should clearly state on its label whether it is non-staining and can be used as a carpet spray.
Do flea sprays also work on ticks?
The majority of flea sprays also kill ticks, but check the product description to make sure.
How can I tell the difference between fleas and bed bugs?
To identify whether a pest is a flea or bed bug, look at its appearance, movement, hiding place, and host choice. Generally, fleas are oval-shaped and prefer pet fur, while bed bugs have a flat, seed-like shape and go more often for human skin.
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