Pesticide Application: Broadcast Indoor Pesticides, Fleas, Pests

Pesticides that can be broadcast indoors have a special label that allows such jobs as spraying for fleas, ticks, carpet beetles and other indoor pests that travel through or otherwise infest furniture, wood floors, tile, carpets and other flooring.

Broadcasting of pesticides can actually include areas such as gardens, lawns, shrubs as well as indoor locations but this article will deal with indoor pest control applications.

Many pesticides, insecticides have a label that allows use indoors. Pesticides can also have a broadcast label for different pests and locations. Just because a product is labeled for indoor use does not necessarily mean that it can be broadcast. An outdoor broadcast label does not always allow for broadcasting indoors.

Indoor Broadcast Labeling is Special

An example of an indoor product that cannot be broadcast is Demon WP. This particular product is safe to use indoors but the label does not allow for indoor broadcast application. The Demon WP label instructions do allow for spot treatment, cracks and crevices as well as spraying baseboards. These label restrictions also apply to other indoor products that contain Cypermethrin, the active ingredient in Demon WP and Demon EC.

A good example of an insecticide that can be broadcast outdoors but can only be used for spot treatment indoors is Talstar. This is another professional product that is safe for indoor use as a spot treatment and cracks & crevices, has an outdoor broadcast label (great for ants and ticks) but is not to be broadcast over floors and furniture in the home.

So, just what does "broadcast indoors" mean on an insecticide label? The term allows you to spray the product over large areas in your home without causing harm to most fabrics and flooring and is safe for use in homes where people (including small children) and pets such as cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, ferrets will come into contact with areas that have been treated. Spot treatments allow for the technician or person applying the product to treat small areas where targeted pests are likely to come into contact with the residue but where people and pets are least likely to touch during normal daily routines or activities. Each "spot" should only be about a foot square and only a few such spots should be treated in any given area.
All treated surfaces must be allowed to completely dry before letting children and pets back onto the treated surfaces.
Many people will contact us with questions about products suggest for spraying indoors for fleas, ticks and other pests. The main concern is with children or pets in the home. Our advice is to always read and follow label instructions when mixing and applying products. Keep children and pets out of area while you are spraying for bugs. Do not allow spray to come into contact with items such as toys, pet food and water dishes. Once the treated areas have been allowed to dry, people and pets can re-enter the areas.
We often hear from customers who own cats and their obvious concern is that cats will walk on treated areas. Even after areas have been allowed to dry, the most common fear is that the cat will lick its feet while grooming itself and will somehow be harmed by their insecticide application. The indoor flea label or broadcast label that we have been discussing is not an easy label for pesticide formulators to acquire. The manufacturer of the product does not just decide on their own that the product can be used indoors, broadcast over large areas of floors and furniture. Very strict tests have to be passed by government regulators before any pesticide can carry any indoor label - especially the indoor broadcast label for residential use. Your indoor flea control products have been tested and approved for use in homes where cats are known to lick their feet, where small children crawl across carpets and where adults and children come into daily contact with carpets, floors and furniture that have been treated.

The reasons that an insecticide does not have the all important indoor broadcast label can vary. Some insecticides might be perfectly safe when used correctly indoors but if broadcast over large areas the residue could possibly cause slight skin irritation. Acceptable levels of airborne particles is also an issue that is addressed when a pesticide is approved or not approved for spraying over large indoor surfaces.

An indoor broadcast label will usually list indoor flea application to carpets and furniture. This will let you know that the product is water safe, meaning that if plain tap water will not harm a fabric or material then the insecticide solution will also not harm that same fabric or material.

There are two characteristics that are highly regarded when it comes to choosing an insecticide to purchase and use: indoor broadcast, for fleas and food handling areas in restaurants. When an insecticide has both indoor fleas and restaurants on its label, you know that the product had to meet very strict requirements and pass a multitude of tests to get approval for the special sites and particular pests listed.
People who do desire to do their own pest control feel more comfortable using products such as Suspend SC for their general purpose pest control. Even if you never run into problems with fleas in your home, you will be able to safely spray more areas and treat for many different pests in your home if you choose an odorless product such as Suspend SC or super low odor product such as Permethrin Pro (Dragnet.)

Indoor Flea Application

If your home has become infested with fleas or if you need to implement a flea prevention program (using an IGR three to four times each year) you do not want to merely spot treat certain areas. You need to completely cover all flooring, especially areas beneath furniture, beds, etc. An indoor flea product such as Suspend SC is suggested for this type of job. Suspend SC (active ingredient: Deltamethrin) is preferred not only because it has the indoor flea label/ broadcast label required for the job but the material is also odorless. Dragnet (Permethrin) is another product that is very low in odor, can be broadcast indoors in homes and is also suggested for spraying lawns, outdoor areas for fleas, ticks, ants, pests of lawns and ornamentals.

Pesticides that can be broadcast indoors allow you to spray for fleas, ticks, bed bugs, carpet beetles and many other household pests found in your home.