7 Best Flea Sprays for Home Use – Protect Your House

Updated on by Jared Belson | Please note that there may be affiliate links on this page.

Fighting off fleas is a three-stage process. First, you have to treat your yard, if you have one, then you treat your pets, and then you clear out your home of stragglers and eggs. I recommend using only one of the best flea sprays for home use if you want to get the job done right.

The first thing you’ll notice about this type of flea killers is that they’re super easy and convenient to use, even if you’re shopping on a budget. But, like anything else, it’s worth weighing in the pros and cons of a few products before deciding on the right one for your particular situation.

7 Best Flea Sprays for Home That Work Better Inside

The Adams Pest and Tick Home Spray is available in 24oz and 16oz bottles. Both options offer excellent value for money and are fast-acting. Therefore, I recommend the larger container for the average home with pets.

Due to the formula containing an insect growth regulator, this spray effectively kills eggs and larvae, too, to prevent reinfestation. The residual effect should last up to seven months, although any danger it may pose to your pets will disappear in a matter of hours.

I like that it can kill fleas in up to five minutes. Not just that, but this spray kills off other household pests equally fast. You can deal with pests such as ticks, some ant species, spiders, mosquitoes, and many others using this product. It even seems to have a good effect on roaches.

The nozzle is slightly adjustable so that you can get a broader dispersal pattern and cover more ground fast.

  • Some nozzle adjustment
  • Contains insect growth regulator
  • Kills in up to 5 minutes
  • Seven months of residual control
  • Can be somewhat harmful to pet’s coat and skin

Made without any dangerous chemicals, the Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Home Spray is a hot seller. You can find this formula in a variety of bottles – 8oz, 32oz, 96oz. Note that the 96oz version doesn’t feature a sprayer.

The Vet’s Best formula uses a variety of certified natural oils. It’s non-staining, but it carries a noticeable scent. However, it is not as potent as most chemical solutions.

You can apply this solution on just about any surface, including bedding, wooden furniture, and so on. Even better, you can treat your dog’s coat with the spray, although you should probably spray a gentle mist. It’s best if you don’t use it on puppies under 12 weeks old.

Surprisingly enough, the formula is also efficient against eggs, meaning that it can prevent an immediate reinfestation. That said, it doesn’t have the same long-lasting effect as other similar products, mainly those that feature synthetic insect growth regulators.

Still, I recommend this product if you’re environmentally conscious and if you want a two-in-one product that can help treat your pets and your home.

  • Natural and safe to use
  • Non-staining formula
  • Available in bottles of different sizes
  • Can kill eggs and larvae too
  • Not the best residual control effect

Coming in at a slightly higher price point, the Virbac Knockout E.S. is handy to have in a flea-infested home. It offers residual control for up to seven months, and one 16oz spray should be enough to treat up to 2,100 square feet.

Due to its powerful spray jet, it’s easy to get this spray into hard-to-reach places. This Permethrin-based formula is concentrated and should make short work of the fleas, flea eggs, and larvae. It should be strong enough to dispose of other pests of the small insect variety.

One thing I do appreciate is the fact that the spray gives off a very gentle mist, one that settles quickly and doesn’t leave a mess behind. It’s also surprising for a synthetic product to be so odorless.

You should know that after treating a room with this spray, you’ll have to deny your pet access for a few hours, to stay on the safe side. While the spray kills insects in just minutes, the formula does remain active for quite a while after that.

  • Potent Permethrin-based formula
  • Gentle mist
  • Great area coverage
  • Almost odorless
  • May take longer for treated areas to be safe for pets

There’s nothing much to say about Raid insecticides and treatments that no one said before. Given its long-standing tradition in this field, it’s no surprise that Raid makes at least one of the best flea sprays.

The Flea Killer Plus Carpet & Room Spray is safe to use on carpets, bedding, upholstery, and other sensitive areas. Its four-months residual control effect should be just enough to stave off a reinfestation, especially if you have pets that actively go outside.

One of the best things about this spray is the unique spray can design. It gets sufficient pressure to spray consistently no matter how you’re holding it.

The broad dispersal pattern is great if you want to cover more ground in less time. Another good thing is the non-staining water-based formula. Of course, this Raid formula is not the most efficient against eggs. But since it remains active for so long, controlling the flea population long-term shouldn’t be an issue.

  • Good residual control
  • Wide dispersal pattern
  • Can spray with the can upside down
  • Good value for money
  • Very potent odor

This Zoecon formula is one of the best when it comes to killing eggs and larvae. It also provides long-term residual control. The spray comes in 16oz spray cans, which offer a broad dispersal pattern and a heavy mist that settles deep into your carpets and bedding.

Because it’s a water-based formula, it won’t stain. It also has a surprisingly mild smell, given the fact that it’s a synthetic product. One 16oz can should be enough to treat an area of up to 2,000 square feet. It’s not the best coverage you can get with a 16oz container, but it should be more than enough for the average household.

I should also point out that the reason the residual control is so effective is the use of Precor. It is a well-known and very popular insect growth regulator, highly efficient in disposing of fleas and ticks.

Note that this is a very potent formula. I recommend making the treated areas off-limits for pets for as long as you can. Give it even half a day if you can manage it. It will kill fleas in minutes and sink deep into the base of your carpets. However, it will remain active for quite some time, enough to pose a danger to pets and small kids.

  • Contains Precor as an insect growth regulator
  • A heavy mist
  • Good coverage
  • Reliable residual control effect
  • Humans and pets might need to stay away from the treated area for much longer

If you’re looking for something affordable that can cover a large property, you can try the Enforcer Flea Spray for Homes. This formula comes in 128oz canisters, and It costs almost the same as many high-end and much smaller spray bottles.

It has decent residual control for up to seven months, although treating your home again shouldn’t be an issue, given the large quantity of the product. The formula is effective against fleas in all cycles, including eggs and larvae.

I like the use of Nylar as an alternate insect growth regulator to Precor and other similar ones. Even though it may not be the most long-lasting, it may be a bit safer to use around pets. Still, don’t let your furry friends enter the treated area for at least a couple of hours.

The only downside of this budget-friendly flea killer? It is not the most comfortable thing to spray with because it comes in such a large container. However, the package contains a sprayer attachment, meaning you won’t have to go shopping for one.

  • Very affordable
  • Handles adults, eggs, and larvae
  • Efficient flea and tick killer
  • Contains insect growth regulator
  • Big spray containers can be inconvenient to use

This Harris adult flea and egg killer comes in 14oz spray cans, and you can use it on just about any surface. Just don’t use it on your pets, and don’t let them into treated areas anytime soon. The formula is EPA registered and also features an insect growth regulator that helps control and eventually kill off the remaining flea population.

The effect should last up to seven months after you treat an area. Given Harris’s reputation in the field of insecticides and pesticides, this is a reasonable estimation.

Since it is a water-based product, it shouldn’t leave a nasty residue on your carpets or furniture, as some sprays based on natural oils sometimes leave. The formula has a bit of a kick to it, meaning that it packs an odor.

In terms of killing effectiveness, you should see results in a matter of minutes.

  • Reliable residual control effect
  • Contains insect growth regulator
  • Non-staining
  • Powerful jet with a long reach
  • Less coverage than similarly priced alternatives

Are Synthetic Insecticides Better Than Natural Alternatives?

It all depends on the formula and the ingredients used. Not every natural oil has inherent flea killer properties. And, I find it that in cases of extreme infestations, natural sprays might take too long to start working.

That said, they can be a lot safer to use. By using most natural sprays, you can effectively treat an area of your home without having to leave it or deny your pets and kids access. Unless, of course, someone’s allergic to one or more of the ingredients. That’s why I recommend always reading the label before buying.

If there’s one area in which synthetic flea killers tend to outperform their organic rivals, it is in providing long-term control. Natural oil-derived sprays don’t contain insect growth regulators. Because of this, they’re not exactly helpful when you want to dispose of hatching eggs.

So, you will have to use them more often than synthetic insecticides.

Features to Look for

Water-based formulas are typically better. That’s because they can produce delicate, colorless mists that won’t stain your carpets, bedding, or furniture.

Although the natural flea killers that I recommend are also safe to use, beware of some other enticing natural products. Because of the oily texture of the formula, it’s common to stain your bedding, wooden furniture, and walls if you spray too tightly or loosely.

You should also try to make your life easier and get a spray or a large container with an included sprayer attachment. While this may not be necessary for outdoor treatments, you can’t hope to use your garden hose inside your home to spray for fleas.

What Areas Should You Target?

I always treat the floors first. Spray a healthy amount on the carpet, then go around the base of the walls. Don’t forget to spray inside the closets and other cabinets where fleas might be lodging.

Then, spray underneath the bed, especially around bedposts. Spraying the underside of the mattresses is also a good idea, as is spraying your bedding. I also recommend washing it after a few hours. You need to give the formula some time to work as a regular washing machine cycle may not be aggressive enough to kill eggs.

Spraying Is the Most Convenient Way to Treat for Fleas

Although diatomaceous earth powders can be even more effective in the long-run, nothing beats flea killer sprays in terms of speed and investment. These are usually cheap and often sold in packs, and should contain enough formula to treat even larger homes.

It’s up to you to make the most convenient choice for your needs and the infestation you’re facing. Hopefully, the reviews and tips in this article will help you to do a good job and do it fast.

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