DIY vs. Professional Flea Pest Control
It could be more cost-effective, safer, and timely to hire a local flea exterminator rather than do the work yourself. Although the initial cost seems higher, you won't have to continually deal with a flea infestation and ongoing expenses for pet treatments.
Consider the following issues:
Effectiveness: Products available over the counter may not be as effective as professional chemicals and applications.
Cost: Products sold to homeowners treat only small areas and can be expensive to purchase in quantity for whole-home treatments.
Health: Misused products could pose a risk to your family.
Training: You may not identify areas of highest infestation or may skip the subfloors, basement, or attic.
Time: Doing it yourself usually takes more time.
Flea Bomb Prices
Flea foggers, sometimes called bombs, cost between $10 and $15 for a package with enough product to treat a smaller home. According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, flea fumigation doesn’t work. They simply don’t penetrate the places where fleas live. Professionals don’t offer this service, and be wary of any off-the-shelf fumigation or “bug bomb” products. These products use aerosol to disperse insecticides throughout your home.
Instead of foggers, hire a professional or use professional products instead.
Inexpensive Flea Extermination Sprays or Insecticides
Inexpensive over-the-counter flea sprays cost between $5 and $15 for a bottle and require a lot of product to treat your entire home. These sprays are better used for small areas only or even as a preventive measure around pet areas and entrances to your home. If you use these, expect multiple applications.Â
Natural Options
Diatomaceous earth, which damages and dries out adult fleas and flea cocoons, is a popular natural product. Products billed as natural pest control can cost anywhere from $5 to $50. Most of these products aren’t effective, incorporating essential oils like peppermint or clove to drive fleas away. There’s little evidence they work.
Some people have had success with borax powder or baking soda sprinkled around the home and vacuumed up. However, vacuuming alone is highly effective at controlling flea populations. Any of these options are likely to work only with a minimal amount of fleas, and you’ll have to use them for weeks to see progress.
Preventing Flea Infestations
Preventing flea infestations is much easier than killing the pests once they’ve entered your home. Here's what you need to know about the costs of flea prevention:
Pet vet visit: $100–$200; healthier pets don't attract as many fleas, plus your vet can prescribe oral or topical flea treatment that’s more effective than over-the-counter drops or collars.
Pet treatment: $15–$25 per month per pet, plusabout $10 fleashampoo for your dogs. Keeping fleas off your pets is the key to keeping them out of your home.Â
Vacuuming: $3–$5 for a carpet flea prevention treatment. Regular vacuuming removes occasional adults and their eggs.
Carpet shampooing cost: $150–$250, deep cleaning carpets once or twice a year can remove any fleas and eggs you don't see.
Lawn pesticide spray: $9–$30 per bottle; use at the beginning of spring to remove fleas from your yard, then repeat every 90 days.