The label is the law
Every product we use is a registered pesticide, and every one is applied according to its label: where it may go, how much, how often, and when people and pets can go back to the treated area. Federal law makes using a pesticide in a way its label does not allow a violation, so the label is not a suggestion for us, it is the rule. Products applied according to label directions, with pet and child safety in mind.
What we apply, and where
Most of the work is targeted at the places pests live and travel, not sprayed over open surfaces. We do not fog rooms.
- Gel baits. Tiny dots in cracks and hinges, out of sight, for cockroaches and ants.
- Bait stations. Tamper-resistant, locked stations outside for rodents, and small stations for ants and roaches.
- Perimeter treatment. A liquid applied to the foundation, door and window frames and eaves, outside the house.
- Granules. Spread in mulch beds, around palms and on fire ant mounds, then watered in where the label says to.
- Dusts. Puffed into wall voids, attics and behind appliances, where nobody touches them.
- Growth regulators. Stop young cockroaches and fleas from maturing and breeding.
- Larvicides. Added to standing water that cannot be drained, so mosquito larvae do not become biting adults.
When you can go back
The label sets the re-entry time for each product, and the technician tells you before leaving. For most outdoor perimeter treatments, the label asks people and pets to stay off treated surfaces until they are dry, often under an hour on a sunny Pinellas day. Inside, crack and crevice baiting does not usually require anyone to leave. A flea treatment of carpets is different: plan to be out of the treated rooms until the carpet is dry. The service ticket repeats the instructions for what was used that day.
Pets
- Keep dogs and cats inside, or away from treated areas, until surfaces are dry.
- Bring in pet bowls, toys and bedding from the yard and patio before the visit.
- Tell us about every pet when you book, so baits go where pets cannot reach them.
- For fleas and ticks, your veterinarian treats the pet in the same week. That part is not ours to do.
Aquariums, birds and reptiles
Many insecticides are highly toxic to fish. Before an interior treatment, cover the tank and switch off the air pump for the time the technician recommends. Birds and reptiles are sensitive to airborne particles, so tell us beforehand: we can keep the inside of the home to baits only, with no liquid or dust in the room they are in.
Anyone sensitive to treatments
Tell us about anyone in the home who is pregnant, has asthma or allergies, or reacts to chemicals. We can change the plan: baits instead of liquids indoors, exterior-only service, or a visit while the family is out. If you have medical concerns about a specific product, ask your doctor, and we will send you its label and safety data sheet.
Bees, gardens and water
We do not treat flowering plants while bees are working them, we do not treat vegetable gardens, and we keep liquid treatments away from ponds, canals and seawalls.