I am new to the petwash business and had a customer ask about fleas today which got me thinking how do you control fleas in a petwash? I read where several of you spray bleach to clean the wash with a garden sprayer. Does bleach kill fleas? Do you spray straight bleach or cut it with water? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I don't want to spread fleas from dog to dog.
Petwash maintenance
- Thread starter sparkey
- Start date
I am finding lots of conflicting information on killing fleas. I did an internet search on killing fleas and several websites say bleach kills fleas and eggs? Not sure which to believe.
MEP001
Well-known member
I researched too, and almost all of what I read says that bleach doesn't kill eggs. That shouldn't be an issue though, since flea eggs won't survive on a hard surface. Assuming you rinse the floor down regularly, they won't be around long enough to hatch.
bigleo48
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2007
- Messages
- 1,887
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 36
Well there are many issues with keeping a petwash clean and I have had a few people of the years say they wouldn't go to a petwash because of the potential for flees, disease, etc.
So what I do is use the Kleenrite Tub Cleaner in a spray bottle and spray the entire room everyday. The side of the cleaner shows what it is effective against and I have made a sign showing that information. I find it controls smells well too (bacteria). So if someone tells me that its unsafe, I tell them its a disinfected room...safer than your own house!
In 8 years I have never had fleas or any other issue for that matter.
So what I do is use the Kleenrite Tub Cleaner in a spray bottle and spray the entire room everyday. The side of the cleaner shows what it is effective against and I have made a sign showing that information. I find it controls smells well too (bacteria). So if someone tells me that its unsafe, I tell them its a disinfected room...safer than your own house!
In 8 years I have never had fleas or any other issue for that matter.
mrfixit
Member
We have an AllPaws pet wash unit #5
Well the biggest thing is it really needs to be rinsed down after every sizable dog. (>10lb)
Its really kind of a lot of maintenance to keep a good, healthy, clean smelling dog wash.
I wonder about actual profit margins if you consider each washdown as a cost for your labor. I don't work for free.
We have a water hose from maintenance room to flush completely from the ceiling down to drain. Rinse vac and air nozzles and hoses. Then follow with tub disinfectant selection quickly from top down. (Its an option on selector)
Also most that have fleas will also use the flea soap that helps kill them off.
People won't go if it smells, and they correlate that smell with infections and bugs. A LOT of dog washes suffer this problem.. The smells in the drain and tank are your biggest problems. And dealing with dog hair clogging stuff. If you have a large holding tank for drain water get rid of it!
I haven't heard a complaint yet mostly praise from people that love it.
Well the biggest thing is it really needs to be rinsed down after every sizable dog. (>10lb)
Its really kind of a lot of maintenance to keep a good, healthy, clean smelling dog wash.
I wonder about actual profit margins if you consider each washdown as a cost for your labor. I don't work for free.
We have a water hose from maintenance room to flush completely from the ceiling down to drain. Rinse vac and air nozzles and hoses. Then follow with tub disinfectant selection quickly from top down. (Its an option on selector)
Also most that have fleas will also use the flea soap that helps kill them off.
People won't go if it smells, and they correlate that smell with infections and bugs. A LOT of dog washes suffer this problem.. The smells in the drain and tank are your biggest problems. And dealing with dog hair clogging stuff. If you have a large holding tank for drain water get rid of it!
I haven't heard a complaint yet mostly praise from people that love it.
Last edited: