Okay, here's the story...we bought a new minivan the other day and discovered tiny ants living in the back bumper and the rubber gasket/sealer thingy that surrounds the tailgate opening. We took it back and they had an exterminator come in. This guy BOMBED the inside of my car which totally freaks me out. He swears it was safe, of course, but I'm still very worried. Does anyone know what a bomb DOES?? Does it actually blow chemicals over every inch of space? He said this was called 'PI Contact Spray' but when I look that up I see nothing about a bomb version. He said it leaves no residue. That's all I know.

I am so freaked out as I have two children and driving in a car puts you in a very small, enclosed space which to me would make the chemical exposure higher.

Does ANYone have any idea about this stuff? Or know a professional who can give you the HONEST truth about it?

By Kate on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 11:52 am:

Also, have any of you ever had your home or car or camper bombed? Were you concerned? How long did you have to be out of it?

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 11:58 am:

I 2on't believe it leaves no residue until I see it in writing. I would demand to see the product they used and all warnings that come with it. I would also ask the dealer and the exterminator if they are willing to guarantee, in writing, that there is no harmful residue and no potential for harm to you or your children.


WHAT IDIOTS!!!!

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 12:14 pm:

Our first house was infested with fleas. We had Terminix come in to do a flea treatment where all surfaces were sprayed. We were given a written guarantee that it was safe for humans and pets. We lived there for 4 yrs. with no ill effects. Although I have no idea what specific chemical was used in your case, it is possible that it's OK, however, as Ginny stated above, I'd look into it further. Did they do this treatment without your consent??

By Jjb on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 01:13 pm:

Hi Kate! We had our house bombed twice when I was little for fleas. The first time didn't work (we discovered this when we came home from vacation and there were fleas EVERYWHERE) so they had to do it a second time. We had to stay out of the house for a day and then air it out well when we returned. It smelled a bit but there wasn't any residue that I noticed. I might be more nervous about a car since it is an enclosed area that can get pretty hot. I agree with Ginny/Tina and try to see something in writing- or request a new car (but it sounds like all the cars at the lot have the same problem).

By Reds9298 on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 01:14 pm:

I've HEARD great things about the bombs, but have never used them myself. I've heard so many good things though that if I needed to use them, I wouldn't think about it and would just do it.

By Kate on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 01:32 pm:

Well I've spoken twice with the guy who did it and of course he swears up and down it's fine. He says he's done it for ten years and has gotten it in his eyes and all over his skin and breathed it in and he's fine. He says he has a one year old and two and a half year old and he treats his own home with no concern. I called a different exterminator in the yellow pages which says they don't use chemicals or toxins indoors. He was willing to speak with me and said while he doesn't usually use that exact chemical, he thinks it's basically safe and there's probably no cause for concern. The first guy says it does evaporate entirely. He said it was a three second blast of an aerosol can into the car which creates a fog settling on everything and into every corner and crevice. Lovely. I asked why a chemical that says it's for high infestations with quick results was used when I did not have a high infestation and he said that last time he treated a car without doing that he had to come back and do it again and ended up using MORE chemicals that way. Who knows. Sigh.

I'm really kicking myself for not treating it with readily available borox mixture by myself. I'm also kicking myself for not having the guy come HERE where *I* was, so I could ensure this kind of thing didn't happen and so that I could ask all my questions.

By Tarable on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 02:43 pm:

My FIL is a bug/plant expert and used to own his own pest control company and says that almost everything they use now is residue free and he would not worry about it. Also most of the stuff used is human and pet safe. If that helps you any. If the guy said there it is no residue and you don't feel one on the surfaces I wouldn't worry about it.

By Kate on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 03:53 pm:

Tara, does he know about the pyrethrin and piperonyl butoxide specifically? Does he say if fogging a small space people will 'live' in is harmful?

By Tarable on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 05:45 pm:

He says that those specifically would not be harmful as long as you let the car air out a little (a couple of hours with the windows down just because of the fumes). He also said that they do not leave a residue either. I hope that helps. Sorry it took so long to respond but he doesn't always read my emails quickly.

By Kate on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 06:33 pm:

Thank you, Tara. I truly appreciate your help.