In short
- We use public health insecticides and never use agricultural pesticides indoors.
- The insecticides we use most are deltamethrin, alpha-cypermethrin and broflanilide, with fipronil for termites.
- Treated rooms stay closed for 3 to 4 hours after an insect treatment, and for 24 hours after a bed bug treatment.
- Odourless (be-bu) products are available on request.
- Your written quote names the products for your job, and a Safety Data Sheet is available for each one.
Active ingredients we use most
A product's brand name changes from supplier to supplier. The active ingredient is what does the work, so that is what we list here.
| Active ingredient | Type | How it works | Used against | WHO status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deltamethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | Acts on the insect's nervous system on contact and stays active on the treated surface. | Cockroaches, bed bugs, mosquitoes, ants and fleas | Used in WHO-prequalified indoor residual sprays |
| Alpha-cypermethrin | Synthetic pyrethroid | The same class as deltamethrin: fast contact action with a lasting residue along walls and skirting. | Cockroaches, mosquitoes, flies and other crawling insects | Used in WHO-prequalified indoor residual sprays and treated mosquito nets |
| Broflanilide | Meta-diamide | Works on a different nerve target from pyrethroids, so it controls mosquitoes that have become resistant to them. | Mosquitoes, as a long-lasting residual wall spray | Prequalified by WHO as an indoor residual spray in March 2023 |
| Fipronil | Phenylpyrazole | Termites cannot detect it, so they pass through the treated soil and carry it back to the colony. | Termites, as a soil and woodwork barrier | Outside the WHO programme, which covers disease-carrying insects and not termites |
We keep more than one class for general pest work because many insect populations, including bed bugs, German cockroaches and mosquitoes, have developed resistance to pyrethroids. Switching to an ingredient with a different mode of action is how that resistance is managed.
This is not the complete list. Cockroach and ant gel baits and rodent baits, for example, use other active ingredients. The written quote for your job names each product, and you can ask for its Safety Data Sheet at any time.
Products that are not insecticides
| Product | What it is | Used for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atra rat glue | An adhesive, not a poison | Rodent control: glue boards placed along the walls and runs that rats and mice use | Keep children and pets away from the boards, and do not move them. |
| Chlorine | A disinfectant | Water tank cleaning: disinfects the tank after scrubbing and jet cleaning | No insecticide is used in a water tank. |
What "WHO-approved" means
The World Health Organization assesses public health insecticides through its Prequalification programme for vector control products. A product is listed only after WHO has reviewed its quality, its safety and its effectiveness.
When we describe a chemical as WHO-approved, we mean that its active ingredient is used in products on that list. The assessment covers the product when it is used as directed, which is why we ask you to follow the re-entry times and precautions further down this page.
Fipronil, rat glue and chlorine fall outside that programme, because it covers the control of disease-carrying insects such as mosquitoes.
Why we never use agricultural pesticides indoors
Agricultural pesticides are formulated and labelled for crops and open fields. Some operators in Karachi use them inside homes because they cost less. They are not labelled for kitchens, bedrooms or offices, and their odour and residue can linger in closed rooms.
We do not use them inside any home or commercial premises. If you are comparing quotes, ask each company to name the product and show you its label.
How each treatment is applied
How a product is applied matters as much as what it is. A gel placed inside a hinge and a fog released across a garden call for different precautions.
| Service | How it is applied | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| Cockroach control | Gel bait placed in hinges, cracks and behind appliances, with a residual spray at harbourage points and drain entries. | Store food and utensils before the visit. Leave the gel dots in place afterwards. |
| Bed bug treatment | A residual spray on mattress seams, bed frames, furniture and wall cavities, followed by fogging of the room with a fog machine. | Wash bedding on a hot cycle. The treated rooms stay closed and unoccupied for 24 hours. |
| Mosquito control | Residual spray on resting surfaces, thermal fogging outdoors, and larvicide in standing water and drains. | Stay out of the property during fogging. Remove standing water around the building. |
| Termite control | A fipronil barrier treatment that targets the colony at soil level and in the affected woodwork. | Keep children and pets away from the work area until the technician confirms it is finished. |
| Ants control | Gel bait along the trails and a residual barrier at entry points. | Leave the bait where it is. The ants carry it back to the nest. |
| Fleas and ticks control | Residual spray on floors, carpets, upholstery and garden areas. | Vacuum before the visit. Keep pets off treated areas until they are dry, and ask your vet about treating the animal itself. |
| Rodent control | Baits inside tamper-resistant stations, tracking powder and Atra rat glue boards placed along the runs that rats use, with proofing of entry points. | Do not move or open the stations and boards. Keep children and pets away from them. |
| Water tank cleaning | Scrubbing, high-pressure jet cleaning and chlorine disinfection. No insecticide is used. | Use the water as normal once the technician confirms the tank is ready. |
Safety before, during and after treatment
These precautions apply to most indoor treatments. Your technician will tell you if your job needs anything different.
Before the visit
- Put food, crockery, utensils and children's toys in closed cupboards, or cover them.
- Cover aquariums tightly and switch off their air pumps. Move bird cages and pet bowls out of the rooms being treated.
- Clear the floor along the walls and under sinks so the technician can reach the edges.
- Tell us if anyone in the home is pregnant, has asthma or allergies, or if there is a newborn.
During treatment
- Only the technicians stay in the rooms being treated.
- For full fogging, the whole property is vacated during the treatment.
After treatment
- Keep the treated rooms closed and stay out for 3 to 4 hours.
- After a bed bug treatment, keep the treated rooms closed for 24 hours.
- Open the windows and run the fans when you return.
- Wipe kitchen counters and other food-contact surfaces before you use them.
- Avoid washing the treated edges and skirting for as long as your technician advises. That residue is what keeps working.
Children, pregnancy and elderly family members
Babies and young children spend time on the floor and put their hands in their mouths, so keep them out until the surfaces are fully dry and the room has been aired. If someone in the home is pregnant, has asthma or is unwell, tell us before the visit. We can schedule the treatment while they are out and extend the time before they return. If you have a medical concern, speak to your doctor before the treatment.
Pets, birds and aquariums
Cats, dogs and birds follow the same rule as children: out of the room until it is dry and aired. Fish need the most care, because pyrethroids and fipronil are highly toxic to them. Cover the aquarium tightly and switch off the air pump before treatment, or move it out of the room.
If someone is exposed or feels unwell
- On the skin: remove any contaminated clothing and wash the skin with soap and water.
- In the eyes: rinse with clean water for 15 minutes.
- Breathed in: move to fresh air.
- Swallowed: rinse the mouth and do not induce vomiting.
If any product has been swallowed, or if symptoms continue, go to the nearest hospital emergency department and take the product name with you. Call us on 0330-2533480 and we will give you the product name and its Safety Data Sheet straight away.
Questions about our chemicals
Do the chemicals smell?
Odourless (be-bu) products are available on request. Tell us when you book, and the quote will list them.
How long does a treatment keep working?
A residual spray stays active on the treated surface after it dries, which is why washing those edges shortens its life. How long it lasts depends on the surface, how often it is cleaned and how heavy the infestation was. The warranty page gives the period covered for each service.
Do you use the same chemical for every pest?
No. A treatment is chosen for the species and its life cycle. A cockroach job uses gel bait and residual spray, a termite job uses a fipronil barrier, and a rodent job uses bait stations and glue boards.
Can I see the Safety Data Sheet?
Yes. Ask before or after the job and we will send the Safety Data Sheet for each product named in your quote.
Is fumigation safe during pregnancy or with a newborn at home?
Tell us before the visit. We schedule the treatment while the mother and baby are out of the home and extend the time before they return. If you have any medical concern, ask your doctor first.
Sources
This page is general information about the products and precautions Accurate Fumigation uses. It is not medical advice. Always follow the instructions your technician gives for your treatment, and speak to a doctor about any health concern. How we write and review pages like this one is set out in our editorial policy.