I'm in Sevin Heaven
Written: Feb 01 '02 (Updated Feb 02 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Effective and economical, this insecticide kills seventy varieties of pests.
Cons: Dusty
The Bottom Line: Sevin Dust eradicates more than seventy different insects. With the proper safety measures, this product provides a fast, clean and easy way to keep homes and yards pest free.
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| pogomom's Full Review: Sevin-10 Bug Killer Dust |
Nothing irritates me more than flea infestation. My dream of becoming a landlord turned into a taste of hell when the house I purchased for an investment turned out to be a flea-ridden monstrosity. Three steps beyond the tiled entry, I stepped onto the plush tan carpeting and knew something was wrong. Tiny insects, determined to turn my lower extremities into their buffet, clouded the view of my ankles.
Between the new looking carpet and my aerobically stretched finances, tearing out and replacing the carpeting was no option. A friendly neighbor heard my squeals of distress and came over to check on me. She hurried home to fetch relief for my itching legs and the newly animated carpet. Bactine™ soothed the skin encompassing my articulatio talocruralis and Sevin™ Dust eradicated my uninvited guests.
Ashes to Ashes… Dust to Dust…
Since my first contact with Sevin™ Dust in 1984, I live a virtually flea free existence. These days I complement the use of the insecticide with Riddex® electronic pest control modules but Sevin™ Dust is my first line of defense should my home or garden become a haven for bugs.
Formulations and Use
Carbaryl (1-napthyl N-methylcarbamate) is the active ingredient. The chemical’s trade name is Sevin. Registered in 1958 (Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Number: 63-25-2) this carbamate is widely used in farming, animal care and around the home.
Primary producers of Sevin™ products, Union Carbide Inc. (U.S.) and Makteshim Chemical Works (foreign), offer the pesticide in various formulations. Baits, dusts, granules, liquids and soluble (wettable) powders combine Carbaryl with synthetic clays, talc and various solvents for ground, aerial and aqueous dispersions. Application rates: range from 0.53 lbs. a.i./A to 6.4 lbs. a.i./A.
Union Carbide, manufacturer of the Sevin-10® Dust we use, offers the following list of application sites:
· Citrus, pomes, stone and berry fruits
· Forage, field and vegetable crops
· Nuts, lawns, forests, ornamental plants
· Rangeland, shade trees
· Poultry and pets, indoor use
Inside, Outside, All Around the Town
Our family uses Sevin-10™ Dust on our lawn, gardens and in our home. For application indoors, we dust our carpets; allow the insecticide to work for several hours and vacuum up the dust. Pet beds and their favorite spots receive an extra dose of the product. We immediately change the vacuum cleaner bag after treatment. Repeat the treatment again in thirty days; afterwards, subsequent administration every six months should suffice.
We accomplish outside distribution in garden beds, container plantings and along walkways in the same manner as indoor application. Sprinkling a liberal amount along these areas keeps our yard free of pests.
A spreader makes lawn treatment a quick task. The manufacturer suggests treating grass and garden areas every six weeks. Treating our house and yard requires only one fifteen-pound bag of Sevin™ Dust each year.
Depending upon the point of purchase, the product usually comes packaged in five, eight, ten, fifteen, thirty or fifty pound bags. Grocery and discount stores often stock the smaller two or three pound perforated cans which make sprinkling carpets and small garden areas a breeze.
Although the manufacturer claims treating animals with Sevin™ Dust is safe; unless the circumstances necessitate immediate attention, I would try to avoid dusting my pets with this product. Casual exposure appears to have no long-term side effects.
Survey Says…
Characterized as a weak mutagen, the agencies providing research data determined that Carbaryl does not pose a mutagenic risk. Supplemental studies performed by government and independent agencies collectively provide sufficient evidence that Carbaryl is not cancer producing (oncogenic) in experimental animals. Humans and other animals rapidly excrete Carbaryl in their urine should exposure be the issue.
I strongly suggest use of goggles (protective eye wear), a filter (covering the mouth and nose) and gloves when applying this or any other pesticide. Poisoning impairs the central nervous system function of the intended target; it may take decades of research to find out if Carbaryl is truly as benign to humans and pets as the agencies and manufacturers claim.
My Final Answer, Regis?
Of all available pest control options on the market, Sevin™ products combine effective treatment and relative safety. Instead of perfume laden or noxious chemical odors, Sevin’s odorless properties are welcome in my home. The white crystalline pesticide has yet to stain expensive fabrics and removes easily from solid surfaces with a wet sponge. This contact insecticide may cause irreversible damage to seventy varieties in the insect world; it has yet to cause any respiratory or dermal irritation to any members of my family.
Research aside, eighteen years of positive experience is proof enough for me. If bug infestation turns my happy home into a boot camp for critters, you can bet I will reach for Sevin-10™.
© pogomom - February 1, 2002
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Post Script: This review may contain information beyond the standard Epinions fare. As of the posting date, this review fully complies with Epinions guidelines.
Recommended:
Yes
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pogomom
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 in Home and Garden |
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About Me:
Web/puter person who, disguised as mild-mannered Pogomom, offers unsolicited opinions to all she encounters.
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