Frequently asked questions
Seven questions cover almost every pre-purchase decision on this site: which product to start with, safety around children and pets, DEET versus picaridin, how fast results appear, shipping, returns, and whether to buy here or on Amazon. The answers are written to stand alone, so you can read one without the rest, and they include the cases where the answer is that a product is not right for the job. Anything a product cannot do is stated rather than smoothed over.
Which product should I start with?
Start indoors with the plug-in ultrasonic repeller 6-pack. Six units cover about 1,600 sq ft, which is most of a two-bedroom flat, and there is nothing to refill. Add the indoor UV trap in any room where flies gather near a ceiling light. Flies steer by light, so a trap that uses 365-395 nm beats a device that does not. For a patio at dusk, take the 12-coil pack: one coil holds a 10 ft radius for 5 to 7 hours and costs about $1.25 a night. Anyone bitten while travelling should also carry the 20% picaridin spray.
Are these products safe around children and pets?
Two of the six contain no active chemical at all. The repeller and the UV trap are electrical devices, so there is nothing to inhale and nothing to spill. The coils burn and produce smoke, so they are outdoor-only and belong out of a toddler's reach. The heat pen reaches 45 to 50 degrees Celsius and is for children aged three and over, on intact skin only. The spray is 20% picaridin. The CDC advises against oil of lemon eucalyptus and PMD on children under three, so we do not sell those actives.
Do you use DEET?
No. The travel spray uses 20% picaridin instead. Picaridin is the most widely recommended alternative to DEET, and it does not dissolve plastics or synthetic fabrics the way DEET can. It also has far less of the solvent smell that makes people leave a repellent in the drawer. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists picaridin alongside DEET, IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus as proven actives to look for on a label. Protection time follows the registered formulation, not the percentage alone.
How long until I notice a difference?
Judge the repeller and the UV trap over a week, not an evening. Both are continuous devices that change how comfortable a room feels over several days. Neither kills instantly, and neither claims to. The coils act within minutes, but only where the smoke actually reaches, and a steady breeze will defeat them. The heat pen works on a bite in about three seconds. No product here clears an infested room in one night, and any brand promising that is selling something other than what the device does.
Where do you ship, and how long does it take?
We ship to the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union. Standard delivery is 3 to 5 working days. Express is 1 to 2. Orders placed before 14:00 local time on a working day leave the same day. Coils and spray are classed as limited-quantity goods, so they travel by ground inside the EU, which can add one working day. If a parcel is held at customs, we contact you before it is returned. Full detail sits on the delivery and returns page.
Can I return something that did not work for me?
Yes. You have 30 days from delivery, and the item can be used. We would rather you try a repeller for a fortnight than guess from a photograph. Two exceptions apply. Opened coil packs and opened spray bottles cannot be resold, so they are excluded. Everything electrical also carries a two-year warranty on top of the return window. To start a return, email your order number. We reply with a prepaid label within one working day.
Do you sell on Amazon?
Our listings live on Amazon in the United States and several European marketplaces. If something is out of stock here, the Amazon listing is usually the faster route. It is the same SKU in the same packaging. Buying direct is better in two cases. You want the two-year warranty handled by us rather than through a marketplace claim. Or you want a question answered by a person before you order.