How to properly use a sulfur bomb for a cellar

In order not to be left without supplies for the winter and to preserve the harvest for a long time, it is necessary to take care of protecting the basement or cellar from rodents, harmful insects, and dangerous bacteria. The sulfur bomb for the cellar has become widely known due to its ease of use and high effectiveness of the product.

This method of cleaning a room is cheap and effective, but requires careful adherence to the instructions for using a sulfur bomb for a cellar, due to the high toxicity of the smoke released during combustion. The processing is carried out in a completely empty room - no products should be left in the cellar. Hermetically sealed jars must also be removed. To answer the frequently asked question: is it possible to treat the cellar and the vegetables there with a sulfur bomb? It should be recalled that the gas released during smoldering is poisonous.

Attention: sulfur compounds deposited on vegetables left in the cellar poison the products, making them completely unfit for consumption.

What is a sulfur bomb and how it works?

Usually it is a yellowish cylinder with a wick. The active substance, consisting of 80% sulfur, when burned, emits caustic toxic smoke, which is harmful to rodents, destroys insects, bacteria and all types of mold. It is able to penetrate into the narrowest crevices. In this way, cellars, basements, greenhouses and greenhouses, warehouses, and vegetable stores are disinfected.

Using a sulfur bomb in the cellar is very simple; it is placed on a flat, non-flammable surface, and the wick is set on fire. It starts smoking after 2-3 minutes, this time is enough to leave the room. The cylinder slowly smolders for an hour, filling the room with smoke, which completely disinfects the basement or cellar. It will take 24-36 hours to complete the process, after which time the room is opened and thoroughly ventilated. Each package is designed to process a certain area; before processing, calculate the required number of checkers. Usually one cylinder is enough to process 5-10 square meters. m.

Review of manufacturers

There are several types of smoke bombs available in specialized stores. The most popular among them are:

"Pawn-S", "Pawn-B" - have proven themselves well in polycarbonate greenhouses. The sulfur in them is not compressed, but poured. It operates on the principle of a pesticide aerosol, filling greenhouses not with smoke, but with microparticles of sulfur. With this method, the amount of sulfuric acid is much lower than the limit. It is advisable to have forced ventilation in the room being treated, and then leave it closed for at least 12 hours to allow the aerosol to settle. Price from 400 rub.
"Climate" - represented by large tablets, collected 5-10 pieces in cylinders, and a wick. Both one tablet and the entire pyramid are set on fire. Disinfects greenhouses in 36 hours. The basement should be disinfected at least 5 days before planting the crop. The price of a package (10 tablets) is within 70 rubles.
"FAS" - one of the most affordable sulfur bombs. It looks like a smoke grenade, and is also enclosed in a polycarbonate casing. Can be produced in the form of a triangle or a cylinder. Comes with a wick. It is extremely toxic and requires long-term ventilation at the end of the treatment process. It is prohibited to light in sheds where livestock will presumably be kept. Price from 90 rub.

In addition to smoke sulfur bombs, tobacco and permethrin bombs are also produced. They have a third hazard class. These devices are approved for use in the presence of animals, in general premises, are not toxic to living plants and are harmful to parasitic insects. Among them it is necessary to note:

"Volcano" - consists of tobacco dust, but it is still not recommended to be nearby. Costs from 200 rubles;
"Hephaestus" - has a tobacco component, so it can be used next to living plants (on average 250 rubles);
"Whist" - fights various fungi and lasts for more than six months. Available at a price (from 50 rubles).

In general, treating a room using a sulfur bomb is not difficult. The main thing is to take precautions, strictly follow the instructions and do not smoke in the presence of animals and people. And regular use of the product will save you from mold in the corners of the basement and pests in greenhouses.

Chemical properties

When products burn, they release sulfur dioxide into the air. White smoke causes a sore throat and suffocation. When mixed with water in the air, sulfur dioxide forms highly toxic sulfuric acid.

This is why jars under metal lids should not be left indoors. Sulfuric acid causes severe corrosion of metal. Sulfur dioxide has a water-removing effect; in addition to complete disinfection, it significantly reduces humidity in the treatment areas. Toxic substances are completely removed from the room after thorough ventilation.

Operating principle

During the combustion process, the sulfur bomb releases substances that affect pests. After the lit fuse burns out, the checker itself begins to smolder. At this time, sulfur dioxide is released - anhydride. With the help of air draft, the substance fills the entire space in the room. During this time, disinfection occurs.

The FAS sulfur bomb is considered one of the most effective, since it easily copes with its task even in those rooms where other means are powerless. A positive result is achieved due to the property of gas to gradually fill the entire space, including small cracks.

When and why is a smoke bomb used?

The use of this disinfectant allows you to quickly, effortlessly get rid of harmful bacteria and fungi that enter the cellar or basement with soil and form at high humidity, reducing the quality of stored products and causing enormous harm to human health.

Under its influence, cockroaches, various types of aphids, fleas, woodlice, and slugs, which often live in basements and vegetable stores, die. Moles, mice and rats leave the room, and after treatment they are afraid to settle in it. The action of sulfuric anhydride, as the smoke released is called, is effective in combating various pests; It also destroys bedbugs, fleas and wood-boring beetles.

After treatment, the basement becomes safe for a long period. Disinfection is carried out in the fall, before storing the crop. For the destruction of all types of fungus, sulfur bombs for the cellar are especially effective. Smoke bombs for mold in the basement destroy not only mold on the shelves, floor and ceiling, but also spores that are necessarily present in the air. In addition, they protect for a long time from insect pests that often inhabit crop storage areas.

Application area

The product is used to treat different types of premises. It is effective in the following cases:

destruction of bacteria, mold and its spores;
repelling moles, mice, rats;
destruction and repelling of insect pests (ants, cockroaches, ticks and bedbugs, as well as their larvae);
neutralization of pathogenic microorganisms in greenhouses several weeks before planting;
drying rooms with high humidity.

Of course, the product cannot completely solve the mold problem. To do this, you will first need to find out the reason for its occurrence and solve it.

The use of sulfur bombs for residential premises is unacceptable. Active substances have a negative effect on indoor plants, animals and humans. To kill rodents and insects in houses and apartments, you should use a safe product.

Pros and cons of use

To understand whether it is worth using this particular product to clean your cellar or basement, you need to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of the product. The undoubted advantages of processing are:

affordable price;
ease of use;
complete disinfection of the premises.

Treating the cellar with a sulfur bomb makes it easy to get rid of the unpleasant presence of fungi and bacteria that are dangerous to human health and significantly reduce the shelf life of products.

The benefits of using this cleaning method are obvious, but you need to be aware of the disadvantages and take them into account:

The main disadvantage of such disinfection is the inability to treat an already filled cellar. When storing potatoes and other vegetables, even in hermetically sealed jars, it is strictly prohibited to treat them with a sulfur bomb.
The product is poisonous, you must use a respirator, protective gloves and leave the room immediately after making sure that the wick is burning normally.
When using a checker, you must pay attention to fire safety.
They are not used for processing cellars located in a private house or cottage. If there is a need for treatment, you should leave the house for several days, taking your pets, and then thoroughly ventilate all areas of the house.
The use of this method of disinfection in apartment buildings is strictly prohibited.
Products must be stored in a dry place, out of reach of children and pets.

Of course, the choice is always up to the consumer. When using the product, be careful and careful, follow the instructions for use exactly.

Remember: using a sulfur bomb in an apartment is prohibited and entails criminal liability.

Advantages and disadvantages

The sulfur bomb has a number of advantages:

high degree of efficiency;
efficiency;
ease of use;
safety when igniting;
low cost;
decrease in air humidity.

However, this product also has some disadvantages:

toxicity of the released substance to humans and animals;
lack of effect against deeply ingrained mold;
the need to completely clean the cellar of vegetables;
no effect against fungal spores or parasites in the soil;
metal oxidation;
fire hazard;
impossibility of use in cellars with high humidity parameters.

How to use a cellar checker

The cellar is processed approximately 2 weeks before storing a new crop. First, the cellar is cleared of remaining supplies, leaving empty shelves, drawers, and baskets for storage. If a metal frame for shelves is built in the cellar, all metal parts must be lubricated with grease to protect against corrosion.

For the smoke to be effective, all cracks must be plugged to eliminate the possibility of fresh air flowing in. The cylinder is placed on a flat, non-flammable surface; bricks and sheets of metal are often used; if the floor is earthen and there are no flammable objects near the cylinder, you can place it stably on the floor. It is convenient to place the sulfur checker in an old metal basin, then there will be no trouble even if the checker accidentally falls. Sometimes the manufacturer completes the product with special stands.

Do not place it on wooden or plastic surfaces.

Before starting work, be sure to wear a hat to protect your hair, safety glasses and gloves, and a respirator. The checker is firmly placed, the wick is set on fire and, making sure that it has begun to smolder, they leave the room, carefully closing the cellar lid and doors.

If the area of the basement or cellar is large and there are several checkers, those farthest from the entrance are set on fire first, moving towards the exit, they set fire to all the others, close the room, change clothes and wash their face and hands.

After 24-36 hours, you can ventilate the room. This takes up to 2-3 days, there should not be even the slightest smell of sulfur.

Review of checkers on the market

To make it easier to navigate the wide range of similar products on the market, below are the most popular models from different manufacturers, which have proven themselves on the positive side and have collected many good reviews:

Climate is one of the most popular varieties, having a standard design with a wick that needs to be lit. It is most often used for treating storerooms, cellars and greenhouses, as well as various premises on livestock farms, since it very effectively destroys lice and fleas. The cost is only 65 rubles.
FAS is another domestic product that is actually a complete analogue of Climate. Such checkers are no less effective, but they are not recommended to be used for treating premises where animals are kept or, at least, to ventilate them for a longer period, which is 2-3 weeks. This is due to the fact that FAS emits smoke with a much more pungent and toxic odor. The approximate cost is 50 rubles.
CITY is one of the most popular insecticidal pyrotechnics, the main component of which is not sulfur, but permethrin 13%. This makes it most effective at killing most types of insects, including cockroaches, ants and woodlice. The average price is 250-280 rubles.
Vulcan is capable of treating fairly large spaces with sulfur smoke, so it is most often used for large office premises, for example, logistics centers or various enterprises. The price is 40-50 rubles.

Basic safety rules

You need to use a smoke bomb very carefully.
The product is stored separately from food products, out of the reach of children and pets, in undamaged original packaging.
It is strictly prohibited to use it in multi-apartment residential buildings.
Before installing the checkers, the cellar is emptied of all products stored in it.
All items that may ignite are removed from the premises.
The smoke released during combustion is very toxic. It is necessary to tightly plug all the cracks and leave the room immediately after installing the checker and lighting the wick.
The cylinder is installed on a non-combustible base. This will prevent a fire from starting, even if the checker falls.
Before storing food, thoroughly ventilate the room. It is necessary that the smell of sulfur disappears completely.

Preparation

The use of sulfur bombs is preceded by a preparatory process, which is as follows:

Seal all through cracks by any means to prevent toxic smoke from entering the environment. Felt material or specially moistened waste rags are most suitable for these purposes.
If possible, remove from the room being treated all objects made of any metals, otherwise corrosion may occur.
If it is not possible to remove all metal objects, then they must first be treated with oil products or special protective antiseptics.
Remove all food products from the premises, including canned ones, since after treatment with sulfur dioxide they will be consigned and unsuitable for consumption.

Instructions for using sulfur bombs

Each checker is sold in a package and contains detailed instructions for use. It is necessary to use the product strictly following the advice of specialists. Remember that it is unacceptable to use the product simultaneously with other disinfectants.

To protect the respiratory system, use a gas mask or respirator. A regular protective mask is not enough.

After installation, you should change clothes and wash your face and hands thoroughly.

Two people are required to perform the installation. In this case, one person installs the cylinders, and the second can come to the rescue in case of an unforeseen situation.

Symptoms of sulfur poisoning:

pain in the eyes and lacrimation;
dizziness, headache;
irritation of mucous membranes and nosebleeds;
the occurrence of severe coughing, wheezing and chest pain;
nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness.

It is necessary to take the victim out into fresh air. Inhalation with a 3% saline solution neutralizes the unpleasant effects. If there is no improvement, you should contact a medical facility.

Description of the product, composition

FAS sulfur bomb is a universal remedy for getting rid of crop pests and pathogens of fungal and bacterial infections.
It can be used in garages and basements, warehouses and sheds, barns and greenhouses. However, processing should be carried out taking into account consumption rates and adhering to the algorithm, which is detailed in the instructions for use of the FAS sulfur block. A sulfur bomb resembles a cylindrical or triangular smoke grenade. The body is made of polycarbonate, which prevents complete combustion of the product. The product has a long wick, which ensures safe use for humans. The total weight of the block is 300 g, of which 80% of the active substance is sulfur. According to the instructions for use of the FAS sulfur block, the consumption of the product is 1 block per 5-10 m3.

For large rooms, you can use several checkers, laying them out and lighting them, moving towards the exit.

Reviews

Many people have already tried using similar checkers and formed their opinions about them, which they share below:

Edward: “For more than three years we have been using sulfur bombs to fumigate granaries; they not only effectively remove all insects and rodents, but also help get rid of fungus on the walls. We chose them because this method is the easiest to process large rooms, and the checkers have never failed. One caveat: you need to worry about safety in advance and leave the premises as quickly as possible. The smoke is really very caustic, it seriously corrodes the eyes and lungs; the first time, due to inexperience, we almost got poisoned by it.”
Vyacheslav: “Ticks multiplied in the old village chicken coop, a neighbor shared sulfur bombs, after which not a single parasite remained. True, before this I also treated the room with insecticides about three weeks before using the checkers, so it’s difficult to say what exactly killed them, but I think the combined use enhanced the effect.”
Anna: “At the dacha near Taldom there are two main troubles - mole crickets and moles, they spoil everything they can, and it is very difficult to get rid of these pests. Sulfur bombs became a real salvation, as stated in the instructions, I placed them directly in the holes that I could find. True, the smoke from them is very toxic, the smell has not gone away for several days, but there is still enough time before planting vegetables, I hope that everything will fizzle out.”
Alexander: “I started using such checkers not only in greenhouses and barns, but in living quarters on a summer cottage, since it was possible not to go there for almost a week. I really liked both the result and the application process itself. The insects were gone immediately, there is no need to wait for the product to start working, and there are no problems or additional waste of time and effort, as with other drugs that need to be diluted or a place to be found for treatment. If you follow all the safety rules and do everything in accordance with the instructions, then no problems arise, there is nothing complicated here, I succeeded the first time and without any side effects. A good remedy for those who want to get rid of all kinds of parasites in the shortest possible time.”