Category Archives for "Fleas"

How To Get Rid Of Fleas In A House

Fleas can be a complete pain as they multiply so fast and easy, living in your carpets and beddings. If you have tried multiple ways to get rid of these pesty parasites from using powders in the carpet and upholstery to foggers to steam cleaning, all of which did not work, then consider something else that is more heavy duty. If you don’t kill of the larvae and eggs then you will be stuck with a household filled with fleas as the flea can lay eggs every 12 days with up to 20 eggs at a time. Upon hatching within 20 days they reproduce and the cycle continues. This makes for one horrible infestation that will require a lot of hard work and consistency to get rid of them.

How to Know if You Have a Flea Problem

First determine if you have them which can be rather easy as you will end up with several itchy bite markings. Your pet will show even more signs of scratching and irritated skin. If you look closely between your pet’s hairs you will find small black insects roaming around. Sometimes you will even see them jumping. They have long legs that get to higher and further locations such as your furniture and bedding. Once you identify a problem then you will need to take efforts to get rid of the fleas immediately as they will reproduce and make it extremely difficult to get rid of them.

Foggers for Fleas

Foggers can be time-consuming as they don’t work as well as they could. They are unable to kill the larvae and eggs, killing only adult fleas. That means that the eggs get to hatch and you are stuck in the same situation within a few days later. Even if you moved all of your furniture out of the house and sprayed thoroughly, you will need something that targets the eggs. There are some home remedies that can be used including using a botanical mixture. You can create it yourself with a borate powder or boric acid. Make sure your face is covered with a mask when spreading it in your carpet, furniture, and bedding.

Natural Flea Control

Botanical dusts are among the oldest natural insecticide used to get rid of fleas. The borates are minerals that are used as detergents and insecticides as they are poisonous to various insects and it can harm humans too if breathed in. It is recommended to leave the home for at least 24 hours after spreading the mixture. Wait for it to settle within the upholstery and carpets before vacuuming and cleaning. Your pet’s bedding will need to be cleaned along with your own bedding to assure that all of the fleas and eggs are dead. The boric powder will aim to kill the eggs of the fleas to ensure that they will no longer be a problem in your home.

There are other suggestions in how to get rid of fleas in the house. On all of your pets be sure to use a flea killer. This means that flea collars are not recommended as they only help remove the fleas from the animal and not the eggs that were laid or from anywhere else. Use such monthly treatments as Frontline or Advantage as they are the most effective flea killers for your pet. Along with these treatments consider vacuuming two times daily and cleaning bedding daily. This can be exhausting but it will need to be done to get control over the fleas.

You can use a non-toxic treatment such as Diatomaceous Earth. By spreading this waxy coated, odorless and non-staining chemical, you will be able to get rid of more than just fleas in your home. DE also kills off roaches, silverfish, ants, and beetles. Using inside your home, you will spread the DE treatment onto the floors and under furniture. As the fleas try to eat some of these chemicals they will dry up and become dehydrated and eventually killing all of the fleas in your home. The DE mixture can be used outdoors as well. It is environmentally safe, but you should still wear a face mask and gloves to protect your skin and from breathing in any hazardous materials. Never take any chances when using any type of mixture as they can effect everyone differently.

Flea Extermination Professionals

After following these methods on cleaning your home and getting rid of the fleas, you will not have to worry about getting bit or having your pet get bit any longer. If you choose to get a professional to come out to your home to use a spray and various chemicals to kill the fleas, then plan to stay off the premises for an entire day. Breathing in these chemicals for you and your pet is not healthy and could cause illness. Being free of your home while someone else does all of the work will save you a lot of headache in the long run and your home will be free of fleas.

Identify and Treat a Flea Infestation – Tips & Tricks To Get Rid Of Fleas

If you have noticed your pet scratching a lot, they may have fleas. If they do, you need to understand that just killing the fleas on your pet will not solve the problem. You need to kill the fleas that live in your carpets and furniture as well. Treating your pet alone will not keep them from re-infesting the animal over and over and causing further problems. Here are a few ways you can deal with fleas to get them off your pet and out of your house.

One common misconception many people have is that fleas can only live on a live host. This is partly true, they need a live host to feed but they can live in carpets, bedding and furniture for weeks as long as they can feed periodically. Adult fleas lays eggs that travel on pets but do not stick to them, meaning that they fall off in other areas of the house where they wait to hatch. That is why killing the fleas on your dog or cat is not enough. Those eggs will hatch, get back on your pet and the whole thing starts all over again.

What are fleas?

Fleas are wingless parasites that attach themselves to live hosts and suck blood. They bite, which is why your pet scratches so incessantly. They itch and sting and there is no way for the animal to get them off. Fleas burrow into the animals fur and live right on the skin of the animal where they can feed all day long.  Fleas do not fly, but can jump from one host to another. This includes people so if your pet sleeps on your pet you may be getting bit as well.

When dealing with fleas, you’ll need to treat the animal, its bedding, toys and the carpets, furniture and floors of your whole house. Fleas are a nuisance but can be very uncomfortable to pets and even carry diseases which can make them sick, which is why it is important to nip a flea infestation in the bud as soon as you see it. We’ll discuss some traditional methods of flea control as well as some natural remedies you can use if you have small children in the house.

Ways to Deal with Fleas on Your Pet 

Detection

There are a number of preparation you can use on your pet to kill the adult fleas. The first thing you should do is inspect your pet for the tell-tale signs of flea infestation. The fleas can be seen in the pets fur as well as the waste of the creature, which looks similar to little specks of black pepper.

Flea Bath for Dogs

Your local grocery stores carry all kinds of flea-killing products for your pet. A good flea shampoo doesn’t have to be expensive. Just get something made with oatmeal or something soothing because you’ll need to bathe the animal frequently and it may cause skin irritation because it removes the natural oils from the animals coat. Bathing once per week is recommended to get rid of new adult fleas that have hatched, killing them before they can lay eggs.

Flea Collars

Flea Collars will deter some fleas because they contain a substance that repells them and smells unpleasant. Fleas and other insects like spiders and ants do not like strong smelling odors. They are very sensitive to odors and tend to avoid areas with scents they don’t like. This is why some citrus sprays are effective at keeping them away.

Treating you Home and Yard for Fleas

If you see more than a few fleas, you may have an outdoor flea problem as well. Most often pets that go outdoors to potty and play pick up fleas from outside. That is why animals that live indoors and don’t have contact with other animals can get fleas. They infest outdoor areas where they can jump on passing animals and get inside your house.

Chemical Applications

Foggers are one way to spray for fleas and eggs in carpets and on upholstery. They are similar to bug and spider bombs because you set them off and then have to be out of the home for several hours. Then afterwards, everything in your house will need to be washed down and laundered if possible.

Sprays for patios and under the house can also get rid of outdoor fleas before they get a chance to come inside. There are products such as Advantage 2 Yard and Premise Spray, Sentry Yard and Premise spray for fleas and ticks, and Natural Chemistry Yard and Kennel Spray just to name a few. You’ll need to spray around your yard and near the borders of your home as well as underneath porches and patios.

Natural Remedies for Flea Control

Natural methods for flea control may be preferred by parents of small children, or in case your budget is tight at the moment and there is no money for commercial products. Most ingredients are things you probably already have in your home and can use right away.

Natural Flea Bath

This one is super easy because you can use any kind of gentle shampoo and a little bit of dish soap. Dawn blue is the best one to use, but others will work also. Just get the fur wet and soap the animal with the shampoo like for a regular bath. Mix a capful of dish soap with a cup of water and massage it in with the shampoo. Let it sit on the pets fur for a minimum of five minutes and rinse.  Repeat this once a week.

Homemade Flea Collar

A bandana makes a perfect homemade flea collar for your pet. It can also be used on cats if it is small and tightly folded. You will need a few drops of essentials oils to dab on the folded bandana. Peppermint, tea tree oil, clove oil and citrus oils are great for this. Don’t make it too tight, but just enough that it won’t come off with scratching.

Treating Your House

Mix equal parts of lemon juice and water, or vinegar and water, or boil some water with slices of lemon, orange or lime as well as rosemary or cinnamon. Let cool and add to a spray bottle and mist your dogs bed, the furniture and underneath furniture as well as carpeted areas. You can also use it as a flea spray on your pet in between baths.

Vacuum Carpets Weekly

Sprinkle a little salt thoroughly over carpets and let sit for 30 minutes and vacuum rugs and carpeting. Repeat weekly until fleas are all gone. Remember to dispose of the vacuum bag immediately to keep them from getting out the next time you use the vacuum.

These tips will help you deal with the fleas on your pet as well as keep fleas out of your home. If you have tried everything and still have a serious flea infestation, it may be time to call an exterminator. Flea problems that go on too long can make your pet very ill. If you have to, call in the professionals.

Flea Eggs – What They Mean & How to Remove Them

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If you have a flea infestation in your home, you’re probably most concerned with the full-grown fleas that can be seen in the fur of your pets or climbing on humans. These jumping insects leave painful, itchy bites behind and can make life a real hassle. What you don’t see, however, can be even more problematic than these living, biting bugs. Slightly smaller than fine grains of sand, flea eggs are more difficult to target with both professional and store-bought treatments. They are also the next generation of blood-thirsty pests that will soon wreak havoc in your home.

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Salt Is One Of The Cheapest, Easiest Ways To Eliminate Flea Eggs
Vacuuming Your Home When Flea Eggs Are Present
Hard Surfaces
Working With Pest Professionals
Determining The Source Of Your Flea Infestation
The Elements Of A Comprehensive Flea Treatment Plan

Salt Is One Of The Cheapest, Easiest Ways To Eliminate Flea Eggs

Most people with flea problems have pets living in their homes. If you have a cat or a dog in your household, your primary goal is likely finding a safe, non-toxic treatment that will not harm your canine or feline companion or cause problems for any humans living in the residence. Flea eggs pose a major issue for people who are battling flea infestations given that they are generally unresponsive to the chemicals found in pesticides such as those that are disbursed by professional treatment companies or bought at the store in the form of flea bombs or spray cans. After having set off countless flea bombs, many people find that their flea problems still exist. The root of this issue is often newly hatched eggs and the efforts of these newborn insects to get their first blood meals right away.

I need to get rid of flea eggs quickly!

Fortunately, there is a low-cost and easy way to supplement your efforts to kill adult fleas. This is to simply coat your carpet in salt, which is where most of the flea eggs are likely hiding. Flea eggs can be laid on carpeted flooring, humans, soft furnishings, pets and hard surfaces such as window seals and floors. As pets and people move about, these eggs are disbursed throughout the home. Placing a copious amount of salt in your carpets and letting it sit there for several days is a safe and non-toxic strategy for combating this issue. Salt dries flea bodies and flea eggs out, causing both to die within approximately 48 hours. It is important, however, to use especially fine grain salt so that this settles deep down into the carpet fibers. Table salt is rarely sufficient given that it will sit on the surface of this flooring and will not reach the flea eggs that have settled deeply in. After two to three days have passed, vacuum all of the salt up and take care to immediately throw your vacuum bag away or clean the detachable canister. All of the resulting waste should be quickly disposed of outside of the home.

Vacuuming Your Home When Flea Eggs Are Present

When you have a problem with fleas and flea eggs, your vacuum will be your very best friend. Vacuuming your carpet is important to do before any homemade, store-bought or professional treatments are leveraged. It will collect small fleas, large fleas that don’t have the time to get away and flea eggs that can be pulled from the carpet fibers. It is important to note, however, that vacuuming may not remove all flea eggs. More importantly, these efforts can actually stimulate the remaining eggs and cause them to hatch early, as a protective measure.

Thus, if you notice a new rash of flea bites in your household immediately after vacuuming, do not get discouraged. This simply means that the next generation of bugs has hatched and it is time to repeat some of the steps in your multi-pronged plan of attack. Some homeowners are lucky and may experience success after a single, professional treatment. Others, however, may struggle for several weeks before fully eliminating all of these invasive parasites.

In order to make your vacuuming efforts more effective at eliminating fleas, you should:

  • Vacuum the carpet in visible rows so that no areas are missed.
  • Use the vacuum attachments to treat corners and baseboards.
  • Empty the canister or bag immediately after vacuuming.
  • Dispose of your vacuum waste outside of the home.
  • Vacuum all soft furnishing such as mattresses, sofas and chairs.

Hard Surfaces

Treating and cleaning your carpet isn’t enough. Flea eggs can live and hatch on hard surfaces as well. Thus, make sure to carefully sweep and mop all hardwood, tiled or linoleum floors as part of your cleaning efforts. Some people suggest using lavender oil as part of your cleaning solution. Simply add several drops of this oil to your mop water before getting started. This will give the home a fresh, floral scent that fleas absolutely detest. If you have a cat, however, be mindful of the fact that cats are extremely sensitive to essential oils and thus, these should be used in your flea treatment plan with great caution or only as a last resort.

Working With Pest Professionals

Don’t be fooled by pest control companies that come into your home and merely spray a pesticide agent on your carpeting. Every good flea treatment plan is always a multi-pronged effort. This is largely due to the fact that fleas have four, distinct life cycle stages: egg, larvae, pupa and adult. At each stage of life, fleas will respond to your treatment efforts in different ways. It is also vital to note that not all fleas are going to be in the same stage of life at the same time, given that female fleas lay eggs almost every time they’ve had a blood meal or have bitten you or your pets. Thus, you have fleas of all stages and ages throughout your home and you will need a comprehensive plan for effectively treating fleas at each of these stages. Sprays, even if they are commercial-grade, will usually kill adult fleas and render larvae and pupa incapable of reproducing. Unless you have a plan for killing off flea eggs, however, these bugs will hatch healthy and robust.

Determining The Source Of Your Flea Infestation

The best pest control companies will start by identifying the cause of the infestation, particularly if you are living in a home that lacks pets but are still getting bitten. This often indicates the presence of wild pests, such as mice, raccoon, possum or other warm bodied animals that have taken up residence in or near the home. Although fleas can bite humans, they typically need or want a host. Humans have diligent grooming habits, no fur and a far lesser ability to serve as desirable hosts. Eliminating the primary infestation or wild animal populations that are hosting the fleas, could therefore be an essential part of your treatment plan.

The Elements Of A Comprehensive Flea Treatment Plan

A comprehensive treatment plan generally includes:

  • Identification of the host for the flea population.
  • Removal of primary infestations that are hosting fleas.
  • Disbursement of commercial-grade chemicals.
  • Diligent cleaning instructions for eliminating unhatched flea eggs.
  • Establishment of a chemical, flea barrier.
  • Integration of home remedies for continued success.

Getting a flea infestation under control can be a daunting task. With a multi-pronged plan, however, you can stop all generations of these bugs. Efforts to kill or eliminate flea eggs should always be a part of this process.

dog-fleas

How to Get Rid of Fleas – Prevent, Control & Remove Fleas

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As we all know, fleas have been one of the scourges of the human population. They can bring disease, sickness, and the famous “Black Plague” in the middle ages was caused by a flea-borne bacteria.

Of course, modern medicine has taken care of the deadliest diseases that fleas carry, and for most of us, a flea bite is akin to a mosquito bite. You’ll get a red welt, it will itch, and you’ll have to deal with it for a few days until it goes away.

But your dog and cat friends will suffer more. Fleas might bite you, but they will breed on dogs and cats. That’s where the main problem lies. Once a breeding population is established, it will be hard to get rid of them under any circumstance. There are two steps here: eradication and prevention. So here is what to know and what to do.

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How Do They get In?
Concentrate on the Source
Eradicate Living Space
Flea Prevention

How Do They get In?

Dogs and cats are not born with fleas. They have to get them from somewhere, and that’s always going to be an issue. Obviously, direct interaction with another animal pet that has fleas is very common. But even if there is no interaction at all, your pet can still get fleas.

Every time your pet goes outside, there is a chance to pick up fleas. These pests are common in the wild, virtually every animal has them, and it’s just a natural part of living outdoors. Needless to say, fleas jump off of hosts, or they fall off, or their larvae fall onto the ground, and when your pet passes over that spot, the flea will jump aboard its new home.

Granted, there are specific cat and dog fleas, but they are not very particular onto which animal they can feed on. And all fleas feed on blood.

That means, every time your dog or cat goes out of doors, the potential is there to bring in fleas. You may be able to eradicate fleas from your home, but you’ll always have to practice prevention in order to keep them gone. Here’s what to do.

Concentrate on the Source

Now remember, the source of fleas coming into your home is your favorite pet. That’s the first place you want to concentrate on when you have a flea problem. No matter what you do to your house or home, if you don’t control where they are coming from, you’ll never get rid of the fleas.

The initial thing to do is to give your pet a flea bath. Yes, even cats will have to endure this if the fleas are really bad. However, there are flea baths that you can spray on, let sit and then wipe off, so even cats won’t mind.

If you don’t want to go down the chemical route on a flea bath, go with white vinegar. You can dab or spray it on, it won’t harm your pet, but it will kill fleas. You may have to rinse it off, especially if you have a cat, but for an all natural flea killing bath, vinegar is the ticket.

After this, you can choose to put on a flea collar for continued protection. A better way to do it is to use a spot-on treatment. These types are little drops of flea killer that you place between the shoulder blades of your dog or cat. They will naturally spread around the pets body and kill off any leftover fleas, if any are left after a bath, and they’ll keep killing for weeks.

Of course, many people are against putting any kind of chemical next their pets skin, and you can skip this step, but prevention will then be that much more important in the future.

Eradicate Living Space

Once you get done ridding your pets of fleas, you can now concentrate on your living space. After all, you can get rid of all the fleas on your pets, but if you send them back to places where fleas are present, they will just become reinfested.

The Vacuum is your Friend

Here, the first step is to vacuum. Pay particular attention to rugs, carpeting and furniture. These are flea hideouts, and they will wait there to jump on any warm passing body. By vacuuming, you’ll not only be sucking up fleas, but you’ll also be sucking up their feces and their larvae too.

After vacuuming, spray a natural bug killer into the hose while the vacuum is still on. Any insecticide made of pyrethrins, which is made from the chrysanthemum flower, is a natural bug killer that will kill the fleas you have sucked up. This is important because if you don’t do this, they might come back up the hose, or jump on you when you change out the bag.

So vacuum first, and when you are done, spray a little bug killer down the hose when the vacuum is still running.

Into the Wash

After vacuuming, remove anything that you can, like blankets, pillow covers, whatever, and throw them in the wash. Use hot water and a lot of detergent, and don’t forget to dry them on hot, just in case any of the fleas slipped through.

Last but not Least

We briefly touched on bug spray, but for total eradication, you’ll need to spray particular spots. Again, use an all natural pyrethrin spray as opposed to a chemical spray.

Spray down furniture, where your dog lays, the dog bed, and anywhere else where your dog rests or resides. These are the places that will be the most infested, and these are the places to target.

If you want to go completely natural, you can use diatomaceous earth powder. This is basically the outer shells of diatoms, or shelled algae, that has been fossilized and mined. Spread that on places where your dog or cat have been, and the the minute shell fragments will chop up the fleas when they move around on it. Leave it on for a couple of days and vacuum it up. No harm will come to you or your pet, and since this is completely natural, you’ll never have to worry about chemicals either.

Flea Prevention

Once you have rid your living space of fleas, you’ll have to move into the prevention mode. If your pets are regular outdoor animals, flea baths or sprays might have to be a part of a regular routine.

You can spray cushions or rugs on your cleaning days, then vacuum everything up. The same goes for diatomaceous earth powder. Spread it around on the day before cleaning, let it sit overnight, and vacuum it up the next day.

A flea collar or flea drops are always good choices for prevention, and you can even set down flea traps in corners of rooms. Granted, you may not eradicate them this way, but if some are caught, you’ll know there is still an issue, and then you’ll be able to do take the proper steps and do something about it.

Remember, eradication and prevention. If you practice these two means, the end will be no more fleas.