The fear of anyone with pets at home is that fleas will enter the home. No matter how beautiful your house is or how well decorated you have it, if there are fleas inside, it will undoubtedly be a terrible problem and no one will want to be in there ... not yourself! If you have fleas in the home, it is important that you remedy as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming infested.
Our pets are members of our families, but sometimes pets unknowingly invite an inopportune guest to settle on our rugs, sofas, and nooks. Fleas are one of the most annoying insect infestations that can occur in a home. Here's how to get rid of fleas and keep them from coming back.
Get rid of fleas on your pets first
Treat the cause of the fleas first; generally, an infestation occurs due to a pet. Treat your pets for fleas, including a flea collar or medication before doing all the work of getting rid of fleas in your home.
Vaccum cleaner
Vacuuming will kill the highest percentage of adult fleas, young fleas, and eggs. Move the furniture and vacuum thoroughly. Don't forget to use your vacuum cleaner attachment to vacuum the edges of the room and hard-to-reach corners. Remove the bag or throw away the trash and throw the trash out when you're done.
Wash bedding
Use the hottest water your clothing can tolerate, wash any pillows, bedding, or other fabrics that may have been exposed to fleas. You can use a normal liquid laundry detergent and dry it well.
Vacuum again
Repeated vacuuming of the carpet, floor, and any other area will help remove any remaining fleas. Make sure to continue vacuuming thoroughly for the next several days. Keep in mind that this will require a daily effort to remedy in the immediate future.
Home remedies
Borax is known to be an effective home remedy; When sprayed on the affected area and then vacuumed, it can help cause a quick death to fleas. Although you must be careful; pets or children who ingest borax can be poisoned.
A homemade flea trap can be made by filling a small bowl with water and a few drops of dish soap. Place the bowl on the ground near a night light. With other lights off, the fleas will jump into the light that will land in the bowl and drown. You can also consider making a homemade flea repellent for your pet that you can.
Eliminate larvae at home
Wash any bedding the pet has come in contact with, particularly your own bed and the sheets and blankets of any family member the pet sleeps with. Vacuum rugs anywhere in the house where the pet has been.
Consider hiring help for pest control
If your infestation is severe, you may need the help of a professional pest control product or service. Be sure to exercise caution and follow meticulous instructions if this type of intervention is needed. Take care to protect your pets and your family by reading the instructions carefully and following them diligently.
Treat home
As we have discussed before it is important that you treat carpets, upholstery and baseboards with a pesticide product specifically labeled as a flea insect growth regulator. If pet bedding can't be washed, it can be treated too. It is also beneficial to use a labeled product outdoors in the yard if the animal spends time outdoors.
Patience
Allow the pesticide to dry completely (usually 3-5 hours) before returning or bringing pets home. This time is important to ensure that the house is fully ventilated. LTreated areas should not be cleaned for at least two weeks after treatment.
Prevent a recurrence
While professionals will provide prevention by preventing the eggs from hatching and preventing the larvae from growing, it is advisable to use flea control products to prevent them from bringing pests into the home. These products can be in the form of a pill that is given to your pet once a month; a collar that is replaced every six months; or topical medication that is dispensed on the skin of the pest between the shoulder blades. Only use products that are labeled for the type and age of the pet you have.
Many of these products also include active ingredients to kill ticks and fleas. In warmer areas, the products should be used throughout the year. In northern climates where the insects become relatively inactive in the winter, the use of the products can sometimes be limited to possible flea seasons. Discuss the options with your vet.