by Tara Kolton
Flea Control: Part 1 - Flea Control: Part 2 - Flea Control: Part 3
Indoors Environment:
You simply cannot expect to get rid of a flea infestation if you do not treat your home environment as well as your pets. Exterminating fleas in your home is a multi-step process, involving flea-bombing, as well as continual vacuuming, cleaning, and maintenance:
- Read the directions carefully on the foggers you buy. You want to buy enough to cover each room in your home. Some bombs may require your pilot light to be turned off which can be tricky, so read the print carefully before you purchase them. Most foggers can be safely used in your home when you turn off your heating system. You will have to vacate your home for at least 3 to 4 hours. Round up all your pets and vacate the premises. When you come back, open the windows to let your home air out.
- There are several steps to take before and after you bomb. Before you bomb you should vacuum all carpets in your home thoroughly. One of the problems with getting rid of an infestation of fleas is that there is no way to destroy the dormant flea larvae. Even after a thorough bombing, fleas can begin to turn up again. Vacuuming helps to stimulate the growth and hatching of the flea eggs that lie deep in the carpeting. You will want to vacuum again after you have bombed, and continue to vacuum your home frequently, at least once a week. Vacuuming alone can get rid of as much as 50% of the flea eggs. Don't forget your furniture. Take off the cushions and pillows and vacuum deep into crevices. Leave them off when you bomb to allow the fogger to reach deeper. Make sure you immediately wrap up the vacuum bag in a plastic garbage bag and get rid of it right away as it contains adult fleas and flea eggs.
- Open all the drawers, cabinets, and closets before you use the fogger. Put away all food and drink, bowls, plates, and all your pet's food. Cover up aquariums.
- After you have bombed the house, wash and change your bedding frequently. Keep cleaning around where your pets sleep and hang out. Put all of your clothes through the laundry. Don't forget to treat areas you might not think of right away, like the garage, your car, pet carriers, clothes hampers, etc.
- Flea sprays and carpet powders designed for the home environment can also be helpful products after flea-bombing your house. Flea sprays are good for harder to reach places where the fogger might have missed, such as cracks, moldings, baseboards, and under furniture. Powders can be used in the carpet to penetrate down where flea eggs may remain. Follow instructions for use carefully. Shop for Flea Carpet Powder
- Even with all the steps you have taken, there is still a chance of fleas reappearing. This is why it is best to repeat the process of fogging your home again after 3 weeks. This second flea-bombing should greatly reduce the risk of a major reinfestation occurring. Keep your eyes out closely for any signs of the reemergence of fleas.
- Safety always should come first. When you are buying certain products, keep in mind the presence of children, animals, and adults with health problems. Consult your vet as to the safety of the products. If the infestation is severe or you don't feel equipped to handle it all yourself, consider hiring a professional exterminator.
Treating Your Outdoors Environment: When you have pets that are outdoors frequently, sometimes it may be necessary to treat the surrounding outdoor environment for fleas as well. Fleas and flea eggs are present in the grass in your yard, as well as on other wild animals or pets in the area. Some areas that are warmer and more humid in climate may be especially prone to the year-round problem of fleas in the outdoors environment.
Flea control in the outdoors environment means treating your yard, as well as any dog houses and pet cages that are outdoors. You also don't want to forget porches, patios, or any places where your pets frequently lounge when outside. Fleas flourish most where it is shady, damp, warm, and organic matter is plentiful. You also want to rake away organic debris like leaves and grass clippings. You can treat your yard by spraying an insecticide. The safest product you can use is an environmentally safe spray which contains fenvalerate. Look for sprays also containing insect growth regulators. Follow the directions on the products closely for how to apply and how often. It will most likely need to be repeated every 10-30 days. Keep your surroundings in mind, and always ask for professional help if uncertain. Do not use spray where the runoff from your lawn would be able to enter rivers or lakes.
. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted to our "