How to get rid of fleas

Has your pet been scratching a little more than usual? Do you see your pets constantly scratching or biting their feet? If so, you probably have a flea infestation on your hands. Flea Bites The best way to keep fleas out of your home is through prevention. But if fleas have gotten in your house already, follow these steps will help you get rid of those fleas quickly. Step #1: Identify how Extensive Your Flea Problem Is. First, make sure it is fleas you’re dealing with, and not bed bugs or mites. Fleas are generally easy to identify once you know how. Check your pets for flea dirt. It will look like dirt attached to their skin. It is often on their hindquarters and stomach. Flea Dirt Female pets that have just had pups will have this dirt concentration around the nipples. Unlike regular dirt, it won’t be on their fur but on the actual skin. If you don’t have pets, it’s not unusual to have fleas. Any feral animal can bring them into your yard. They then can jump on you and you can carry them into your home. Birds also have fleas. Nesting birds on you home can be another reason a pet less home can become infested. There is an easy way to check if you have fleas. You see fleas jump when they detect vibrations near them, and they’re attracted to light colors, so put on the whitest socks you can find and walk through your home. If you do have fleas, they should hop on. The more fleas you have, the more you’ll see. If you use the sock method and find fleas, walk directly outside and get rid of them. Step #2: Eliminating Fleas on Pets Treating your pets for fleas must happen while you’re treating the house. If not, the fleas will just hold onto your pets and drop of later, re-infesting your home. Then you’ll have to repeat the entire treatment process. Take your pet to get a flea bath and flea treatment while the house is being treated and keep them out until the process in your home is completed. Step #3: Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum Away Fleas, Eggs and the larva. Your entire home should be thoroughly vacuumed on a very regular basis when you have fleas. This will pick up some of the eggs and the larvae and adults. The vacuuming won’t kill the eggs, though, so get some talcum powder, sprinkle it on you floor and vacuum it up. This fine powered will plug up the breathing tubes of the fleas and they will suffocate. You will need to empty the vacuum in a trash bag, tie off the opening and put in the trash can outside. This needs to be done after each vacuuming. It’s important to vacuum regularly for at least two weeks. The flea life cycle is short, so if you stop vacuuming before completing the entire two week process, you’ll see fleas reemerging in short order. Try to vacuum every two to three days for at least a two-week period. Step #4:  Ways to Kill Fleas There are plenty ways that are suggested to get rid of fleas but some work and some don’t but most falls somewhere in between. I’ll talk about so called natural ways to kill and discourage fleas and the one that really works best. Flea treatment options include: Flea Traps: In each room, place a flea trap or at least a small water dish with a few drops of dish soap. This method can be used to see if fleas are present but do little to get rid of a flea infestation. Essential Oils: Using the natural essential oil sprays like cedar, lemongrass, eucalyptus, or lavender on couches and beds. Unless you hit the fleas, larva, or eggs this method doesn’t work well because it has little residual effect. There is some repellency effect but you want to get rid of the fleas, not just make them move to another place in the home. Diatomaceous Earth: Is a non-toxic, unless you breathe in the dust or get it in your eyes, natural product that kills fleas within 48 hours. This product works by cutting the fleas as the crawl over it causing them to dry out. Lightly Sprinkle it on your floor, on pet’s bedding, and even outdoors where you believe your pet first caught the fleas. The problem with using this type of product is it must remain dry. If any moisture gets to it, and fleas like moisture, the sharp edges break down and become ineffective. It’s also hard to use because using too much repels the fleas. Only the lightest dusting works well. Also getting the dust in your eyes or breathing it in has the same effect on you as it has on the fleas. The Very Best Product: Percor 2000 plus is without question the best product to control fleas in your home. It contains 2 ingredients in an aerosol from that attack all stages of flea’s development. One ingredient is a contact killer; the second is a growth regulator. The everyday consumer cannot buy this product in California but you can go online line and find numerous suppliers outside of California that will ship it to you. It will cost you about $18 per can. If you do buy any pesticide, read the label before you use it. The label will tell you what protective equipment you will need to use and how to use the product. Misusing the product will result in getting someone sick and the product not working effectively. Step #5: Treating your Yard for Fleas You are your pet probably brought the fleas into your home from your yard. It’s important to remove them so they don’t reinvest your pet and home. Fleas are usually found in warm, shady and moist areas. Keep your lawn free of debris like grass clippings and leaf piles. We don’t recommend this but some people think this may work. Fleas don’t like the smell of cedar; you can try covering areas where you found fleas with cedar chips. It does not kill them but may, for a short period of time, get them to move to another area. THE BEST WAY TO GET FLEAS OUT OF YOUR YARD: Get a dry granule product that contains BIFENTHRIN. The product should carry 0.2% of the active ingredient. The best brand is called Talstar PL. If you can’t find this product or a generic form of Talstar go online and buy it. It should run you about $36 for a 25lb bag. Using a liquid requires equipment with certain types of setting and products you can’t find on line or in stores. Make sure you refer to the product label before using. It will tell you what protective equipment to use and the application rates you need to use. Step #6: Maintenance and Flea Prevention Once you’ve gotten rid of fleas, the last thing you want is for them to come back. Prevention is vital now—since you got fleas once, you can get them again! Wash your pet regularly, and make sure to apply a monthly, topical flea treatment that has been approved by your vet. Treat your yard with Bifenthrin at least twice a year, that’s in the early spring and early fall. If applied properly you’ll get rid of your fleas and a bunch more home invading insects and spiders. Fleas aren’t fun, but if you follow the steps above you can quickly regain an itch-free home and happy pet. If you need help with your pest control or rodent control, just give us a call. We’d be glade to help. Wheeler's Pest Control