Around the world, there are about 2,500 different species of fleas. In fact, your pet can be a host to up to 300 fleas at once in some cases.
Fleas can have detrimental effects on the health and wellness of both you and your pet, and, with the ability to jump 13 inches horizontally, it doesn’t take long for a few fleas to turn into a complete infestation of your home.
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It’s definitely stressful if your house is infested with fleas, but there are ways to combat these pests, and if you continue reading you’ll find out how.
Signs of a Flea Infestation
There are some common giveaways for a flea infestation, and they’re as follows:
- Black dots on your pet’s skin
- Debris throughout your pet’s fur
- Scabs and loss of fur on your pet
- Your pet scratches and licks their fur more than normal
If you notice any of these things going on it’s likely your pet has fleas and there’s a chance your entire home could be infested.
How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home
A flea infestation can be tricky to deal with as a homeowner considering a female flea can lay up to 40 eggs per day.
In order to ensure you tackle the infestation, you’ll want to be thorough with cleaning, vacuuming, and steam cleaning around your home. You’ll likely have to repeat the cleaning process more than once.
Here are some steps you should take to tackle an infestation in your home:
Vacuum
Clear your carpets and floors as much as possible so you have full access to them and then vacuum. Don’t forget to get inside your closet and under your bed as well. This is a good way to get rid of any eggs and larvae that may be hiding in your carpets.
Make sure you’re getting into all the nooks and crannies and are reaching underneath any baseboards. Carpets aren’t the only floors to pay attention to, though — all floors should be vacuumed.
You should also go over all furniture that has fabric on it, specifically any areas your pet has been, as pets are likely where flea infestations came from.
The force of the vacuum’s suction can kill adult fleas and the vacuum also picks up dried flea blood and feces which developing fleas rely on to survive.
Once you’re done vacuuming empty your vacuum into a securely sealed garbage bag and immediately bring it outside.
Steam Clean
Once you’ve finished vacuuming steam cleaning can help finish the job as fleas are not likely to survive the soap and heat.
Steam clean all your carpets, furniture with fabric, and your pet’s bed.
The reason you want to vacuum first is that the steam cleaner may not be able to kill the eggs, but the vacuum will be able to suck them up.
After steam cleaning, you’ll want to continue to vacuum either every day or every other day.
Use Natural Products
There are several products you likely have laying around in your home already that can be effective when it comes to killing fleas. Some of these products include:
- Salt
- Baking Soda
- Lemon
- Rosemary
When it comes to salt and baking soda, these products can be sprinkled onto your carpet prior to vacuuming. These products are great dehydrators and make it hard for fleas to survive.
As for lemon, its acidic properties are great for killing fleas. You can simply make a lemon spray by mixing it with boiling water or vinegar and using it as a spray around your home.
You can use rosemary the same way as a lemon by letting it boil in some water and turning it into a spray. The scent of rosemary acts as a natural flea repellant and will prevent them from hanging around.
Do Laundry
Regardless of the fact that you’ve already given your pet’s bed a bit of a cleaning, you still want to thoroughly wash it and then dry it at the highest heat setting. This also goes for any blankets your pet sleeps with.
This is something that you should repeat every day if possible, as the lifecycle of fleas has several stages.
During this infestation, it’s best to establish a spot for your pet to stick to when it comes to sleeping to prevent any further spread of fleas.
Consider Your Backyard
It’s possible your pet could have caught fleas right in your own backyard, especially if you live in a tropical climate, so you’ll want to do some tidying up out there as well.
Here are some tips to keep the fleas at bay in your backyard:
- Keep the lawn mowed
- Get rid of branches and leaves on the ground
- Plant plants that repel fleas such as mint
- Clean your outdoor dog house often
Call Pest Control
You’ll want to repeat all the above cleaning procedures multiple times to ensure you’ve really gotten rid of all the fleas, however, just cleaning may not be enough.
In some cases, the infestation may be so bad that you have to pull out the big guns, and what we mean is pest control.
A pest control company, like Altus Pest Control, has the expertise to get you back to living in a pest-free home, and they may be your best bet to combat fleas.
How to Rid Your Pet of Fleas
If your pet gets infested by fleas they have the potential each day to track hundreds of eggs into your home. When you spot fleas on your pet or suspect an infestation, do the following:
- Wash your pet with flea shampoo
- Brush your pet with a flea comb
- Give your pet flea medication from the vet
- Put a flea collar on your pet
- Continuously check your pet’s fur
Fleas aren’t just annoying for your dog, they’re also harmful. Fleas carry parasites and diseases, and can even cause your pet to develop heartworm, so it’s vital you treat the infestation as soon as possible.
What to Do if Your House is Infested with Fleas
If your house is infested with fleas be prepared for a long battle as completely controlling the situation can take up to a few weeks, and possibly even months.
Don’t let that timeline discourage you though — it is possible to control an infestation as long as you remain vigilant and follow the steps above.
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