How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home
Fleas are as irritating as they are dangerous. They can spread to other parts of your house like wildfire; live in floors, carpets, and yards; bite the host; and transmit diseases.
As soon as you notice fleas on your pet or your house, you have to act quickly or they will multiply. Anyway, here are the things you can do to get rid of fleas in your house DIY style!
1) Call your vet
Fleas are cunning little bugs, and they can grab onto your pet dog or cat from outside. You’ll know this if you notice them itching and scratching themselves often.
When this happens, you have to treat your pet to remove the fleas. But, due to the differences in each animal, we advise calling your veterinarian to find the right product for them.
They should be able to recommend one that will eliminate all life stages of fleas within your pet’s fur and is suitable to your home’s climate.
That should stop further infestation around your house from taking place, making your little buddy healthy and happy once again!
2) Use a flea comb
A flea comb is a great tool to have for your pet. It has a set of small teeth that will trap the fleas within them as you use them.
You should get it even if your pet doesn’t have fleas, just in case he or she comes home with the tiny parasites.
Focus on the neck and lower tail areas of your pet. Go outside to comb your pet so the fleas won’t hide under wooden cracks, crevices, or carpets inside the house.
Plus, keep in mind to have a small container of soapy warm water as you comb your pet and dip the comb in it to drown the clinging insects.
3) Vacuum the affected areas
You should make it a point to vacuum your entire house. You should target everything, especially upholstery, blinds, above and under furniture, and flooring.
The frequency for this should be daily for the places you and your pet hang out most of the time, such as the bedroom, living room, or kitchen. As for other areas, vacuum them once a week.
If it so happens you need more firepower to kill off fleas, you can sprinkle baking soda, salt, or both, and leave them there for at least a day to a week depending on the severity of the flea infestation.
However, if this simple DIY solution fails to work, your best bet would be to call a pest control professional or hire a carpet cleaner that uses steam cleaning for infested carpets, which is very effective.
4) Wash bedding in hot water and detergent
Hot water easily kills fleas, just like it destroys bed bugs and dust mites.
Thus, if you find any signs of them on your pet’s bed, take out the pillows, sheets, and blankets immediately, roll them, and put them in the washer. Then, add detergent, set the appliance to hot, and start it.
Also, don’t forget to wash your children’s beds too if your pets often come visit and sleep with them. In that case, the fleas have likely settled or multiplied there.
5) Bathe your pet regularly
Bathing your pet regularly will keep the fleas at bay. You don’t have to do it every day, though. As long as no fleas are present, they’re already good.
We’d like to add that you have to use a gentle and safe shampoo and soap for your particular pet. Some pet owners also choose to add essential oil for a lovely scent that can also keep fleas away.
But note that not all essential oils are good for the dog, as they can be poisonous if licked accidentally or can cause skin issues through contact with them or through dispersion by a diffuser.
Examples of toxic essential oils include citrus, tea tree, geranium, lavender, eucalyptus, to name several. On the other hand, here are the ones that have been excellent to use but in small amounts only: rosemary, lemongrass, thyme, peppermint, and cedarwood.