Killing Fleas
Fleas, every pet owner’s nightmare. They are disgusting little things and external parasites. They attach themselves to a host and feast on their blood. They are like tiny, ugly vampires. Fleas are also very hard to get rid of if they have made themselves at home in your humble abode. Fleas get carried into the home through their host or on objects. They multiply like no other so if you suspect that you have a flea infestation, you need to take quick action. No need to fret or fear though, that is why I am here, to help you.
The first thing you need to do to rid yourself of fleas to to kill the ones on your pets. As long as those ones live, they will continue to prosper and spread. There are a few different methods to kill fleas that have set up shop on your pet. The first thing to do, is to give your beloved pet a ‘flea bath’. There are a variety of shampoos and dips out there for you to use. Make sure that you use the kind that is specific to your pet. Don’t use dog products on your cat and vice versa. I don’t want you crying to me because you killed your cat. Also, if you are weary about using harsh chemicals on your pet some believe that hot soapy water will do the trick. There are a few natural oils that you can bathe your pet with instead of the chemicals:
- Citronella
- Cedar
- Eucalyptus
- Lemongrass
- Lavender
After you have bathed your pet, use a flea comb to rid it of the leftover fleas and the dead ones. It is also a good idea to comb your pet with the special flea comb on a daily basis until the flea infestation has been taken care of. Dispose of the fleas in soapy water to make sure that you kill them. You can purchase a flea collar for your adult pets to help ward off the fleas. To kill fleas that have moved in on you is basically the same as with your pet. Shower a couple times a day with hot soapy water and use a flea comb on yourself. There are chemical shampoos for humans as well. I would recommend going with natural oil route though.
You also need to concentrate on the environment and not just the hosts. You can kill all the fleas on yourself and pets but if they are still hanging around your house it won’t do any damn good. You need to vacuum multiple times a day. Also wash your bedding, the pet’s bedding and anything else that might be infested in very hot water. An effective weapon is carpet aerosol sprays. The best one out there is Ultracide Floor and Furniture Spray. Others suggest sprinkling salt on your carpet. Leave it over night and vacuum it up. There are also carpet powders but they can contain dangerous chemicals that might harm your pet. The best ones are those with Boric Acid. If you are planning to use these do it one room at a time and keep your pet out of the area. Unless its your sister’s cat and you really hate it because it won’t leave you alone then by all means let them roam free. Do all of these things multiple times until you are flea free.
Fleas also live in your yard, that is where they are before they hitch a ride inside. You need to kill the ones out there as well otherwise you will be eternally pestered by fleas. The best product out there right now is Conquer. Use this with a hose end sprayer. A little goes a long way. Spray the yard and anywhere the fleas might be hanging out. Stay away until it has dried. Also use IGR (Insect Growth Regulators) to stop them from breeding.
Follow these instructions and repeat until you have killed all the fleas.
