Removing Fleas in Your House - A Guide
To remove fleas in the house, you've got to do more than just eliminate the fleas on your cat or dog. By the time you see some on your pet, majority of these pests are already scattered around the house and yard. To get rid of fleas, the pet and house have to be treated simultaneously.
Use Your Vacuum Cleaner
Use your vacuum cleaner to suck out fleas hiding in the carpet, the pet bed and under the bed. You'll also want to vacuum dark places and corners in the house. Clean out the furniture, baseboards and skirting boards.
Use a Spray insecticide
To help remove fleas in the house, use an insecticide with the IGR ingredient. IGR stands for Insect Growth Regulator. Spray this into the carpets, the floor and areas your pet frequents or sleeps in. As when vacuuming, pay extra attention to nooks and crannies as fleas like to hide there.
Warning: follow all the instructions for using the spray insecticide to the letter. If you have any pet fish in the area, remove them before using the spray. Vacuum the area after a week.
How to Remove Fleas in the Yard
You can use the same insect spray you used to remove fleas in the house in the garden. Spray the areas where your pet sleeps and plays in. You should also spray in crevices and sandy areas. If you're in a high set house, don't forget to spray below it.
Other spots in the yard and garden prone to fleas are the patio, kennels and verandas. Don't forget to wash all your pet's toys. Make sure you remove all signs of fleas. Hang them in the sunshine so they can dry.
Getting Rid of Fleas on Your Pet
Don't use flea powders, flea collars or dips; it is much better to use top-spot treatments. There are several products to choose from but application is usually the same. Apply the treatment on the animal's skin and sometimes the legs and shoulder blades.
These products usually have to be applied monthly to effectively remove fleas in the house and pets. In some cases it isn't necessary; once the flea cycle has ended, usage of the product is no longer necessary. Just to be sure, you should follow the guidelines as stated in the product.
If the Fleas Reappear
If some fleas appear in the next couple of weeks, don't be surprised; these fleas were in the pupal stage when treatment was administered. During this stage the fleas are unharmed by insecticides.
If they appear, vacuum the areas you spot them in. If the fleas appear on your pet, apply the treatment again. Repeat the process you did earlier with the house and yard. This will eliminate all the fleas in your home. Keep the place clean to avoid a repeat of the infestation.
To remove fleas in the house, cleaning both your pet and surrounding areas is necessary. Using the methods cited above will get rid of these pests quickly.
