When you have pets, you often have fleas as well. These wingless insects can live on your animals – and in your carpets, furniture, and upholstery – for weeks. If you think being pet-free grants you immunity from fleas, though, sorry! Fleas, like other pests, can find multiple routes into your home. On friends, on your children who have played in the yard…regardless of how they entered, you want them out. Which pest control methods are effective for flea infestations?
Signs of a Flea Infestation
First, how do you know if fleas are the culprit? You may notice:
- Excessive scratching in your pet.
- Itchy bites on you or your family members.
- Red or black droppings on your pet’s skin.
- Flat black bugs, measuring about 2.5mm.
Eradicating the Fleas
With an infestation, you have two challenges: the live fleas and the eggs that will hatch and perpetuate the problem. The best approach is to call a Brevard County pest control service for professional eradication. There are also a few do-it-yourself steps you can take:
- If you have pets, treat them. Start with a good bath and then use a flea comb to find the pests. Ask your vet about an effective flea prevention treatment, such as Frontline. After treatment, try to keep your pet indoors or limit him to paved areas. Remember to re-treat regularly.
- Wash your pet’s bedding, and be sure to use your dryer. The heat kills eggs and bugs.
- Use a commercial flea removal product to remove both the fleas and the larvae on your furniture and upholstery.
- Use green pest control, if you prefer. Instead of chemical foggers or “bombs,” try natural solutions: e.g. rubbing citrus on your pet’s skin, covering your furniture after treatment, sprinkling salt on carpet and vacuuming, or adding natural predators to your yard (called “beneficial nematodes).
Fleas are itchy, uninvited guests that you can kick out of your home. If you need help, please call a professional pest control service.