How to Kill Fleas
From the family of Siphonaptera, fleas are wingless insects that only and usually feed on the blood of warm blooded animals. Fleas can also survive and multiply in moist as well as humid environments. Dogs and cats are the main carriers of fleas, so a house with pets is most likely to have them as well. Eradicating fleas are a tedious and complicated job but by being able to maintain a hygienic home, inside and out and keeping pets clean can help prevent and kill them.
Ways to Kill Fleas at Home
The main goal in killing fleas at home is to completely kill fleas with their eggs and larvae. This can be achieved by vacuuming and extensive cleaning. All carpets, rugs and furniture should be vacuumed regularly with the vacuum bag sealed tight to prevent any fleas escaping through slits or holes and flying around the house. Vacuuming is important as flea eggs and larvae can stick to carpets and rugs fibers easily. You can then sprinkle some salt onto the carpet and leave overnight, and then vacuum again the next day. The salt left overnight on the carpet and rugs will kill fleas, eggs and larvae by dehydrating them. This can also be done on the other areas of your house especially corners, that may have fleas infested. All linen, blankets, bedding and so on must be washed with soapy water. Another useful way is to have flea traps for extra flea control.
Natural Ways to Kill Fleas
A lot of people opt for citrus sprays, pyrethrins, sorptive dusts and insect growth inhibitors for controlling flea infestations, but it would be most suggested that you seek an expert’s advice on how to use such means safely inside the house. However, natural means are essentially safe in controlling fleas. Such natural means are essential oils of lavender and citronella, eucalyptus leaves and oils as well as cedar wood chips. These natural flea repellants can be positioned near doors to prevent fleas form entering your home.
Killing Fleas on Pets
As you desire to clear your house from fleas, you won’t be able to do so, without having your pets completely clean as well. As your pets are the main carriers of fleas, they will be bringing these pests back inside. It would be hygienic as well to give your pets a clean bath frequently especially if they have been messy outside. Use a nice lathering shampoo on them with a few drops of lavender, tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil mixed in the water for rinsing. Try using some popular natural flea repellants such as lavender, cedar wood and citronella oil or blend with almond oil on your pet’s body for a natural homemade flea repellant.
Natural Ways to Kill Fleas on Pets
As citrus fruits are an excellent repellant, you can boil several pieces of lemon or orange peels allowing them to soak in water for a night. The next day, this can be used as a solution for your pet’s body. Another efficient way is by using flea combs that are affordable and can be purchased in many pet grooming shops. It is simple to use and can be used any time. However, as this would loosen the fleas’ grip on your pet’s hair it’s best to clean your pet’s bedding as well. The old fashioned Flea collars can help, but as it lets out poisonous vapors to kill fleas, these vapors can also affect your pet’s health, so it is not popularly recommended.
Killing Fleas in the Yard
Just like your home, your yard can be a haven for fleas. No matter how much cleaning you do inside your house, if your yard is already infested, these fleas will still be making your home theirs. An effective way to remove these fleas from your yard is by using diatomaceous earth with sharp edges that can cut through the exoskeleton of fleas. In doing so, the fleas will become dehydrated and eventually die. As effective as the diatomaceous earth is in killing fleas, it also is harmful for pets. Another is borax that can also be sprayed on your yard to kill fleas. Once again, it is important to seek an expert’s advice before proceeding with these options.
Fleas Carry Diseases
Aside from the annoying itchiness and bumps that fleas can give, they also are carriers of bacteria causing diseases. Fleas are parasites that live on the blood of their host be it an animal or human. Although they cannot live on a human body unlike what they do on our pets, they can still bite us causing itchiness and even transmit diseases. This is the main reason why you should be vigilant in keeping your house inside and out clean, as well as your pets.
As all these are ways to eradicate fleas, you can even opt to combine all ways for a more effective flea control and prevention. There are those who may find it hard to accomplish this on their own especially when handling chemicals or the stress and patience needed to accomplish it is just too much. If you are one of them, you can hire a pest control expert instead to help you out. These experts can use the methods you would want them to or use their own means. As there are a variety of commercial flea control products out in the market now to help eradicate these pests, you might want to reconsider using them based on the chemical content that can be bad for children and pets too. Adults who handle these chemicals must also take extra precautions to protect themselves and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the book.
Killing fleas is easy if you know how and what to do. Also, you would need to have the amount of patience to deal with it as it is a tedious job. Use natural methods first to see how it goes and then decide on other methods if it fails. Always consider the safety of your pets and children as well.