Fleas are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of both human and animal hosts. As nocturnal creatures, they remain dormant during the day and come out at night in search of a host. Fleas typically remain on their host at all times.
The bite of a flea can be often quite painful and itchy. You’ll know you’ve been bitten by a flea if you spot tiny red lumps on your skin. While most flea bites aren’t serious, they can become infected if you persistently scratch the affected area.
Knowing how to get rid of fleas is vital to keeping these pests away from your pets and loved ones. Routine house cleaning and flea treatment for your pets are two of the most effective preventive measures.
Meanwhile, treatment may involve cleaning bedding and furniture, the use of concentrated flea spray, and – if necessary – professional treatment from a licensed pest controller.
Let’s take a closer look at what it takes to prevent and treat fleas in your premise.
How to Treat Fleas
Have you recently found live fleas in your home or the symptoms of a flea bite? If so, then you need to get rid of the fleas quickly.
If you suspect the infestation came from a family pet, take the following precautionary measures.
If you don’t have a family pet, then skip this section and proceed to the next one:
Pet Control
- Check your pet for fleas:
Gently use a comb to check behind the neck and the lower back for fleas. If you have a flea comb, get a bowl of hot soapy water, and dunk the collected fleas into the bowl to kill the fleas.
- Wash your pet with flea shampoo
Talk to your local vet or pet shop about shampoo recommendations for your pet. The most effective pet flea shampoos not only get rid of existing fleas, but also provide several weeks of relief from flea eggs and larvae. Of course, the shampoo should also help cleanse, lather, and deodorise your pet’s dry and irritated skin.
- Wash or remove your pet’s bedding
First, try to wash your pet’s bedding. Wash the bedding at around 50 degrees Celsius and dry it on the highest possible temperature in the dryer. Re-inspect the bedding. If there are still fleas, you’ll probably have to throw it away and purchase new bedding.
- Thoroughly vacuum and clean the areas where your pet resides
Where does your pest like to spend the most time? Find those areas. And then thoroughly vacuum the areas and any surrounding furniture. This may help get rid of adult fleas, along with eggs and larvae.
Flea Treatment for the Home
Treating your home for fleas is the most important part of your flea control program.
As previously mentioned, not only do you need to get rid of the current adult fleas, but also any eggs or larvae that may be hiding in hard-to-reach places – such as in mattresses, tiny cracks and crevices, under rugs, and outside.
Here’s how to Get Rid of fleas in your home:
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Thoroughly vacuum your home top-to-bottom
Regular vacuuming will help keep your home clean and pull out any hidden fleas from out of their hiding spots. Areas to focus on include carpet and floorboards, furniture, behind cupboards and bedside tables, pantries, desks, mattresses and bedding, and storage spaces. If possible, try to vacuum one every two days for at least two weeks.
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Apply concentred flea spray to affected Areas
There are two types of concentred flea sprays you should use: an insecticide, and an insect growth regulator. The insecticide will effectively kill the adult fleas, while the insect growth regulator will inhibit the growth of flea eggs and larvae’s. Be sure to closely follow the instructions and safety directions for both products. Multiple treatments may be required to achieve total elimination.
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Clean up outside
Fleas prefer to dwell in shaded areas, as direct sunlight can be too hot. For this reason, be sure get rid of any debris outside, including built up leaves, shrubs, twigs, and timber products. You should also mow the lawn on a regular basis so as to reduce the amount of shade.
Still no luck? Contact the Experts
If you’ve carried out all of the above tasks, and you still have a flea problem, get in touch with a local pest controller.
On a suitable time and day, your pest controller will examine both inside and outside the property. They will then recommend a safe, effective, and affordable treatment plan designed to control the current infestation.
Depending on the scale of the infestation, the pest controller may need to carry out multiple visits to ensure total elimination. Fortunately, this attention-to-detail will give you peace of mind knowing the problem has been dealt with properly.
Not sure how to get rid of fleas on your own? Contact All Bugs today, and request a custom treatment plan from a licensed pest controller.
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