1/4 of cats and 1/7 of dogs carry fleas at any given time.
Has your furry friend brought home some tiny scaly friends of their own? There’s nothing more irritating than a flea infestation in the home. Not only are fleas irritating to see jumping around, but they’re actively feeding off of you and your pet while they do it.
They also reproduce at an infuriating rate, making an infestation difficult to get a handle on. Today, we’re going to help you deal with your flea problem once and for all by giving you 4 helpful tips. Keep reading and you’ll ease your pet’s burden and get rid of fleas in your home once and for all.
1. Vacuum Thoroughly
The first thing you need to do when you discover a flea infestation is to vacuum the entire home with a high-powered vacuum. Fleas have plenty of hiding spots, but they’ll also spend a lot of time out in the open, especially if you’ve got carpets.
Make sure to get any rugs and furniture vacuumed as well. You’ll also need to empty out the vacuum and dispose of the garbage bag every time so that the eggs don’t hatch. Vacuum 3-5 times per week for at least 3 weeks in a row to put a dent in the infestation.
2. Treat Your Pet(s)
Go out and buy some topical flea treatment and treat all of the animals in your home. If one animal comes home with fleas, they’re all going to have flea bites in a matter of days.
It’s best to consult your vet to come up with a pest control plan that will ensure your pet is completely free of fleas. It might take time and daily treatment, but it’s the only way to curtail the fleas.
3. Steam Cleaning
If you can get hold of a steam cleaner, you’ll be able to attack the fleas full-force with a combination of heat and soap. Make sure to get all upholstery and carpet, paying extra attention to your pet’s preferred lounging areas. A good steam cleaner should be able to knock out fleas at any stage in their life cycle.
4. Flea Spraying
Failing the steam cleaning, a flea spray or fogger should do the trick. Buy a vet-approved product and follow the instructions on the canister to tackle the same areas, especially those where the pet spends the most time.
Make sure to read the label, as it might require you to vacate your pet from the home while you do it so they aren’t ingesting any harmful chemicals. Vacuum before you use the spray because flea eggs are difficult to kill, even with heavy-duty sprays. The vacuum may stimulate the eggs to hatch and then your spraying will be more effective.
Take Your Flea Infestation Seriously
Now that you have a roadmap for dealing with your flea infestation, you can start to take action. Removing fleas can be difficult, but if you follow these tips, you’ll have your home back to normal in a few weeks.
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