my dog had fleas. I washed him with flea shampoo and he seems ok. What about my home? bedding, sofa, drapes?

Answer 1

Quarantine infested pets.
Collect bedding, rugs and throws and wash them in soapy water. Soapy water kills the eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. Be careful not to spill eggs or larvae when picking them up. Eggs are usually found with tiny pellets of dried blood that are defecated by the adults and used for food by the larvae - the combination looks like salt and pepper. Really gross salt and pepper.
Vacuum everything. upholstered furniture, carpets, cracks in the floor, bare floors, and use the attachments to get in the corners, behind doors, and anywhere else that dust collects. This will pick up most of the eggs, but larvae will latch onto carpet fibers and stick around. After vacuuming, immediately remove the vacuum bag and seal it in a plastic bag. This bag can then be put into the freezer to kill any fleas and be reused later.
The remaining larvae can be dealt with by having the carpets professionally steam-cleaned (the steam will kill every stage of flea except eggs). Make sure you warn the cleaners about the fleas and remove infested animals. Alternatively, you can shampoo the carpet with insecticidal carpet shampoo or have a pest control professional apply an infrared heat treatment to the carpet, which kills all stages of flea.
If your pet spends much time outside, drench his usual resting areas with lots of soap and water to drown any fleas that may be waiting for his return.

Answer 2

First of all, flea shampoo only kills them...he will likely get them back without an effective preventative (Frontline Plus works great). There are sprays that will treat your house. Knockout is one and works really well...available from the vet for under $10 typically. If you get another brand, make sure the label says it's safe for pets.

Answer 3

as for the bedding, wash all including pillows in hot water. Fleas can lay dormant in your carpet, there is a powder for your carpet that kills them, you can buy it at wallmart or other stores like it, i dont remember the name, but the canister was light purple in color. call the furniture store for info on the couch

Answer 4

i just moved and my dogs got fleas when i moved here. the best thing to do is get the flea drops, like advantage, and also get like the powder that you sprinkle on your floor then vacuum. works.