How can I get rid of fleas in my house safely and cost effectively?

Answer 1

Ridding a home of fleas can be a frustrating and costly endeavor. Unlike some pests encountered around the home, fleas cause discomfort and irritation to both pets and people. Fleas account for more than half of all dermatological conditions requiring veterinary assistance, and even a single flea bite to a hypersensitive animal or person may cause intense itching and irritation.

For successful flea control, the home, pet and oftentimes, the yard must be treated. Yet the manner in which these treatments are performed can greatly influence the results. The following information will help frustrated pet owners effectively rid their homes and pets of fleas.

Answer 2

The first and foremost cost effective way is PREVENTION. It is always cheaper to prevent than to treat.

You need to buy a spray of flea killer for the household that contains an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) like Nylar. Spray the home according to the instructions. Don't forget to get behind the drapes, cracks in the floor, under furniture, along the baseboards, etc. Also, don't forget to toss the vacuum bag in the trash when you are finished. You need a product like Frontline Plus or Advantage to get rid of the fleas on the dog. The vet also carries a product called Capstar that is given orally and starts killing fleas on the pet within 30 minutes, but only lasts for 24 hours.

Remember to re-apply the preventative of choice every 30 days. Also, fleas carry tapeworms, so you can expect to have to treat all your pets with a tapeworm dewormer.

All products should be purchased from your vet to assure that they are safe - nothing OTC and please, never a flea collar. Good luck. Fleas infestations are such a pain.

Answer 3

Well flea bombs are good but not perfect. First treat the source. If it's a cat or dog go to your local el cheapo Vet and get the flea liquid that goes behind the neck of the animal. Only a Vet can supply this for you, since you actually need a prescription to have it. This bullshit that Pet Meds sells or Petco etc. does not do the trick. I was shocked to learn this the hard way. So try a combination of the above, also sprinkle some boric acid powder on your carpets and allow it to settle into the fibers. Boric acid will rid any home of any pest, except husbands. It's great for roaches, you will never see another one again. Good luck.

Answer 4

Go to the garden area of walmart or a garden store. Get "Sevin Dust"..sprinkle this all over your house, close it up and let sit for a few hours. This is not harmful to you or your pets and works great. My grandparents had a house that was rented to someone with pets. When they moved out the house was closed up and the fleas mutiplied like crazy. We used this product, and left it closed up overnight...which by the way is actually best if you can...butu the next day....we found not one flea. You can rub this inot your pets fur and it will kill also. After going back in..just vacuum up. Good Luck !!!!This is approximately about $6.00 or so.

Answer 5

Fleas cannot stand powdered sulphur. Its not very expensive and its perfectly safe.

Sprinkle it everywhere the fleas are including the cats - won't hurt them if they eat it.

Sulphur does have a bit of a smell to it but to my mind having fleas is a lot worse.

Answer 6

Use lavendar and peppermint oil. Take cotton balls and soak them in each of these oils. Put them in closets, corners, etc. This also helps for mice and other rodents. After giving your animal a bath put a little on them. You can also wash them in Dawn original (blue color only). Or take some water and put alot of Dawn in it (half a bottle) and take a lamp and put it over the water and soap. This attracts the fleas to the mixture and they will die from the soap. There is something about Dawn dish soap only the blue that kills them. Good Luck

Answer 7

give your animals a flea bath ($3) and make sure all of the fles are removed by combing them out with a lice comb. give them all flea collars. ($3 each collar)

remove the animals from your home (to somewhere where there arent fleas) adn flea bomb ($7-$10 for 4 bombs) the ENTIRE HOUSE. and leave it a couple of hours.

re introduce your animals when the box of the flea bombs tell you to.

you should be fine.

Answer 8

Find a Black Wanut tree, break a load of small limbs off and "sweep" your floor with them, when done going over the floor, place them under the couch, under beds, behind tv, etc.

Give it about a week and every flea in teh house will be gone. I know this works, we use it in the spring to get rid of fleas when our dogs get them.

Answer 9

Raid flea worked for me and a good vacuum cleaner but don't shampoo carpet the warm wet water makes a comfortable place for the eggs.

Answer 10

Go to your local discount store like WM and buy the bombs that you set off in the house. Pick a day when everyone will be gone and follow the directions. Make sure your pet isn't in the house as well. They work extremely well and don't cost as much as an exterminator. Good Luck!