How do I get rid of fleas??!!?

Question

I had a friend over for the weekend and apparently they carried fleas into my home. How do I get rid of them safetly? I have a 2 year old child and I don't want to use poison if I don't have to but I need to get rid of them in a hurry. Thanks so much!!

Just wanted to add that I don't have any pets.

Answer 1

Get a house spray from a vets, not a pet store. I don't know what you mean by 'poison' exactly - any substance, especially a chemical is harmful to something in some way and can be considered a poison. Skoosh is probably the best for you because it's pesticide free. Have a look at it at www.skooshthefleas.com. This is a new product, so I don't know that you'd be able to find a vet that stocks it - but any should be able to order it in for you, just ask.

I'm sure people on here are going to suggest things like salt, diatomaceous earth, sevin dust and steam cleaning. I wouldn't bother - well you can if you want, but just don't rely on these to work, they're outdated methods involving generalised insecticides. These methods were once all that was available, but these days there is stuff available that works, and is safe.

Chalice

Answer 2

Sevin dust is a very safe product to kill insects, it can even be used on tomatoes before picking. Any product that can be used on tomatoes is "generally" a safe product (when used according to the label directions)

Do not confuse this with the liquid form of Sevin, totally different products Even small amounts of liquid Sevin can be hazardous when even slightly overused.

To be safe, make sure your baby is away visiting somewhere. Test a little Sevin dust on the carpet somewhere that doesn't show and let it sit for awhile. Then vacuum it up. It might be wise to wear a respirator mask and turn off the A/C if you don't want the dust to go everywhere, especially if your vacuum is not so heathly.

Others have suggested boric acid in place of Sevin dust. I think the Sevin dust is a safe and effective product and boric acid takes too long to work.

Another suggestion is to cut up a dog's flea collar into only a few pieces and put inside your vacuum bag. Be sure to throw the bag away so the fleas don't escape, and vacuum daily until they are gone.

Finally, remember the bottom line: Unless you inherited a house/apartment that was loaded with fleas, they didn't come inside by themselves. You have to address the issure of the source. Do you have pets that go outside? Do stray cats or squirells frequent your property? Both of the last two are loaded with fleas that drop off on the grass and wait for their next meal, whether dog, cat or human.

You may need a yard spray to keep them out of the home as well. Consider calling your local professional pest control company for a total solution to rid them inside and out simultaneously.

P.S. None of the approved products will kill flea eggs. You can sterilize the female when the flea bites the dog by using products such as "Sentinel". You can kill the adult fleas with a variety of products, and you can prevent the larvae from developing, but no safe and approved product kills the eggs of a flea.

Answer 3

I have found that simply keeping animals out of the affected area will eventually get rid of them. To be honest I think lice would like you and your children more than fleas. If you have pets that now have fleas I strongly recommend the use of a product called Advantage which is just a drop placed on the back of the animal's neck.

Answer 4

The only way is to have a professional exterminator to spray the house and you can also get them to spray the yard. They will have to come back in a week or so to spray again, because the flea eggs will have hatched. Which animal do you have, dog or cat?

Answer 5

Borax on the carpet is good..you can find it in the laundry section..Keep the baby off the carpet or have someone keep him as you need to keep it on the carpet for at least 2 hours then vaucuum..it is not as bad as some flea killers but it still is not safe for him to be around.. it worked for my carpet..Treat your yard as well..I used Dawn in a sprayer with the hose and hosed the whole yard..Have not had a flea since..good luck

Answer 6

I would suggest getting the fogger-type "bug-bombs" that kill adult fleas AND eggs. They are easily the most effective in this situation, and very fast. Be SURE to get the kind that kill eggs, or you will have the same problem in three weeks when they hatch. The poison is a minimal amount as compared to hand-held sprays; you will have to leave the house while they are in use, but after you return, your problem should be solved.

Answer 7

HEAR THIS>>>GET RID OF FLEAS< ROACHES>SILVERFISH...ect

Rock salt. Yup! Throw it all over the room after vacuum ( and please get rid of the dang vaccum bag ASAP in the trash at the end of your yard by the street.

Leave it there for a few days. Not a single living pest can take rock salt on their legs. See they lick their legs and the rock salt is too potent for them and they just turn over on their backs and die.

This was told to me by a guy who owned a roach killing business. I was broke and couldn't afford to have him come to my rental home. When I walked into my house I was covered with fleas in secs. I MEAN COVERED!

The good ole boy told me what to do and why it worked so I went to the store and bought 3 bags of rock salt and through it all over the freaking house. The next day I went in and I swear I never saw so many different varieties of roaches DEAD ROACHES in my life. As amased as I was that they had all died I realised I didn't ahve one single flea on me.

Eggs, he said melted when they touched the salt.

Well, I can tell you not to do this to your yard cuz you'll kill your grass but your house......oh yea...it works beautifully

Answer 8

hi we tried all kind of things to get rid of the fleas,but in the end we had to get flea people in to help with our. and i had young children, so we went to a friend place for a while. good luck

Answer 9

in the UK theres some flea spray and it costs about £30,just spray the house round the edges and corners and go out for a few hours ! sorry cant remember the name !

Answer 10

I recommend Diatomaceous Earth. It's a powder that you can buy at Home Depot or Lowes in the garden section and it is completely safe. If you'd like to learn more about natural flea control, please check out my page at:

http://www.peaceful-organic-planet.com/natural-flea-control.html