How do you stop fleas? We have called out pest control service and still have the problem.
By lori from Merced, CA
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Dry 20 Mule Team Borax. Leave for 2 weeks. Vacuum.
I had a big problem with fleas once and I only had an indoor cat, but our vet says fleas come in on clothes and shoes.
He recommended Seven Dust (or 7 Dust - it was 30 years ago so I don't exactly remember, sorry).
However, I don't know if it's on the market or not anymore it was such a long time ago.
BUT I believe it might be poisonous to pets and children so please check it out first.
We got it at our local hardware store; Lowes, Home Depot, etc. The vet said to sprinkle it everywhere in our apartment; rug, furniture. Then I forget how long we had to wait before we vacuumed everything. Everything and more; I dusted furniture quite a while!
But what a mess! it is literally like dust and flies everywhere, but it got rid of the fleas. Maybe they've changed the formula now and it's not so dusty.
The vet also told us - big thing - that fleas hatch in two week cycles, so we had to do this every two weeks. I forget how many thousands they hatch every two weeks, but it was gross.
You might also ask a local vet or your own; or the ASPCA; hardware store.
Some one on this site is bound to come up with something, so don't worry.
Now for regular bugs - roaches, etc. - we live in Texas which is the roach capital of the world - my husband went to a local, but professional, store that sells chemicals to professionals. We bought our professional bug killer that you mix with water, and we bought a professional pump sprayer. Works just like the professionals because it's what they use.
You might try you being the professional and going to a store like this. At the very least, I'll be they have some ideas for you to get rid of fleas.
I don't remember the costs for the equipment because my husband bought them and he doesn't remember. but it was a great investment for us, we've had it for years; we can do inside and outside the house, plus the yard. We have no children or pets so we're not worried about that part.
Hope this helped. Lots of luck!
Do you happen to know what your exterminator used? I had to move to a first floor apartment last summer and the apartment was completely infested from the previous tenants cat :-( Both my eight year old indoor cat (who had never had fleas before) and I were going crazy! Whatever the exterminator used in my place (he also sprayed my porch and outdoor entryway) worked like a charm! I'll be more than happy to help if you'll let me know what your exterminator used and I'll ask my landlord the name of the company who did my apartment and call them to see what they think and walk you through the steps you need to take before the spraying. Personally, I am skeptical that your exterminator used the right chemical.
I moved in to a small duplex and I don't have any animals it was July and I wok up one morning with over 50 flea bites all over my body I sprayed and bombed my bed house etc with stuff I got from lowes didn't work my son came over with his dog who had no fleas he let him go into back yard to pee and when he came in his white paws and legs were covered in fleas I have sprayed and sprayed and still the are in the back yard they went away for November snd dec and it been do warm that they are back again please help me
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I kept a dog for 32 days who had Advantage on and after he left within 3 days our house was infested with fleas. We bombed and we paid $275.00 to have it sprayed professionally (with one come back appointment). Well they had to come back and spray again, we still had fleas. We bombed again, all of this was done in one week. We still have fleas. I'm finding fleas in the kids' hair. It will be 2 weeks this Saturday. I know the dog had Advantage on because we put it on. I'm desperate. What can I do?
Jan from Arcadia, FL
They are fleas. I am a school nurse and I know what lice are. We started with the night lights and pans of water with drop of dish soap. In 2 nights we have gotten between 50 to 60 fleas, just in 2 rooms. Wish I had known this one sooner. I'm sure it's going to take awhile, but it's working. We need to buy more night lights and do all the rooms now. (04/17/2008)
By jan
Sprinkle borax on the floor and vacuum after an hour. This dehydrates the eggs the fleas have laid, and stops the recreation process. (04/17/2008)
By crystal
We had a similar problem. We had to get rid our 2 cats due to our son's allergies. Also because my son had other sensitivities, so we chose not to use bombs, powders or other pesticides; instead I bought flea collars and put them in the vacuum bag and vacuumed often. At first, every day. It's important to keep in mind the flea's life cycle too; after a week or so new eggs hatched so I vacuumed a few days in a row. Soon the fleas were gone.
It wasn't the quickest fix, nonetheless my house and it's contents were not covered in poison and the bonus was my floors were oh so tidy (for a while).
(04/17/2008)
By Christine
I used flea powder, like the stuff you put on a dog, and shake it all over the carpet, like carpet powder, leave it on for a while, then vacuum up. I tried this when I was a poor college student decades ago and it worked! (04/17/2008)
By Kathy
I am thinking the exterminator isn't killing the flea eggs. Yes, you need to vacuum them up and seal them in a plastic bag before they hatch. I'd consult another exterminator. Maybe the area around the outside of your house needs to be sprayed too. Fleas live in the grass. I just read the previous message. I guess it is possible that you could have fleas and lice.
Good luck. Don't be too hard on yourself. This isn't a reflection on your housekeeping abilities.
(04/18/2008)
By Carol in PA
Sorry to bother you with another posting, but I just remembered something. When I worked, there was a problem with fleas because they came to our building on someone who worked there. So there could be a "carrier" living in your home. If the fleas are killed in your house, but not where you work or go to school I don't know what you can do. It may be best to contact a government official for advice. At least it should be free. (04/18/2008)
By Carol in PA
The DIY network shows sprinkling salt on your carpets and vacuuming often. Sprinkle, leave a few hours (overnight) and vacuum. Don't know if it works though! (04/19/2008)
By Linda
I used Sevin dust, buy it in Walmart for the best price. It is not harmful to humans and pets. I put it on all the furniture, carpets, bed (stripped), just about everywhere and left it on for 6 hours. Vacuumed and then repeated every other day for 10 days. Relief for about 4 days and then saw them again, so I bug bombed every other day. I also washed any clothes left out.
I also treated the car. Seemed that I carried them into the car without knowing. I used a liquid spray on the front steps and about a foot before them.
You have to get the eggs, and new baby fleas or you will always have them. I live in Bradenton, FL. (06/02/2008)
By octoberbabye
I had a huge problem with the fleas. Here is what we recently did and amazingly it worked and is new on the market. Ask your vet about it. Our new vet told us about the once a month pill "Comfortis" and it worked on our beloved house dog. I do not know if they have one for cats, but for our dog it has worked.
The vet says the fleas bite the dog then they die within 30 minutes of biting the dog. Now this took a couple of days to see any results as they have to bite her. Good news is my hubby and I have not felt any jump on us recently. We know they will still come in on her and likely drop off in carpet, but we still put down carpet treatment and vacuum up frequently. It has made a big difference in our lives for the good, she is happier and sleeps better as well. I hope that any one who is having a huge problem to give this some consideration and maybe you can regain control and then go off of it as time passes. (06/03/2008)
