How do you know if you even have fleas? I only see them in the bed in the morning. Does that mean I have them in my hair?
By Christina from Denver
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
If you've seen one flea, then you've got hundreds! Time to treat the bed! I treat my mattress and springs once a month by standing them up and spraying them down good with bug spray that is made to also kill fleas. In warm weather I take them out on the deck to do this, but in cool or cold weather I do it in the bedroom and set fans up to blow on them for several hours.
At the same time I also spray the pillows and hang them up to dry. Once they have had the spray on for at least 2 hours, then I put them in the washer and dryer to get the spray smell out. Don't forget to wash your bedding too.
Cricket is right. One flea equals 500. I've had this problem myself and went through tons of over-the-counter household flea sprays. But if you don't get the eggs, then the fleas will just keep coming and coming. I used the Bio Spot Fogger. It actually kills fleas and eggs for 7 full months...and one bottle covers 6,000 square feet.
You're better off going to 1-800-Pet-Meds to purchase these types of sprays. Your Vet will charge you an arm and leg. Here's a link for the Bio Spot. www.1800petmeds.com/
There is a flea spray for pets and bedding (Natural Chemistry De-Flea Pet and Bedding spray) that I get from my local farm supply store. It is safe for use on pets, people, and bedding. You can use it on your furniture, carpets, bed, and linens.
You don't have to have pets in your home---if you have pets outside, or neighbors pets come to your yard, you are likely to get them in your house.
If I was worried about carrying some fleas in my hair, I would soak my hair in a heavy conditioner or oil & let it set for a few hours. That should kill the fleas. I would wash all the bedding in very hot water & dry in the dryer (would kill anything that made it through the wash). I would also call an exterminator. You can try using bug bombs (not too many at one time). I think an exterminator would be a good investment. Spray the mattress & under the bed with spray for bedding.
Are you sure it is fleas and not bed bugs?
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
I have fleas really bad. I got new furniture from a friend and they had a dog, two cats and one of the cats had kittens. So now I have all the fleas. I have used bombs, but they don't work. I have been told to use some thing called Sevin Dust. I can't do that because my 1 year old's bed is where the worst of it is.
Amber from Quaker
I don't know about Sevin Dust, but I had a similar problem and got a spray that contains pyrethrines that I was able to spray on all my furniture, bedding, etc. It not only kills the fleas, but contains a time-release chemical to keep take care of any eggs that have been laid. All you need to do is make sure the spray had dried before letting children, pets, etc. back in the area. (09/22/2008)
By
Do not use Sevin dust in your child's room or anywhere he can reach it. It is a poison. It is the best, but most dangerous in your home. My grandmother uses powdered Borax bleach under the beds and in the corners and in closets. I have also used iodized salt. Sprinkle it over all carpeted areas in the house and leave on for a good three or four hours, vacuum up and throw away vacuum bag in outside garbage.
Also, if you use bombs like Rid a Bug or Spectricide you must follow the directions and repeat after seven days. Fleas lay eggs every seven days, so you may want to repeat up to two times. After each bomb or treatment wash all bedding, pillows, cushions, plush toys, in warm water in a long wash cycle. It takes fleas up to five minutes in water to drown. That's what I have had to do and it worked. Hope I was helpful (09/22/2008)
By Stephanie
Sprinkle your furniture and carpet with "food" grade Diatomacious Earth. It is not harmful to pets, but will kill fleas. (09/22/2008)
By Nikki
I had this problem with a 3 month old baby. I had the apartment professionally bombed (de-buged) If you have any pets, they will have to be treated at the same time. (09/22/2008)
By Beth
Check with your local vet clinic and ask them what they recommend to their clients for in-house flea problems. If it is a spray product here is a suggestion, if you are able to do it:
Spray the bed out doors and leave outdoors for 24 hours.
When you have finished spraying the bed, spray the room where the bed was. After 24 hours, vacuum the room from top to bottom.
Before returning the bed to the room, I would steam clean it with one of those hand held steamers. Once it has dried off, put it back into the room.
Good Luck. (09/22/2008)
By lesley
When my daughter was about 9 months old our cat got fleas and I chose to exterminate myself (we were pretty broke). First I washed the poor cat with flea shampoo. I bought a sprayer from the hardware store, some Demon packs over the internet and a product called Precor. I sent my daughter to my girlfriend's house for the day and got to work.
I put a packet of Demon in the sprayer, about half of the 2 oz. bottle of Precor and filled the rest of the sprayer with water. I started upstairs and worked my way down, spraying every inch of the carpet. Then I vacuumed, again starting from upstairs and working my way down. I changed the vacuum bag and sprayed everything again upstairs and down, then vacuumed and changed the bag again. Then I took a long shower. (09/22/2008)
By GoodAndCheap
Put some banana peels in hidden places around the rooms. I do this about once a year whether I see any fleas or not. I have 3 dogs, but no fleas. (09/22/2008)
By Janneba
My Uncle is a vet and he says Borax works best and you just sprinkle it on the carpet or bedding and let it sit for about 30 minutes then vacuum it off. Not harmful like the Sevin Dust we used to use before we put the dogs on the Program. (09/23/2008)
By Beth Spore
I read recently advice on this in a newspaper column. Person had used the salt as advised above plus washed the animal in Dawn dish-washing liquid until all the fleas were gone.
Another way to catch the fleas and kill them is to put a low pan like a glass pie plate (or anything low to the floor) filled with water and any kind dish-washing liquid. Place directly over and pointed into the low dish a light. The fleas will jump up to the light and fall into the water where the dish detergent will keep them from jumping out of the water and quickly kill them. I have used this successfully.
Once fleas get inside the house the Frontline or Advantix will not keep the fleas off the animals so it's a waste of money. I also will use a flea comb with a glass of water with Dawn in it nearby to dispose of the fleas every day on the cat or whatever animal.
By Angellface
Sevin has been banned from sale because of health hazards. Please do not use it where there is a child or pet present. Thanks. You may need to get rid of the infested bed because it contains flea eggs. I'm so sorry you have this problem. I know its a hard one to lick. Talk to a veterinarian about it. Good luck. (09/23/2008)
By Carol in PA
I have had fleas so bad, they come in cycles. My maintenance men were bringing them in. I went to Petsmart and got Adams spray for fleas. I use this about once every month and it works. (10/14/2008)
By Teresa
How do I get fleas out of my home withOUT causing them any harm?!!! After all they have the right to life!!!
I do not believe that there is any way to get rid of them without killing them. If you find a way, please let us know.
