Be sure to vacuum beneath furniture, behind doors, along baseboards, and in other tight spots. During an infestation, vacuum your home daily. If you haven’t seen any fleas in your home, you should still vacuum thoroughly at least once a week. When the vacuum bag is full, seal its contents in a plastic trash bag, then throw it out in a covered outdoor garbage bin.
If your pet’s bed isn’t washable, stay on the safe side and discard it.
Steam cleaning kills adult fleas and larvae, but some eggs will survive. It can take as long as 3 to 4 months for eggs to hatch, so continue to vacuum daily. Consider steaming your home every 1 to 2 months until you’ve brought the infestation to an end.
The number of dehumidifiers you’ll need depends on your home’s size and layout. A medium-sized dehumidifier removes 40 US pints (19 L) of water from the air in 24 hours. This size is recommended for areas up to 1,500 square feet (140 m2).
If 1 to 2 months pass and the number of fleas in your trap remains the same, it’s time to call a professional. Flea traps are a good way to keep tabs on the infestation’s severity, but they only catch adult fleas. They won’t eliminate an infestation on their own.
Be patient; it may take 3 or 4 months to get a flea infestation under control.
Bathing your pet any more than once a week could lead to skin irritation. Using moisturizing shampoo that contains oatmeal can help prevent your pet’s skin from getting too dry.
Watch out for fleas that jump off of your pet. While your pet’s coat should be dry, a bathtub is a good place to groom it. You’ll have an easier time seeing fleas against the smooth, white surface.
You could also purchase a citrus pet spray online or at a pet store. Citrus can deter fleas for up to 24 hours, but daily applications could irritate your pet’s skin. Try spraying every 3 or 4 days, and gradually spray more frequently if there are no signs of skin irritation. Avoid spraying near your pet’s face. Discontinue use if you notice red or dry skin, or if your pet scratches itself persistently. It’s always best to consult your pet’s vet before treating it with a home remedy.
Limiting the time your pet spends outdoors will help reduce its exposure to fleas.
Fleas thrive in shady, moist areas. Keeping your lawn short, raking, and removing debris can make your yard a less hospitable environment for them.
Pay special attention to areas where your pet frequents. The best time to apply nematodes is at the start of flea season, or early spring. Typically, you mix a package that contains millions of microscopic nematodes with water, then disperse the mixture with a hose sprayer or watering can. Throughout the spring and summer, you’ll need to water the soil whenever it starts to become dry. Don’t worry about nematodes making you sick! Nematodes don’t harm people or pets.
The best time to apply diatomaceous earth is in the morning. Avoid spreading it on a windy or rainy day, and don’t sprinkle it around your pets. Inhaling it can irritate the respiratory system. Diatomaceous earth is a mineral powder that scratches and dehydrates fleas. [17] X Expert Source Chris ParkerFounder, Parker Eco Pest Control Expert Interview. 18 February 2021. It’ll lose its effectiveness over time, so you’ll need to reapply it weekly, after a rainy or windy day, and after watering your lawn.
Pennyroyal essential oil is sometimes used as a flea repellent, but it’s not safe for pets. Don’t apply essential oils to your pet’s skin, its food, or its bedding. [19] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source If you grow pennyroyal in your garden, pinch shoots regularly to ensure it doesn’t take over your planting area. Like other members of the mint family, it spreads aggressively. Containing the root system in a pot, then planting the pot in your soil bed can help control its growth.
