Flea Extermination

Professional flea extermination might be needed in a few cases, but you can typically get rid of fleas on your own which will save you a lot of money.

With lots of hard work and persistence you can get rid of them....but being persistent is the key. 

There are some really good do-it-yourself products on the market for killing fleas which cost much less than calling an exterminator.  

How did you get fleas in your house in the first place?

Pets often pick up fleas from the outside and carry them inside.

Even mice can have fleas.

Carpet and deep pile rugs are the perfect breeding ground and hiding place for fleas which can lay up to around 50 eggs per day.

Even if your pet is removed from the home you can still have a flea infestation.

Sometimes it seems even worse if the animal is gone because many of the fleas were feeding and hiding in the animal's fur.

After this they go for the humans in the house and you will see flea bites on the ankles and legs.

Children are especially susceptible to flea bites. 

Fleas can jump several inches in a flash and walking across a flea infested carpet can be a daunting experience. 

I remember babysitting when I was younger for a few neighbor kids. 

The fleas were so bad inside their house they were literally crawling and jumping everywhere! 

I saw hundreds in a single evening. 

This just goes to show how bad a flea problem can get if it's left untreated.

The ultimate in cleanliness and hard work are very important steps in preventing a flea infestation or getting rid of one if you are suffering from the dilemma.

Vacuuming your carpets and rugs daily is a must in getting rid of fleas.

You will have to empty the vacuum outside each time into a trash bag and tie it (air tight) so the fleas can't escape.

Wash or throw away any pet bedding that is flea ridden and carefully examine your upholstery such as easy chairs and sofas for fleas. 

Flea Extermination - Preparing Your Home

It is a good idea to prepare your carpeting, rugs, and upholstered areas (furniture, sofa, chairs, ect) if you are treating your home for fleas yourself.

This applies even if you use a flea bomb or however you decide to go about it.  

Flea repellents (like the natural ones listed below) will chase fleas out of your carpet, rugs, and upholstery making them an easy target especially when you're using a vacuum cleaner to suck them up.

Vacuum up as many fleas as you can after chasing them out.

After the flea extermination (the actual killing of the fleas) is completed you will want to continue using flea repellents on your pets and throughout your household.

Baking Soda

Sprinkle baking soda on your rugs, carpeting, and upholstery.

If it is easy for you go ahead and work it into the fibers of the material with a brush or by simply rubbing it in with your hands.

This is similar to a commercial carpet cleaner preparation which you sprinkle on and vacuum up.

Always make sure you empty your vacuum bag or receptacle outside into an airtight trash bag or whatever is convenient for you (as mentioned earlier).

Plain table salt can also be used in place of baking soda, but then you have a chance of it getting into someone's (humans or pets) eyes.

It is best to go with baking soda instead of salt. 

Lemon Spray

Fleas do not like citrus in any form.

You might try spraying your carpet, rugs, and upholstery with “Lemon Spray”.

You can just lightly mist, you don't have to soak the item you are treating for it to work.

If you are hesitant using it on your carpet or upholstery try a test area first.

Lemon spray usually does no harm anything and only leaves a nice clean fresh smelling scent.

For every pint of lemon spray, you add one thinly sliced whole lemon to water and bring it to a quick boil.

After doing this let it sit overnight then pour it into a spray bottle and spray mist the surfaces that you are going to be vacuuming.

Rosemary 

Rosemary not only works on your carpets, rugs, and upholstery, but also on your pet as a completely natural and non-toxic flea repellent.

Remember flea repellents do not kill the fleas, they only “repel” them.

You can mix Rosemary with flea powder or any other powder type substance such as baking soda.

Fleas don't like Lavender either.

Rosemary and Lavender are a good combination to drive away fleas.

Flea Extermination - Overall

Before you can even consider a successful flea extermination you need to make sure your environment is an undesirable place for fleas. 

The first thing to do is learn how to keep your pet flea free.

You can do this with a variety of medications, advice from your veterinarian, and a multitude of other flea devices found the market.    

Your next step would be to make sure your carpet, upholstery, dog's bedding, ect. repels fleas.

You can do this with some of the remedies mentioned earlier or examine some of the commercial products offered. 

Once you get the fleas out in the open and away from their hiding places, including your pet's fur, you will have a successful long lasting flea extermination which will be a joy to you and a joy to your pets.