Fleas are common pests, especially for pet owners. It doesn’t take much for a flea to find a way onto your pet, and before long, they can breed and become an infestation. The problem can mean misery for your poor dog or cat, as the itching and feeding of fleas can be downright traumatic for them, but it can also be a problem for you and your family.
Fleas can drop off of pets and lay their eggs in carpeting, bedding, and furniture, and can develop into an infestation in your home.
The trouble with fleas is that they are built to be tough. Nearly impossible to squish, fleas’ legs are designed to grip things so tightly that they are hard to remove. Plus, the tiny insects are fast and jump high and far, so they can easily spread to other areas of your home in a short period of time.
In this article, we take a look at how you can get rid of a flea infestation around your home. Of course, if you want to get rid of fleas in the most thorough and effective way possible, you should contact your local Western Exterminator office and talk to one of our pest control experts.
The most common sign of a flea infestation is flea bites, seen most often on pets. Fleas have to pierce the skin to get to the blood in order to feed. It’s the reaction to this bite that causes the itching. If you see your furry friends scratching a lot, it might be time to inspect their fur and see if you can find fleas.
Remember, fleas are tiny, but you will see them easily against the skin of a dog or cat. Gently pulling aside the fur until you can see the skin will make the tiny dark insects stand out. You may see several crawling around, trying to hide from the light. You might also see the red flea bites all over the skin of your poor pet.
Of course, fleas can also feed on humans if the infestation is bad enough. If you start itching, you can check your own skin. You may see the red bite marks or find the fleas themselves.
The problem with these inspections is that you may not see the flea larvae or flea eggs that the fleas leave behind. These are even smaller and much harder to see than adult fleas. Fleas can also hide in carpeting and within furniture or bedding.
If you or your pet are bitten or excessively scratching, it’s time to contact our flea exterminators.
Don't waste time, book a treatment now with one of our experts
Even after you’ve carried out flea treatments for pets, fleas often stick around in your home. That’s because the flea life cycle includes multiple stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Fleas can hide and develop in carpets, furniture, and dark corners. The steps below can help reduce fleas around your home. For long-term protection, calling in our professionals is the most reliable way to help address the issue.
Learning how to deep clean your house for fleas can make a big difference in stopping an infestation from growing.
Focus on the areas where your pets spend most of their time, including beneath furniture, along baseboards, and in pet beds. Wash all fabrics, wipe down surfaces, and vacuum thoroughly before and after you clean.
While deep cleaning can help with flea eggs, larvae, and even some adult fleas, it's important to remember this is often a short-term solution. Without proper treatment, new fleas may emerge later.
Using a vacuum for fleas can help pick up eggs, flea dirt, and even some larvae before they mature. For this to work, vacuum daily, especially in places where your pets sleep or play. Use a powerful vacuum with a disposable bag and clean it out right after each use. Place the vacuum bag or canister contents into a tightly sealed plastic bag and dispose of it immediately in an outdoor trash can to prevent fleas from escaping or hatching indoors.
Regular vacuuming supports your efforts but may not fully control a flea infestation on its own. Western Exterminator pest control services can help you target areas that vacuums can't reach.
Washing bedding can help kill fleas. The high heat can help destroy flea eggs, larvae, and adult fleas. Wash all your pet’s bedding, blankets, and even your own sheets in hot water. Dry them on the hottest setting your dryer allows.
Not every material can be washed at high temperatures, and fleas can survive in places you might miss. Our technicians can help treat fabrics and furniture with targeted methods for a more thorough solution.
Steam cleaning can work well on fleas because the heat and moisture from steam can help kill flea eggs, larvae, and adult fleas hiding deep in carpet fibers and upholstered furniture.
There are a variety of products designed to manage fleas at home. These include insecticide flea sprays for furniture and carpets, flea collars, flea shampoo, and flea combs for your pets. Veterinarians can also prescribe oral medications.
Some pet owners also explore natural options like diatomaceous earth on carpets and bedding, which can help kill fleas by drying them out. However, not all products are effective in all situations, and some are only suitable for pets, not for use inside your home.
To treat a flea infestation, you'll need to address every stage of the flea life cycle. Our team can apply targeted treatments throughout your home to help ensure no fleas get missed. We also provide commercial pest control solutions to protect workplaces, rental properties, and other business environments from fleas and other pests.
Of course, if all of that sounds like too much work, you may just want to call in the experts at Western Exterminator. We have flea infestation experts who can do an entire home fumigation or offer flea treatment options that will not only kill adult fleas in your home but also destroy the eggs and larvae. We can also provide follow-up treatments to ensure the fleas are gone.
Western Exterminator will not treat your pets or people, so you’ll still need to contact a vet or doctor for treatments in those areas. As for your home, we can get rid of the fleas and offer advice on how to prevent them from returning.
We can help get rid of fleas and offer advice on how to prevent them from returning. Our technicians use targeted methods that interrupt the flea life cycle and address areas where fleas, larvae, and eggs are likely to hide.
Contact us today to speak with one of our pest control experts.
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