Safe & Affordable Flea Treatments
Fleas are probably the most annoying pests that can invade your home. Their small size and agility also make them difficult to see, catch and deal with.
Fleas are probably the most annoying pests that can invade your home. Their small size and agility also make them difficult to see, catch and deal with.
Fleas are known to attack furred animals, with few cases of human attacks. Despite preferring animals to humans, these pests can make a habitat of your home due to their high reproduction rates. Fleas can hide in furniture, bedding, curtain, and even the clothes you are wearing.
When fighting a flea infestation in your home, it doesn't help just cleaning and disinfecting your pets and animals. You need to tackle the situation from different angles, starting with your pets and animals. Your entire household and your general surrounding. Here are some of the safest and most affordable treatment solutions for fleas.
Pets are the main carriers of fleas into the home. Fleas make their way into our home and find suitable spots where they can lay their eggs, wreaking havoc when they hatch. When addressing the infestation, the very fast step is to regularly clean and treat your pets or animals and their living environment. To do this, you can follow these simple steps.
Vacuum cleaning- for this, you will need a powerful vacuum cleaner to clean the floors, mattresses, and upholstery. Fleas tend to hide deep within cracks and tight spaces, parts of the house where they can't be reached to lay their eggs and place their cocoons. The eggs and cocoons can still hatch when inside the vacuum bag; hence it is advisable that after vacuuming, you should correctly dispose of the contents of the bag without coming into contact. You can either burn n them or store the bag in the freezer. Fleas do well under warm temperatures; thus, exposing them to extremely low temperatures could lead to their death.
Use a steam cleaner- fleas can also hide inside carpets, especially those with long fabrics. Using steam and soap has been proven to be very effective on fleas regardless of their stage. Don't stop on the carpet; steam cleans the upholstery and even the pet's bedding.
Thoroughly wash all beddings- as discussed before, fleas can hide in your bedding. Use soap and hot water to wash all your beddings, including those of your pet. When drying, set the dryer to the highest heating. You can also air the beddings out to dry in the sun when the temperatures are favorable. In case the infestation is severe, you can burn the old beddings and get new ones.
Use chemical treatment- this should be the last resort in case the situation is out of control. Most flea treatments can be harmful to humans and the surrounding vegetation. For this, you can either choose foggers or aerosol sprayers containing both adulticides. This includes permethrin which kills adult fleas and methoprene, or pyriproxyfen, a growth inhibitor and can kill eggs, larvae, and pupae. When applying this chemical, it is advisable to wear personal protective equipment such as hazard suits, masks, gloves, and even boots. Keep all the residents of the house, including pets, out when applying these chemicals.
Dealing with the house interior is not enough when handling fleas. To get rid of the fleas from your yard, take an inventory of the warm, shady, and warm sections, all of which are perfect breeding spots for fleas. Having identified the potential hot spots, here are a few things you can do to get rid of the fleas.
Mow and rake your lawn regularly- fleas can hide in unkempt lawns, especially tall grass. When you are done mowing and raking, it is best to burn or bag the collected grass.
Remove all debris- collect all twigs, and fallen leaves and cut grass from flower beds and bushes. Try as much as possible to expose the shady area to sunlight.
Spread cedar chips- cedar chips are a natural way of getting rid of fleas; spread these chips in areas where the pet frequently lies and in selected sections of the lawn.
All the above are a first step towards dealing with fleas; some of the other treatment solutions for fleas include,
This is a home remedy that involves making a solution of water and soap in a bowl. The solution is then placed in strategic locations in the house to act as a flea trap. This solution works best when placed at night due to the nocturnal nature of fleas.
This spray is made by mixing vinegar, water, lemon juice, and witch hazel in a spray bottle. This herbal spray is easy to make and, most importantly, safe to use around children and pets. It is best to do a thorough cleaning of your home and bedding before applying this spray. Spray the bedding, both our and your pet's, window sills, furniture, carpets, and even floors.
These are microscopic fossilized remains of algae and come in a fine powder state. This is one of the best and safest remedies when it comes to dealing with fleas and other pets such as ticks. When using diatomaceous earth, you sprinkle a thin layer of the power in the area suspected of increased flea activities. The powder is then left for two days before properly being vacuumed. Despite being harmless to humans and pests, you need to take caution when applying. The powder tends to cause irritation and discomfort when it comes into contact with your eyes and throat. The best part about using this option is that it can be applied both indoors and in the yard and even in the garden if you have a kitchen garden.
This is a natural solution to fleas that involves using specific types of plants to repel fleas. There are certain types of plants that produce smells, oils, and chemicals that are irritating to fleas, making them a perfect deterrent for flea infestation. Some of these plants include pennyroyal, lavender, spearmint, and chrysanthemums. Plant these plants in your garden, yard, or in flower pots around your home.
Aside from being a good remedy for a bee sting, lemons can also be used against fleas. To make a lemon spray, thinly slice the lemon, add to a pint of water, and then boil.
After boiling:
1. Let the solution sit through the night before pouring it into a spray bottle.
2. Spray infested areas such as bedding, furniture, curtains, and even on the floor.
3. Do not soak the surfaces you are spraying on; dampen.
4. Keep in mind that the solution may react differently with your fabric.
Hence you need to be cautious not to destroy your fabric.
These two work using the same principle when it comes to handling fleas. Salt and baking soda work closely with vacuuming to get rid of fleas from your home. They work like dehydrating agents to help keep fleas away.
Before vacuuming:
1. Sprinkle a generous helping of the two onto the carpet and leave for about two days.
2. Ensure you rub the salt and baking soda deep into the carpet since fleas tend to hide deep inside the fabric.
3. When done, vacuum the carpet thoroughly, empty the vacuum into a bag then throw the bag in an outside bin.
Fleas can become irritating, with some even causing rashes through their bites. You don't have to put the lives of your family or pets at risk through exposure to the chemical when fighting an infestation. There are various safe and affordable ways of treating this problem.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.