Fleas are one of the most annoying pests to control at home. We figure out together with an expert in pest control how to get rid of fleas, especially in an apartment
These small insects are most often remembered when talking about pets.
But the main problem is that fleas are not limited to animal hair and willingly continue to master an apartment or house, even if the pet has already been washed and treated with special veterinary preparations.
We figured out how to destroy fleas and prevent their appearance in the apartment.
Content:
- Where do fleas come from in the house
- Where live
- How to get rid
- Folk and professional remedies
- Prevention
First of all, fleas prefer to hide in the fur of cats and dogs, where they lay their eggs and drink the blood of a pet.
So the easiest way to get into the house is on pet hair or the owner’s clothes.
But this is not the only option. Often, residents of the first and last floors suffer from the invasion of fleas – insects penetrate them through basements and attics, and sometimes also with house mice and rats.
If insects are wound up with neighbors, they will likely move through windows and ventilation.
Insects pose a health hazard to both animals and humans, and it’s not just about the discomfort of painful bites.
Fleas can be carriers of salmonellosis, which comes to them from basement rats and mice.
Where Do Fleas Live
Only 5% of fleas enter the home as adults. 95% are larvae brought on the soles of shoes and with animals.
In the apartment, they can settle in upholstered furniture, mattresses, and carpets.
Not all types of fleas remain in the apartment when they are brought from the street – especially if hygiene measures are observed in the room and wet cleaning is carried out.
Often the first signs of fleas are small itchy red dots on the arms and legs that a person finds in the morning: insects are especially active at night.
Flea bites are very painful and hard to miss.
Insects prefer warm climates and high humidity. The ideal temperature range is 23-33°C. Therefore, heated basements often become a habitat for fleas, especially if there are leaks in the pipes (or water enters from the basement windows).
The hatching of fleas depends on the environment. When conditions are favorable, the adult insect lives 18–21 days, but flea larvae may remain dormant for several months, waiting for favorable conditions to grow.
In the cold season, the female lays eggs about once a month, in the warm season – every two to four days.
Fleas prefer secluded places, and breed in closets, household waste, soft toys, crevices behind baseboards, or on the floor.
An adult insect 2–2.5 mm long can be seen with the naked eye. In addition, the flea moves by jumping, so you will not confuse it with midges or ants.
Things are much more complicated with flea eggs, which look like small black specks and are almost indistinguishable on dark surfaces.
How To Get Rid Of Fleas In The House
To lay eggs, insects do not need any special conditions, such as constant darkness or high humidity – females leave offspring almost everywhere.
Therefore, the fight against fleas implies an integrated approach. The sooner you take measures to kill parasites, the higher the chances that you can completely remove them.
If there are animals in the apartment, they need to be given attention in the first place.
You can seek advice from a veterinarian, wash your pet with a special flea shampoo, and drip special preparations on the withers.
When fleas are found, it is necessary to remove and wash high-temperature bedding, covers, bedspreads, and curtains – any textiles that could accommodate insect larvae.
The main enemy of parasites is heat and soap. Ideally, if there is an opportunity to walk with a steamer on upholstered furniture, baseboards, and the floor of the apartment.
It is better to hand over outerwear to dry cleaning and vacuum the rooms thoroughly (it is desirable that the dust collector is removable and can be thrown away immediately after cleaning).
Folk And Professional Remedies For Fleas In The House
- Wormwood And Tansy
Freshly picked fragrant herbs are laid out on the floor, at the door, and around the perimeter of the apartment.
Fleas are repelled by their smell, but plants will not help get rid of already existing larvae.
- Cedar Shavings
Pet stores sell wood litter for pet litter boxes. For some of them, cedar sawdust is used, which has a recognizable spruce smell and repels insects.
- Lemon Peels
The peel of most citrus fruits is suitable, you can take oranges or grapefruits. The strong-smelling essential oil repels insects, but it is also unpleasant for most pets.
- Ultrasonic Pest Control
Now on sale, there is a huge number of all kinds of ultrasonic insect repellers. Any hardware store will offer a wide range of them.
Customers are attracted by the ease of use. It is enough to connect the device to the electrical network and – it’s done. You can get long-lasting results from using this ultrasonic pest control method.
- Brewer’s Yeast And Garlic
Two or three tablespoons of yeast are mixed with chopped garlic and laid out in small portions in the apartment.
Try soaking the garlic in water and spraying the liquid around the room. Keep in mind that the specific smell persists for a long time.
- Salt, Soda, Ammonia
Household disinfectants are suitable for thorough cleaning of the apartment along with soap. Water with soda and salt should wipe the floors, walls, and upholstered furniture.
You should not use a solution for bathing animals: on the skin of a pet, there can be many wounds from flea bites.
- Laundry And Cleaning
This is a mandatory measure to get rid of parasites, but, unfortunately, not effective enough. Even with careful cleaning, live larvae may remain, after a month they will turn into adults.
- Freezing
If it is possible to leave the house for a couple of hours in winter, you can leave the windows wide open.
Adult fleas will not stay indoors at temperatures below -20°C. But in severe frost, damage to pipes and equipment is possible.
- Store-bought Flea Products
Both local and universal remedies will help remove not only fleas but also most other insects. Some aerosols, powders, and granules for home use are dangerous for pets and their owners.
Even an adult is better to spray and lay them out with gloves and a mask.
- Experts Pest Control
The most effective method is to call insect control specialists.
The exterminator uses a heat gun or chemicals. Before the arrival of the service, furniture must be moved away from the walls, textiles removed, food and cosmetic products, and personal belongings removed from open surfaces.
Prevention
Treat cats and dogs for fleas, even if traces of fleas presence are not visible in the apartment.
A pet store or veterinary pharmacy sells anti-flea collars for pets and drops for withers. Thorough cleaning of corners and washing doormats and textiles is also a working preventive measure.
Be sure to wash outdoor shoes and wash outerwear regularly; these simple steps will protect not only from insects but also from infections that occur in public places and transport.