Fighting Fleas in Your Home

If you have a pet, you stand a good chance of ending up with fleas. These tiny little creatures are not only annoying to you and your pet; they can also make your pet very ill. Treating your dog or cat for a flea infestation is a start, but it will do very little to fight the fleas that are in your home.

Natural Methods to Fight Fleas in Your Home

Fleas can drop from your pet and land in numerous places in your home. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day and they will hatch in about 1 - 6 days. They become adults in about 21 days and the process starts over. So you can see how it becomes such a fight to remove fleas from your home.

Fleas can and will lay eggs in your carpet, couch or bedding. These eggs will hatch, due to warmth or even running your vacuum over them. By keeping your carpet and upholstery vacuumed and free of any bits of animal dander or flea feces you also help eliminate the flea's food source.

Wash bedding, throw rugs, your pet's bed and any towels you have used on your pet several times a week. If you have a severe infestation, was the bedding twice. The heat from your dryer may cause any eggs that are left on the bedding to hatch. Rewashing insures that you have gotten most, if not all, of the eggs.

Fleas do not like lavender scents. Use a lavender scented body wash for your family and your pets. Mop your floors in a lavender scented cleaner. Use a lavender based body lotion on your family to keep fleas off of them while you fight the infestation.

Help Prevent Your Pet from Bringing Fleas into the Home

If you take your dog or cat to the vet's office, avoid letting your pet interact with other animals. This is a great opportunity for fleas to jump from one pet to another. A flea can actually jump about a 16" span, so keep your pet at least 2 feet from other animals. Carry a brush and give your pet a thorough brushing before you enter your home.

If you frequent a dog park, ask any custodians if the property is treated for fleas on a regular basis. If it is no, you may want to locate one that is, or walk your dog somewhere else. Again, take the brush to the park and brush the dog vigorously before walking home or putting it into your car.

It is much better to prevent the flea infestation by taking precautions to keep them out of your home, then to have to fight the infestation wants it has taken hold. Harsh chemicals are not good for your pet, your family or the environment. Fight fleas naturally and safely.

Some additional sources:

http://www.petparents.com/pet-care-resources/test-your-flea-iq.cfm Test Your Flea Knowledge

http://www.fleascontrol.com/ More methods of flea control