How to Control and Kill Fleas on Pets and in the Home

Fleas are disgusting; they feed on your pets, infest your home and can be an embarrassment when company stops in for a visit. If a flea infestation gets out of control it can take months to remedy.

Fleas are parasites which feed off the blood of a host, most often the host is an animal, but when fleas are on your pets they are also in your home and not soon after will be on you and your family.

Being in the middle of a flea infestation isn't fun. Fleas can jump up to 13 inches and not because they are practicing to be in the circus center ring. Fleas will jump off of your pet and onto you and your family.

If you have a problem with fleas, you will need to apply a comprehensive flea treatment and stay on top of it to prevent the fleas from getting out of control.

Fleas are very tiny, almost invisible if you don't know what you're looking for. I'm sure you're asking, 'what do fleas look like'. A fleas coloring is dark, between brown and dark red.

Fleas have thin flat bodies; hard exteriors, six long legs and are covered in hairs which assist them in latching on and traveling through the fur or hairs of its host.

A flea life cycle is simple. Flea eggs can hatch as fast as 2 days and can stay dormant for up to 1 year. Flea eggs hatch into larvae and will feed on feces or any organic material. The larvae spin a cocoon in about a week or two an adult flea will emerge from its cocoon.

Fleas are not always visible, but if there are fleas on you, you will know by the uncomfortable itching and relentless scratching of the skin. Fleas are big on the creepy crawly factor and a total gross out.

Flea bites on humans is not something unheard of, in fact fleas will feed on human blood, though they prefer the blood of an animal. Now you're probably wondering, what do flea bites look like.

Flea bites are small and red, sort of like any insect bite. Flea bites itch and can become infected if not treated. A flea's bite can also transmit the parasite called hookworm. In pets hookworm can be treated without a problem, but in people it can become a serious illness and should be treated immediately by a doctor. Minor flea bites can be treated with a topical application of calamine lotion to control the discomforting affects of itching.

To get a flea infestation under control you will need to exterminate the fleas from your home, pets and human family members. Using natural flea control home remedies is recommended but if you are at your wits end, you can use toxic chemicals to kill fleas in every stage of their life cycle.

Getting rid of fleas in a house is rather easy, but it takes time and diligence. The following are the steps to take when ridding your cat, dog, family and home of a flea infestation.

Step 1 - Quarantine

Quarantine all pets to one location.

Step 2 - Wash

Wash all fabric items around the house, pay close attention to the areas where pets hang out and sleep. If you pet sleeps in your bed, you are sleeping with fleas too, so wash your bedding as well.

Step 3 - Vacuum

Vacuum all the carpets in your home at least once a week. Put about 6 mothballs in the vacuum cleaner bag before vacuuming, mothballs ward off fleas and prevent them from settling in places you don't want them to be. The night before you are going to vacuum sprinkle table salt all over your carpet, salt will dehydrate the fleas and kill them.

Step 4 - Bathe

Bathe your cat or dog in salt water, salt is a great way to kill fleas. Fill a sink or tub, large enough to accommodate your pet. It should be deep and wide enough for you to submerge your pet's entire body. Be careful not to allow your pet to drink the water and be sure not to allow your pets head to go directly under water paying close attention to the ears.

When the fleas become aware of the harmful salt water, they will immediately run to higher ground, most often than not they will head for the head area. Push them away from the head in a backward motion from your pet's eyes and into the salt water.

Comb your pet thoroughly. Flea combs work all well and good, but a lice comb works the best. Try to purchase a metal lice comb, this comb will catch the fleas between its teeth and hold them there. Regular flea combs have a wider gap between the teeth allowing fleas to just slip right through them and disappear back into the fur or hair of your pet.

To kill fleas collected in the comb, fill a bowl with everyday mouthwash. It doesn't matter what kind of mouthwash, any mouthwash kills fleas instantly. When the comb catches a flea, pull it off, keeping it between your fingers and dip your fingers into the mouthwash.

Be sure the flea stays in the bowl and not on your fingers. In seconds the fleas will die. By the time your done removing the fleas from your pet, this bowl will be filled with fleas and resemble a rather morbid swimming pool.

An important thing to remember is that fleas can jump really high, so as your bathing your pet they will fight for their lives just like anyone else, so try to push the fleas into the salt water bath to kill them before you become the main dish on their dinner menu.

By following the steps provided, you can rid your home and family of a flea infestation in a matter of weeks without using harmful toxic chemicals. You must keep up the regiment on a weekly basis for about a month; two months would be better to insure you got them all.

If your pets frequent the outdoors you may have to continue this process indefinitely, but the remedies mentioned above work very well.