Fleas are small flattened insects with stiff bristle hairs that make them easy to move quickly but at the same time make it difficult to remove them from the hair coats of your pets.
Some hard facts about fleas
To get rid of them might be much harder than you thought. These fellows follow a 4-stage life cycle. Also, they need not spend all their time on your pets. So the truth is treating your pets is not enough, you need to go out on an all-invasive attack on the fleas in your yard, on the pets and in your house to throw them out of your life. Let’s see how we can go about this in an orderly manner.
How to kill fleas - getting started
1. The first step involves monitoring your area to estimate how large a population of fleas exists there.
Monitoring infestations is done by a number of methods:
a) The white sock test (involving a person walking through the suspected area with knee-high socks to see how many fleas jump onto it).
b) Alternatively, you can monitor the flea infestation by using a hand-held vacuum device with a handkerchief inserted into the dust bag.
c) You can also check to see how much flea dirt you have. Flea dirt is black and coarse and turns red when put on a moistened towel.
d) Different types of light trap devices have also been developed to help monitor and control the fleas.
2. Secondly, protect yourself by wearing long pants tucked into your socks or boots. It is a good idea to use an insect repellent on pant legs and footwear.
3. Thirdly, if there is a persistent problem of fleas with no pets around, it may mean that there is a presence of some other wildlife like feral cats, rodents, etc. In such a case, these must be found and removed.
4. Fourthly, treat the pets that might have such flea infestation. Bathe your pets with a good flea shampoo and when they are dry, and use a flea-comb to double-check that all fleas have been killed.
5. Fifthly, thorough vacuuming on a regular basis will keep flea populations quite low by picking up adult and egg-stage fleas. Remember that fleas often live indoors in carpets, baseboards, behind doors, under furniture and such other areas that are protected from foot traffic. It is equally important to clean up your pet’s house.
6. Finally, apply an insect growth regulator (methoprene or fenoxycarb) to prevent pre-adult fleas from maturing into adults. Apply an insecticide if needed.
You simply need to get rid of fleas in your surrounding areas if you want to be rid of allergies, irritation, and such similar diseases.
Other flea killing suggestions!
You can use other simple techniques like filling a bowl with soapy water and putting a bright light over the bowl. The fleas will fall in due to their attraction to light.
You can also put moth flakes on to the carpet. So when you vacuum them up, all the fleas will be killed.
It is very important to remember some points to avoid the fleas coming back into your house.
Last important tips on killing fleas and keeping them out
Never keep the vacuum bag in the house after vacuuming. Use a flea collar inside the vacuum cleaner. In short, no stone should be left unturned. And always plan for preventing further insurrections. For more info, get in touch with Pest Control Brighton professionals.