If you have pets, they are very likely to have picked up an unwanted guest or two along the way. If your pets aren’t properly treated for fleas, ticks, and mites, there is a strong chance that they will carry them into your house. Like all bad house guests, once fleas are in the house, they can be very hard to get rid of. Here’s what you need to know about flea infestations: how to spot them, how to prevent them and, if you do have one, how to get rid of it.
Fleas love warm, humid conditions, making our homes ideal environments for them. The most likely cause of fleas in your house is pets, but wildlife can also introduce fleas when they travel through your garden. It is also possible to bring fleas into your home with second hand carpets and soft furnishing, or when you move into a new home, especially one that has been vacant for a while.
We might imagine that a flea infestation is easy to spot as fleas will be hopping around the house. But fleas can lie dormant for months at a time, only hatching when they notice movement and warmth. This means that an empty property or second hand sofa may look flea-free, until a lovely warm body is near it…
Spotting an infestation
Fleas can be very hard to get rid of, but the earlier you spot them, the easier they are to control. Look out for:
- Very itchy pets – your first indicator will be your pets obsessively scratching, biting, or licking themselves.
- Bites on humans – if you notice small red welts, especially on your feet, ankles, and legs, fleas could be the culprits.
- Tiny specks – flea excrement looks like specks of dust, but will go red when it gets wet.
- And, of course, you might be lucky (or unlucky) enough to see fleas yourself, jumping on carpets and soft furnishings.
Eliminating fleas
If you think that you have fleas in your house, the first thing to do is treat your pets. Check with your vet about the best treatment; some can help you to control an infestation by killing fleas when they are on the pet.
Once your pet is protected, do a deep clean of your home. This includes washing all bedding, cushion covers, and blankets at high temperatures, a thorough vacuum, and steaming upholstery to make sure eggs and larvae are killed. A professional cleaning company can help you to make sure that you do a thorough job.
Flea treatment is next; there are plenty of products that you can buy online or in shops or, to make sure that you get the problem sorted properly, you can get a quote from a pest control specialist.
With your flea problem under control, make sure that you keep treating pets regularly to prevent it from happening again. For more information, follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or Twitter.