If you have a house full of pets, its very important to keep them free of fleas for their health and for your sanity. Fleas are very common, and getting rid of them requires more than a simple flea dip or collar. Once they are in your home, youll need to clean from top to bottom, and this includes killing ones that may be living in the carpet. Follow these steps to kill fleas in your home and carpet.
Step One: Begin by bathing your pet and combing through their hair with a flea comb. Theres no use in cleaning the rest of your home unless the animal is flea free. A cheap and easy way to get rid of fleas is to wash your pet with Dawn dish detergent. Work the soap into the animal and let it sit for about five minutes. This will smother and kill the fleas. Comb your pet with a flea comb to get rid of everything from the animal.
If you can have someone else working on the carpet at the same time you are cleaning your pet, this will be more effective as you dont want the pet to catch them again from existing fleas in the home.
Step Two: Vacuum. Youll need to do this before you do anything else so the carpet fibers can rise up. Take your time with the vacuum to ensure youre getting everything you can out of the carpet now. It is important to remove the bag and dispose of it as fleas can escape it. If youre using a bagless model, empty the canister as soon as you finish. Youll vacuum again later.
Step Three: Purchase foggers used to kill bugs. Follow the directions on the labels: Cover all materials such as dishes, stuffed animals, furniture, and bedding. Set each fogger off, and leave the home for a few hours. These pesticides are dangerous, so you should plan accordingly.
Step Four: When you return, open all windows and doors to allow the home to air out. When it is safe to go back inside, youll want to wash everything in hot water to ensure it is safe for use again. For materials you cannot wash, look for a spray such as the ones used to kill lice and use it on all surfaces your animal traffics.
Step Five: Vacuum again. If you want extra reassurance, grab some borax and sprinkle it on the carpet as you would a carpet freshening powder. Wear a mask to prevent any inhalation of dust as you vacuum. The borax will kill anything that may remain in the carpet.
Step Six: Take preventative measures for future outbreaks, such as a prescription once-a-month flea treatment or a flea collar. Keep on the lookout for the critters and prepare yourself to do it all over again if necessary.
Though it may seem a hassle to go through completely cleaning your home and pet, it is completely necessary to ensure you kill all fleas and eggs. Like lice on humans, these critters reproduce quickly, and all it takes is a missed live flea or egg to start the cycle again.
How to Do Things shows the steps you should take to kill fleas in your carpet.
YouTube provides a video with information on how to bathe your pet to kill fleas.
13 Fleas offers information on how to comb your pet with a flea comb.
The University of Floridas Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences offers advice on using non-chemical based methods to kill fleas.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency provides help on fleas and pets.
The Berkley Parents Center helps with how you should clean your home when dealing with fleas.
Ehow offers a step-by-step on vacuuming carpet to kill fleas.
The Integrated Pest Management Program at Penn State offers alternatives to borax to kill fleas.
1-800-Pet-Meds shows different prescription flea treatments you can use on your pets to prevent future outbreaks.
Expert Village offers a video detailing how to clean your home and pet when dealing with fleas.
