Fleas in Carpet

Will removing carpet get rid of fleas?

By Caroline from Bristol, VA

Answers:

Frontline or Advantage

Whether a room has carpet or hardwood floor means nothing as far as a flea problem goes. Fleas will develop where ever the host animal spends time. Treat the pet with Frontline or Advantage. Treat the flooring with an aerosol floor treatment for fleas that will contain the growth regulator. Treat your yard, if the animal is spending time outside.

By LARRY FLUITT

Insect Growth Regulator

The life cycle of the flea is egg, larva, pupa, and adult The floors need to be treated with a product that also contains an insect growth regulator (IGR). The insecticide in the product will last around two weeks. The IGR will keep eggs from hatching, keep the larva from entering the pupa stage. The ones that are already in the pupa stage are protected from anything you do.

As they emerge from the pupa stage, they will get the residue from the treatment and die. Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. This helps to stimulate the ones that are ready to emerge to go ahead and emerge to either once again get into the residue or get sucked up into the vacuum.

In the 21 + years I have been doing pest control I have never suggested putting a chemical inside the vacuum to kill the ones sucked up and have never seen an infestation to continue on from the vacuum. The studies out there actually show that no matter what style or brand of vacuum used the fleas are usually done in.

By LARRY FLUITT

Table Salt

Having animals all my life and having to deal with fleas, we have found that using table salt was really good. The salt dehydrates them. What we do is sprinkle on the carpet, couch, and on the bed (under our sheets). Then let it sit over night. On the following day, vacuum it up. If necessary, repeat weekly, but I've only had to do it like twice in 6 months. It has worked wonders!

By Jaime Nasdeo