Getting Rid of Fleas

What is a kid friendly way to rid my home of fleas?

Crystal from Dexter, MO

Answers:

Getting Rid of Fleas

For the past few years I have been using the formula of 1 tsp of white vinegar to one quart of water in their drinking water. It works to keep my dog flea clear. The cats really do not like the taste, but they are so spoiled.

Laine (01/13/2007)

By Laine Butterworth

Getting Rid of Fleas

I have three dogs and I never use any flea remedies. They are expensive and they are poison. I put garlic powder in their food and I give them Brewers Yeast and they never have fleas.
As for getting them out of your home they sell things that are like the mouse sticky traps that you can put around and the fleas are dead on them in the morning.
I had to use them once when I babysat for a friend's flea-ridden dog.
My house got fleas but I hand combed my dogs and found one or two on each of them and that was the end of the problem.
(01/13/2007)

By Joan P Quinn

Fleas

I have 2 dogs & 3 cats. I use Biospot on all my animals,its cheap and it does work. When you bathe your dogs they say to wait 5 days for the dogs coat to dry and then put the Biospot on. (07/09/2007)

By Michelle

Getting Rid of Fleas

There are NO "kid friendly" ways to get rid of fleas. And believe me, I KNOW! Both my youngest son & I are highly allergic to fleas, so I've dealt with this problem all of our lives. (If only one flea is in the room, it WILL bite him or me & we will swell up like there's no tomorrow!) We seem to be flea magnets.

Here's the ONLY SURE WAY to get rid of fleas in the home:

First of all, go to your Vet & buy several months of Advantage flea liquid to apply to you pet's neck & while you're there buy enough flea carpet spray to totally cover your carpet. Do NOT buy a flea spray at Walmart etc. You need the kind that Kills the flea's eggs too. Buy this only from the Vet! (otherwise, you will need to do this again in 2 weeks when the flea eggs hatch & probably again in another 2 weeks, for the stubborn ones) Ask you Vet, Does this spray kill the eggs too?

Here's the deal:

• 1) Put the Advantage on your pets & afterwards leave them outside for 2 days. This way the fleas will jump off OUTSIDE! This may sound cruel, but don't let them back in for 2 days! (If it's an inside cat, then leave it in a room you can easily de-flea, like a bathroom or a laundry room or a back porch) Tell your kids not to pet or touch them (especially around the neck area, where you put the Advantage) for at least 3 days.
  
• 2) Vacuum your carpet WELL. The vibration from the vacuuming helps the flea eggs to hatch.
  
• 3) Wash all bedding & anything fabric, curtains & upholstery that you don't want to spray & put this fabric into the dryer if possible.
  
• 4) You've vacuumed, so now you'll have to get the kids out of the house for at least most of the day. They can play outside or be at a neighbors house while you do the next step. Make sure they go to the bathroom first & tell them NOT to come back in. Say: "If you're good, we'll go swimming, or to the park, or to grandmas house" or whatever, because you will need to leave for the day after the next step.
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• 5) If you can get a hold of a good respirator, then by all means, do so. Otherwise, open all the windows & doors & spray that nasty flea-killing chemical all over your freshly vacuumed carpet & curtains. The directions say to also spray on any upholstery, but I never did, as I couldn't fathom my kids sitting on a couch that had been sprayed, so I just took the cushions off & went outside & hit them with my fists to "shake off" any remaining fleas. This is a NASTY, TOXIC job, but someone has to do it. But, have someone else do the spraying IF you have any health or liver problems. Hold your breath & run outside for air as much as you can if you don't have a respirator. ALSO: WEAR RUBBER GLOVES while spraying!
  
• 6) Okay, now you've sprayed the whole carpet & maybe even the kitchen floor too. Read the directions. Now, shut all windows & doors & take your kids & LEAVE for AT LEAST 6 hours.
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• 7) Come back Home, Only you, run inside & Open as many windows & doors as you can & have the neighbors watch your house or stay outside for another 3 or more hours while the toxins clear out of your house! Do NOT let the kids in yet!
  
• 8) So now your house is flea-free. (is it worth having that pet?) But, DO NOT let your kids sit on the floor & play or watch TV from the floor for AT LEAST a month. Remember, I said that stuff stays & kills the flea eggs too!

This may sound like the ultimate Toxic Adventure! And it IS!, but believe me, it's the ONLY SURE way to get rid of fleas once & for all.

Do NOT use a FLEA FOGGER! These Foggers, fog EVERYWHERE, if you use a fogger, you will need to put your toothbrushes in your fridge (Do this if your are spraying near the bathroom, anyway) and, with a fogger, you'd have to take all boxed food outside & place your dishes & pots & pans in the oven or lock them in your car outside. (not a bad idea, anyway) Remember, the foggers fog EVERYTHING. Your opened boxes of cereal, etc will be totally toxic after fogging, so Don't use a fogger. PLUS, with a fogger, you'd have to do this all over again in 2 weeks when the flea eggs hatch. Only buy the Spray from the Vet that Kills the Fleas & their EGGS too!

Every month, remember to put the flea killer Advantage on your pets. This type of flea killer that gets into their bodies is the only type you can really count on to work! Using Advantage is the only way to stop fleas from getting into your home & attacking your kids. The fleas can also hitchhike on you & your kids. Before anyone enters the home in the summer months check your pant legs for fleas & brush them off. (You can use a sticky Lint Roller from the dollar store)

Fleas die off when it freezes HARD for a while, so you can stop the Advantage in the winter, that is, IF your pet has no fleas at the time, & has no other way to pick up fleas. Don't forget to start using the Advantage again in the Spring!

A natural remedy to stop your kids from getting bitten (if they can stand the citronella smell) is to take about 1/2 a bottle of citronella oil & mix that with about 1 ounce of rubbing alcohol. This will make the citronella oil more "liquid" & it will mix easier. Next mix the citronella oil with either a NON-SCENTED lotion. Or even better Soy oil or Soy shortening. (for some reason, fleas hate soy.) Do NOT put this on their skin right after a bath or swimming, as the citronella will make their skin "burn". Wait about a hour after bathing.

If you have any more questions, I've been through this flea-rid "dance" many times. Feel free to write me for more info. It's expensive, & toxic, but, if your kids are like me & swell up & get covered with bites, then, it's WELL worth the hassle & expense! (07/09/2007)

By Cyinda

Getting Rid of Fleas

To all of you out there trying to get rid of fleas, I have one word...EXTERMINATER. We tried everything. I have 2 indoor cats and one of them brought in fleas when he got out. Within a week, by basement was infested. And because the basement is warm and damp (what they love) we had quite a time. Anyway, we tried spray from the vet. powders, foggers & any other treatment we saw on the internet & none of them work. The reality of it is, these critters have become immune to all of these products. You will need to call in the men with those chemicals you just can't purchase off a store shelf. I too have mostly tile throughout the house and only have carpeting in the bedrooms. Of course I was worried that we carried them throughout the house so I had the whole house treated with Ultracide which only an exterminator can get. All in all, the vacuum is your best defense. When you vacuum, try and get some flea powder and vacuum it so that any live fleas in your vacuum will die. Good luck to you all.(quote)(/quote) (07/19/2007)

By Mel

Getting Rid of Fleas

I was told by my vet to use dawn dish liquid soap to get rid of fleas. It really does work! (08/25/2007)

By Michelle

Getting Rid of Fleas

I have 5 cats and 2 dogs inside. All my other cats are outside. I just was talking to my vet today about fleas and mosquitoes. I am very paranoid about fleas because a friend of mine brought a flea infestation in my house a few years ago and we couldn't get rid of them for a whole year. It was awful. Anyway my vet told me to use skin-so-soft from Avon on my animals, but not to put it on their heads as this is poisonous to do. I did and as soon as the skin-so-soft got on the fleas and mosquitoes they died instantly. I thought that this was the best invention. Good Luck. (09/11/2007)

By smoothy

Getting Rid of Fleas

Just like many others I too have had flea problems. REMEMBER fleas do not live on pets they only feed and then hop off! Fleas love dirt, dust and carpet this is where they breed. These are the areas you need to treat. Because my dogs sleep inside I have chosen tiles, timber floorboards and lino throughout the house. Lavender oil and water are a great deterrent, I use this to wash my floors however, lavender can be a problem with pregnancy so be careful. As far as all other areas including outside you will need a pest controller and make sure you block areas such as under the house, so your pets can't go there.
GOOD LUCK (11/18/2007)

By A. Crilly

Getting Rid of Fleas

I've had excellent results from using Avon's Skin-so-Soft for my dogs. After a bath I spray them with it and work it in. Makes brushing them easier, restores oils to their skin and soothes the bitten areas. (11/25/2007)

By Bill

Getting Rid of Fleas

Ammonia is good for fleas, trust me, it works. Just Ammonia and water in a spray bottle and they disappear. (12/17/2007)

By erykah

Getting Rid of Fleas

I use Diatomatious Earth for fleas and lice on my animals and for an internal wormer, for them and me. You can also spread it around your barn to get rid of slugs and bugs. Spread it in and around manure areas to kill flies and worms. (04/07/2008)

By whinny