Fleas In Your Home: What You Need To Know

Finding fleas in your home can be one of the most frustrating, annoying, and defeating things to overcome. Fleas are very small but very powerful insects. They can jump up to 13 inches and are very attune to surviving and adapting. Once your home is infested by fleas you need to hire a professional pest control service to eradicate them quickly. Lookout Pest Control, formerly Any Pest Inc., is here to help.

How do fleas get in your home?

Fleas use “hosts” to feed and in this case, the host is your pet. When house pets go outside, fleas will jump on for a meal and travel with their host to a new location. Fleas lay their eggs on the host and then they fall off onto the floor. The eggs can lay dormant for up to a year with no activity and as soon as vibrations hit the floor they start hatching like popcorn!

Are fleas harmful?

Fleas themselves are not harmful to humans or animals but their bites are constant and will drive anyone mad. If not treated, their bites can become infected from constant scratching and their saliva can cause allergic reactions in pets and people.

How to get rid of fleas

Home remedies such as using a powerful vacuum to suck up larvae and eggs, washing bedding and pet bedding in hot water and drying on the hottest setting, and using insect foggers and chemicals will all help in keeping these pests out of your home. But you to fully block fleas from entering on your pets, you must also take care of your yard and protect your animals. Fleas cannot reproduce until they have their first blood meal. When treating it is important to use an IGR ( Insect growth regulator). When the eggs hatch, the IGR prevents them from reaching the biting stage which means they cannot have a blood meal and will not be able to reproduce.

• Keep the grass trimmed in your yard
• Keep unwanted debris out of your property
• Use flea medications, shampoos, and collars on your pets
• If no pets are present have Lookout Pest Control inspect crawlspaces and your attic for the presence of rodents, raccoons, or opossum.
• Use cedar chips in landscaping where your pets like to lay

Pro Tip: Do not feed feral cats as they will bring fleas.

Fleas will leave feces and blood droppings around your home and clearing out takes a sharp eye and a lot of thorough execution. Fleas are highly attracted to white because the underbelly of most animals is white. Take a bright white towel and slowly drag it across the floor. If fleas are present they will jump on the towel.

How to treat flea bites

The best remedy for a flea bite is to try and not scratch at them and treat them with a soothing ointment or lotion. Persistent scratching can leave to larger sores on your body and infection. Here are some useful treatments for flea bites:

• Cortizone ointment
• Calamine lotion
• Tea tree oil
• Vinegar
• Anti-histamine medications

Professional flea control and prevention in Atlanta, Ga

Homeowners should first contact their pest control professional to conduct a thorough inspection in order to localize the problem, identify the root, and determine where fleas are inhabiting. Attempting to tackle a flea problem on your own could lead to much worse damage and exasperation of the problem. Over-the-counter flea products will not control flea’s reproduction and the root of the flea infestation. Call us today at 678-888-0035 or contact us online.