Ways to Handle a Flea Infestation

Anyone who has dealt with fleas knows that these little critters can be highly intrusive. These external parasites are very common and can feed off the blood of animals and people. A flea infestation can be a major source of emotional distress and frustration and can render your home uninhabitable. 

How to Identify Fleas

Fleas are flightless insects that are brown or reddish brown and have flat bodies. They are barely a few millimeters long, but they have strong back legs and can jump up to 60 times their height. These nasty parasites can easily jump from the floor to your couch or onto your pet.

Typically, fleas are a problem to owners of new pet cats and dogs. However, most pet owners feel that there are certain seasons when flea activity increases, such as early summer and during fall. Their color makes them difficult to discern against your pet’s skin and most surfaces. However, they can easily make anyone’s life miserable. 

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Fleas

Below are a few tested home remedies to attempt to control and rid your home of fleas.

1. Dish soap
   You can create a flea trap using water and some dish soap. Fill a plate or a shallow dish with the mixture and place it in multiple rooms and corners around the house where your pets frequent or where you think fleas are present.Water and dish soap are highly viscous and work together to act like glue, trapping the flea. Make sure you repeat this method every day with a fresh batch.

2. Baking soda
   Sprinkle some baking soda on your furniture and carpets. Use a hard brush to rub the baking soda into the fabric. Vacuum your home thoroughly after that. Make sure you empty the vacuum bag into a closed trash can that is placed outside your home.

3. Lemon spray
   You can  make a lemon spray and use it on all infected pieces of furniture. Citrus spray can be made by slicing a lemon thinly and dropping it in a kettle. Bring the kettle to boil and allow the lemon solution to sit overnight. Pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on all infested areas the next day, including your couch, chairs, and pet bedding. Make sure you just dampen and not soak.

4. Flea Medication for Your Pets
   Whether you have had a flea infestation in the past or are just getting a new pet, we recommend your cat(s) and/or dog(s) be placed on a flea medication regimen. This is one of the best lines of defense when it comes to flea control, as the medication either deters the fleas from traveling on your pets or kills them once they bite your pet’s skin. Please consult your veterinarian to determine which type of flea prevention would be best for your pet.

Call the Professionals – M Exterminators Pest Control in San Diego

A majority of pet owners manage to keep flea infestations at bay using veterinary recommended products and medications. While this can help control the problem, if the fleas have already made their way in your home, they will set up shop elsewhere, like your sofa, carpet, or even start feeding off of you. Home remedies may work against a few fleas, but they are not useful against full blown pest infestations.

You need to call in the professionals to have a look at your property and identify all potential flea breeding grounds and nests. Pest exterminators understand how fleas can infiltrate your San Diego property and take appropriate control measures. Get in touch with M Exterminators by calling at 619-375-0220 to schedule a property visit today. You can also use our online form.