Posted: 7/18/2010 6:59:41 PM EDT
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I have a serious problem that I have NEVER had before and cant figure out.
I have a german shepherd and she stays in my kitchen at night, and being an outdoor dog she has some fleas but this last week something happened. My wife and I left our apartment for the night (our dog stayed with my mom) and when we returned fleas jumped on us constantly. We have never had one single flea in that place before and it was just disgusting. Since that day last week we removed almost all of our carpets (has wood floors) and power washed them and left them at her mother in laws house. Anyway, after closing the place up and setting of some "Flea bombs" we returned and it seemed the problem was under control. This weekend we left again, closed the place up and set off another flea bomb for good measure while we were away. We walked back in tonight and fleas jumped on our legs like crazy. What in the world can I do? I dont have any idea of how to kill these critters and I cannot imagine why it is getting worse. I know that they are hatching but the flea bomb claimed to kill the eggs also. Apparently it does not. Any ideas on how to deal with this problem would be greatly appreciated as it is way out of my control. |
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The best low tech way I found was knee high white socks. Walk around and then pick em off and put them in a cup of water with a little dish soap in it. Also at night I would put a night light over a paper plate covered in sticky stuff (tanglefoot brand). They hop for the light and get stuck on the plate. |
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A friend of mine had a really bad problem and has good luck with these ever since... http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100662491&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100662491&ci_src=14110944&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D28X-_-100662491&locStoreNum=589&marketID=16 |
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Frontline on the pooch, and he needs to stay in alot. He will be your "flea vacuum". Buy some Raid Flea spray for carpets and rugs. I got mine at Walmart for something like $8.50 a can. The cans are lavender/purple in color. The active ingredients are the same as what is in Frontline. I found this much better than flea bombs, which just left a residue everywhere. Spray down your carpets, drapes, upholstery, everything that fleas could be in. I had them really bad in one room and this stuff killed the live fleas in 5 minutes and I assume got the eggs as they hatched. My problem was bad enough that I thought of moving out and calling an exterminator. This stuff worked for me.
After the first spray, I went back over the rugs with a second shot a few days later for good measure, and aside from an ocassional flea every now and then over the next month, that was it. The cat walking around took care of the escapes, and my problem is solved. I recommended this to another person, and his problem was gone after the first spray too, and his cat is now on Frontline. |
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Liberally sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax in the affected areas... leave it down for 48 hours... and then vacuum. Repeat if required. This will break the flea cycle. Total cost, around 6 dollars. You should be able to find a box at your local grocery store.
https://www.allinkosher.com/p-31129-20-mule-team-borax-natural-laundry-booster-multi-purpose-household-cleaner-76-oz-powder.aspx |
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you need to take a muti front approach.
First the yard - those fleas are coming from somewhere, treat the entire yard and toss a little over on the neighbors grass if they aren't looking. Second the pets - dip, drench, spray etc. Third, and most important is the house. I too had to rip up 2000 ft/2 of carpet out of the TN house some 25 years ago. Since you have gotten down to bare wood, after fogging or spraying, VACUUM every square inch with a bowling ball sucking shopvac (make sure that you use a "fine particle" bag in the vac). Toss the vac bag out into your worst enemys yard - then put a new bag in and VACUUM IT AGAIN . The yard and the pets will need constant treatment until the first frost or two. Good luck x |
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There are three posts in a row that cover what you need to know: Frontline on the dog (and equivalent product for any other pets) ASAP -monthly. Borax Flea & egg killer on the rugs I would be pretty hesitant to use #3 in a house with small children, as I doubt it is ever really coming out of the carpets... Another tip that really helps along with the borax is vacuuming frequently ~twice per day is not too much, then sprinkle more borax. |
| I have given my dog Comfortis flea pill for about three years now and have not seen a flea on him or in the house since. |
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best and most effective way we've used is this: go buy cheap clamp lights, put a 15-20 watt bulb in it. put 1" water in a pie pan with a few drops of dishwashing liquid mixed in.put 1 or a few where you're having problems in the house and change the water every few days.the lamp sgoud be about a foot over the water. works like a charm and you will be rid of the fleas in just a few days without poisoning your house.
put something on your pet,too. |
| Use either Frontline or Advantix on the dog. You will not be bothered by fleas again. You may need to spray the house or something to kill whats there. Generally the either one of the above products will kill the fleas. We use Advantix because it kills ticks also. |
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I had the same problem once. Two indoor cats who never went outside managed to get fleas somehow. It got bad quickly with legions of the little blood suckers in the carpets that would mount massive assaults on your legs.
Took the cats to Petco for a flea dip and shaving, Sprinkled Borax on every inch of carpet, set off one flea bomb per room and vacuumed and steam cleaned carpets upon returning and before reintroducing the cats. Took care of the fleas. Now the cats and dog get treated with Frontline monthly and have not seen a flea one since. |