Oh the Uber fleas.....

Got fleas? See a couple skurrying around on your let? Or at all out war with a uncontrollable infestation. No worries here are some quick prevention and control  tips and tricks to keep your sanity and utter annoyance of being flea bitten.

Keep it clean. Vacuum at least once daily if not twice or thrice times daily. If you feel like throwing some baking soda, salt, borax or food grade diatomaceousous earth go right ahead, might just help annihilate the little biters.

Use poison lots of poison! Okay if you have kids and pets eh not so much. Always read the directions thoroughly before using flea bombs, carpet powders, sprays, etc.

Treat the outside too not just the inside. Keep your grass short. Use pesticides if you wish but once again always read the directions thoroughly. Oh and let your neighbor know your yard will be a toxic playground temporarily as a courtesy.

Treat your pets. Flea collars, flea dips and flea treatments are awesome just make sure you always read the directions thoroughly before applying any sort of toxic poison to your pet.

Is your pet a indoor/ outdoor pet? Consider keeping them as strictly indoor pets, this mainly applies to cats.

Home remedies yay or nay......

Wash your pet with some Dawn's dish liquid and use a flea comb to groom the fleas out of your pets fur.

Use salt, borax or diatomaceous earth when vacuuming. Leave on for a hour or so and vacuum the crud out of the carpet....throw the bag or empty the container of your vacuum cleaner immediately to prevent re- infestation.

Vacuum and treat your furniture same way as carpets.

Cedar chips in your pets bedding and in your yard seem to help deter the little buggers.

Light, piece of white paper and shallow bowl of water (maybe thrown a drop of dawn in there) in the middle of your carpet....fleas seem to be attracted to the setup

Keep clothes off the floor and wash your pets bedding weekly if not daily.

If nothing seems to be working consult with a veterinarian and a pest control person. Consult both. I say consult with a vet first because frankly they know all about fleas and if anything can recommend a flea treatment plan least likely to harm your pet. If your veterinarian does not have the answer you want then by all means get a professional bug killer to assassinate and annihilate the little intruders.

Get Rid Of Fleas For Good

House Tips

-Vacuum like crazy. Vacuum twice or more daily no if ands or buts. If you have a disposable bag take that bag out to garbage can immediately after every use. If you have a detachable canister empty that out immediately after every use into a garbage can. Make sure garbage can is situated somewhere outside the home to minimize reinfestation.

-When vacuuming use a flea carpet powder and make sure you read complete directions to use it correctly. For a more natural approach and/or less toxic use things like borax, salt, baking soda or diatomaceous earth (food grade!).

-Use a carpet shampooer/cleaner/steamer a week. Do not dump water in yard which could lead to further reinfestation. Dump water in toilet  and flush instead.

-Clean and vacuum your furniture daily or get new furniture if you know you got rid of fleas completely and for good.

-Use a flea fogger/bomb once or twice a month. Always read full directions.

-Don't leave clothes, bedding, etc. on the floor if you do you better wash that stuff.

-Keep clutter off the floor. Never leave trash lying around period.

-Rip up the carpet put in wood floors or new carpet (avoid thick shaggy carpeting where fleas can hide!) as a last resort.

Yard Tips

-Keep your lawn mowed and bushes/trees trimmed.

-Use a outside flea treatment, once again read and follow directions exactly. For something more natural use diatomaceous earth.

Pet Bedding/Kennel Tips

-Wash fabric pet bedding at least twice or more weekly.

-Use cedar chips to deter fleas in and around pet's kennel/sleeping area.

Pet Tips

-Keep your pets healthy. The healthier your pet the less parasites they get.

-Bathe your pets regularly with a flea treatment (always read directions!) or for something not so toxic use concentrated Dawn dish washing soap and scrub and work it into the fur. Rinse thoroughly.

-Use a flea collar. If you Google you can find plenty of natural ones.

-Use a monthly flea treatment. Always read directions. Check with your veterinarian for best recommendations.

-Do not let your pet sleep on your bed or furniture! That's just asking for trouble in more ways then one.

-Treat all animals in the house. Anything that has fur, give it a bath.

-Dietary supplements like brewer's yeast or garlic show some promise. Ask your veterinarian before ever even thinking about giving your pet a dietary supplement.

Here is some more linkage for tips and tricks to get rid of fleas:

The Best Ways To Get Rid Of Fleas For Good

The Life Cycle Of A Flea