We do not have a pet, yet we have fleas! We had a dog in the house about a month ago and I guess this could be just showing up from that? I don't know. I have an older house with original wood flooring. The only carpet is one area rug in the living room. I have gotten bites on my feet and have seen the fleas in several areas/rooms. I have tried the carpet sprinkles made just to rid of fleas and they were still there- also used a shop vac with good suction on the wood floors. Then tried Borax on the rug and that hasn't worked. I have one son (4) and am expecting another any day. I really want to get this taken care of! If anyone has any tips that are not harmful for children or pregnant women to be around, I greatly appreciate it!!
I bought a spray made by Sentry called Natural Defense. It is essential oils. It would work fine to damp mop the wood floors with it. It would make them shine nicely. You can spray the beds under your sheets just to discourage them from being in the beds. If you spray the rug, you'll get it oily and then it will attract dirt. So I am not sure what to say about the rug. If the rug is small enough, I'd roll it up and wrap it in plastic until this passes.
This is turning out to be a very bad fall for fleas. We didn't see any in June and only a few in July. Suddenly in August and September we are fighting them. We have 5 cats and 2 dogs. This spray helps. We've been doing flea baths almost weekly, buying the oils that you put on the neck and now trying this all natural stuff from Sentry. At least it smells good. It makes my sinuses itch. But it's a small price to pay to know I am using something all natural. I just don't know if it's going to work for the one cat and one dog we have that seems to be affected the most by this problem. Just like with people, some animals seem to attract them more than others. We have 2 cats that have such thick fur that they can hardly find suitable places to bite them or lay eggs. That's what I think anyway.
We do have a new grand baby in the house. He had a few bites when we first realized the problem was so bad. But since we've been fighting the problem he has not gotten any more bites at all.
Suzi
We had this same problem at this time last year. We do have a cat, but she is an indoor only cat and had never had fleas before. I tried a couple of sprays, and my daughter was crawling at the time and that was a big mistake. She broke out into a rash from it
AND it didn't work anyway. The main thing we did to keep them down was to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. This greatly reduced the problem and they went away on their own in a few days. I had to vacuum two or three times a day. Even vacuuming the hardwood floors. Just be sure to take the vacuum canister or bad outside and dispose of it each time. Since my daughter's reaction to the spray, I was reluctant to use any chemicals in the house. Another product that I have heard works immediately and is safe to use around children is called Fleabusters. You can buy it online. We purchased some but by the time it was delivered, the fleas were basically gone so we kept it in case it happens again.
After this happened, I treated the lawn with for fleas and insects this past spring. You can buy it at Lowe's or Home Depot and it lasts for the entire season or up to a year. Since you can bring the fleas into your home on your pant legs and other items you bring in from outside, it is a good idea. We have had no problem with fleas this year since I treated.
They are very frustrating bugs and very had to get rid of. I feel you frustration! Just be persistent and they will go away! Good luck!
Hello, I have the same problem and am also reluctant to try sprays for the health of my little ones. So, I did some research and actually one lady I know told me to put moth balls in your vaccuum cleaner bag and vacuum the floor everyday for a week or two (even the hard wood) and that'll get rid of them. She swears it works, I haven't actually gotten to try it yet because I haven't been to the store but htought it may be worth a try! Good Luck!
Oh dear... fleas AND wood floors...I shudder just remembering the battle we had with them a few years ago. That was in the day before we were smart enough to be worried about chemicals and such...so the things I did then would NOT be what you would want to do now...especially since you are pregnant.
I would start out with sections of flea collars in your vaccuum bag, vaccuum RELIGIOUSLY....even the hard wood floors and your furniture. I would be very VERY tempted to try a house "bomb"...check with someone about which one is best as far as your child and yourself..but it can be done with you OUT of the house....so hopefully it would be alright. Whatever you do, check with your doctor first, I don't know what is safe and what isn't.
Another trick that we used to use to make sure that we actually HAD fleas...set up a pie pan with a few drops of dish soap in it...put it on the floor near a night light...at night when the night light is the only light source, the fleas will be attracted to it, jump into the soapy water and die!!! Then you have your "proof"
And, you don't have to have pets to have fleas, they will hop on a person as they pass through their territory and et up housekeeping in your house!!!
Good luck!!!
I had them in the house before my son was born because we decided to get a puppy for him and the fam we got it from didnt inform us??:( We bombed our house! We found one that included fleas and we just left out for the day put things of importance that I was worried about baby wise in the garage and we haven't seen one since! Hope u get some good responses because ffleas suck!! ha ha COngrats on the new baby!
Put some vinegar in a pie pan set in different areas on floor they jump in and die
The quickest, easiest, and most effective way to rid your home of a flea infestation is to bug bomb your house. Once you set the bombs, go visit your mom or inlaws or best friend for a few hours (it should say how long on the can) and when you return home your problem will be solved. simply pick up the empty cans and throw them away, wipe down your table and counter tops and you should be good.
This is a have to do!!! It is non-toxic, safe for all of you and the fastest way to get rid of fleas!!! When I was growing up we had a bad flea problem and with inside/outside dogs this made the problem harder to fight. After trying everything on the market with nothing working we were told to try Eucalyptus Leaves/Oil. We used eucalyptus oil to steam clean the carpets and had plants inside and out. Needless to say we were all surprised since we had tried everything we also kept a eucalyptus plant around and we never got fleas again. If you want more information on it just search eucalyptus leaves and fleas. Hope this helps to get rid of your problem before the baby comes you don't want them to bite her/him.
If you don't live in an area where Eucalyptus grows, you can purchase the leaves at just about any craft store. The smell of the Eucalyptus repels fleas and quite possibly some other bugs. If you can't find the leaves, you might also try Eucalyptus Oil. Put some oil in a small cup or bowl and set it out of reach of your pets.
Yes eucalyptus can be poisonous if eaten (just like any herb)but I'm not saying eat it so that is not even a concern. Just keep it out of reach of the children and pets to be on the safe side..... it just needs be in the room. If you are concerned about breathing it in which everything I've read said it safe....I too am pregnant with a small child so I'm not recommending something without researching it first. But if you are concerned I would ask your ob which you should probably do with the other toxic chemicals too. But anyways eucalyptus is used in so many things and used for congestion so I'm sure it's not harmful. Here is a website just do your research http://www.ehow.com/about_5271753_eucalyptus-oil-used-treat.html
we had to have our yard & house treated by a professional. It was not cheap, but was the only way to fully-eliminate the fleas. & the thing is...fleas have an incupation of 21 days for the eggs & that's why they seem to "return".
We did not treat our yard this year, but had to the last 3 years. & the problem is if we just do ours & our neighbors don't address theirs.....then it's almost a waste of time!
Good Luck! OH, & we did try the bombs & they worked on the live bugs...but had fleas again when the eggs popped.
We had the same problem years ago and also have wood floors. Our vet told us that sometimes animals (rabbits, mice, etc) can get in a hole in the foundation of your house, nest under your house, and THEY carry the fleas. The fleas can get through the wood floor slats (especially in an older home) and you have repeated flea infestations that you can't get rid of. You have to repair any holes in your foundation, and torn screens on the foundation, etc, then get under there and treat the crawl space for fleas, as well as the rest of your house. Remember ..... since you can only kill fleas and not their eggs, all flea treatments must be repeated in about 10 days to 2 weeks to kill the newly hatched fleas before they can lay more eggs.
Good luck !
We've had fleas in our own house and fleas in our rentals. I've set off bug bombs, but in the end have had to call an exterminator. You should do the same. Just tell them you are pregnant and have a small child. They can tell you about any precautions you need to take.
All good ideas from others and would just say be careful if you try the Eucalyptus as it makes me wheeze and be sure nobody in your family has that problem and also the moth balls will be so hard to get the smell out of the vacuum and they are very poison. I know they can cause medical problems breathing them long term too. Check it out.
Mandy,
Call United Bug Spraying at 636-441-8974. The man to talk to is Chris Robinson..I believe the phone goes directly to his office anyway. We've been using this local company for probably 15 years. There are no contracts to sign, and I think he handles fleas. Give him a call!
Good luck.
I know this doesn't help you since you do not have a pet. However, the Advantage that is sold by veterinarians seems to work pretty effectively and fast for getting rid of fleas in homes with pets. It beats calling in an exterminator, spraying all over your house or doing flea baths (especially on cats). Since it is a drop of liquid that you put on a live host this wouldn't help you unless you could borrow the dog back. Our cats live inside but occassionally pick up fleas. Our vet says they can come in on your shoes. I am guessing yours came in with the dog.
Good luck
well mandy my grandson told me of some stuff that kills them dead it is called knock out , for killing flees , hope u can fine it and that it works great for u ,, eura
To prevent bites wash with selsun blue shampoo all over, they won't bite you, then call a holistic exterminator
We got fleas in our house when I was pregnant with my second too. I called terminix (b/c I was worried about doing anything myself). We had to do a lot of prep work before and vacuuming after (and with their warranty, I made them come back a week later to do it again). It was a huge headache but it was well worth it to be rid of them for good before the baby came!
Go to the vet's office and ask for Vet-Chem carpet spray it works wonderful!
Just thought I would add a side note, besure to treat all furniture, bedding and clothing.