How Do You Know When Fleas Are Completely Gone?
Fleas are high on the list of annoying household pests. They hitch a free ride into your home on your pets, and before long they can take over every room in the house. Fleas are incredibly disruptive to your life, and some even carry harmful pathogens that can be passed onto your family.
Unfortunately, managing a flea infestation can be a challenge. Fleas are tiny and tough, so most over the counter insecticides won’t be effective in the long term. If you want to rid your home of fleas then you’ll usually need help from an experienced exterminator. They’ll be able to design a treatment plan that gets rid of fleas once and for all. In this article, we’ll look at how you can tell when fleas are gone and some tips on preventing them from returning.
How Long Does it Take to Get Rid of Fleas?
With a professional pest control solution, it may only take a single treatment to get rid of fleas. With DIY flea treatments, it often takes 8 weeks or more to get rid of a flea infestation.
Fleas thrive in all types of environments, and their long life cycle makes them difficult to eradicate. The challenge lies in how flea treatments work. Common insecticides are only effective at killing adult fleas. These insecticides leave behind a fine coating of poison to kill newly hatched fleas for several weeks after the treatment. The catch is that insecticides are usually ineffective at killing flea eggs. Flea eggs can lay dormant for months and then restart the infestation once they begin hatching. Dealing with fleas properly means killing them at every stage of their life cycle.
The Flea Treatment Process
While modern flea treatments work extremely well, fleas remain one of the most stubborn pests. You’ll need to work with a professional pest control tea. They’ll typically recommend a simple treatment process:
- Vacuum thoroughly. Use a high powered vacuum to thoroughly clean floors, carpets, rugs, upholstery, mattresses and dog beds. Your pest control company will likely ask you to clean your floors several times throughout the treatment process.
- Mop the floors. After vacuuming, any hard surfaces can be mopped with hot water and detergent. The heat and soap from mopping will go a long way to killing any dormant flea eggs.
- Wash bedding. Fleas thrive in all sorts of places, but they often love bedding, curtains and pet beds. These items all need to be stripped and washed in hot water and detergent. In some cases you may need to replace bedding entirely.
- Apply professional flea treatments. Once you have done the preparatory work, professional pest treatments can begin. Your exterminator should design a treatment plan that works for your infestation and property. You may only need a single treatment, or you may need multiple treatments over several days or weeks.
How to Tell When Fleas Are Gone
There’s no simple way to figure out when fleas are totally gone. If you invest in professional pest control then it’s up to you to monitor the situation. Keep an eye out for classic symptoms such as pets scratching themselves, flea sightings, mysterious bites and flea eggs. Flea eggs are tiny off-white ovals that are difficult to see, but you may be able to find them in your carpet, upholstery and rugs using a magnifying glass.
How to Prevent Fleas from Returning
Getting rid of fleas often requires serious effort and professional pest control solutions. When done correctly, professional flea treatment can deal with your infestation in a matter of days or weeks. But you don’t want that effort to go to waste! There are a few things you can do to minimise the risk of attracting a new infestation in the future:
- Regularly clean your home and carpets
- Inspect your pets for fleas, especially after a day out
- Wash pets and their bedding regularly
- Wash bedding and other fabric items
- Keep your yard clean and avoid having foliage touching or overhanging your home
- Avoid having any items leaning up against the house
Struggling with a Flea Infestation? Contact Pete’s Pest Control Toowoomba!
Managing fleas can be a real challenge. Whether you’re dealing with a handful of pests or a major infestation, getting rid of fleas often requires professional help. If you’re struggling with fleas then get in touch with Pete’s Pest Control Toowoomba! We’re pest control specialists working throughout Toowoomba and the Darling Downs region. We handle all types of pests, from fleas and ticks to ants, rodents, termites and more. Each of our treatments is tailored to suit your property and give you long-lasting relief from pests. Contact us online at any time if you’d like to make an appointment with our team!