Want to know why most dog owners fail to fully treat flea infestations in their home? It’s because they assume the problem originates from their dog, so they purchase all of the name brand sprays and medicinal applications in hopes of killing the fleas. Sure, using a premium product like Frontline will certainly help to kill the fleas feasting on your dog, but it”s not going to solve the root of the problem. In order to fully remove fleas from your home, you must take a different approach towards treating them…
Dog enjoying his comfortable bed: photo by tobyotter.
But Don’t Fleas Lay Their Eggs on a Host?
Nope, this is entirely false. Fleas love to feast on the warm blood of a dog, cat or person (yes, they bite people too), but they do not lay their eggs on a host. If you attempt to a treat a flea infestation simply by applying a medicinal product to your dog, you aren’t attacking the dozens or potentially even hundreds of eggs lingering around the house waiting to hatch. And when they do hatch, they’ll inevitably find their way to your dog and the problem will reappear.
Vacuum The Floors
According to some estimates, vacuuming can remove as much as 50% of the unhatched flea eggs residing in a home. If you’re struggling to control a flea infestation, it’s imperative that you vacuum the floors on a regular basis. Don’t just run over them in a quick swoop, but instead take your time to ensure that every available square inch of exposed floor is cleaned.
When vacuuming the floors in your home, pay close attention to the following areas:
- Underneath furniture
- On and underneath rugs
- Around baseboards (may need to use wand extension to effectively vacuum this area)
- Welcome mats
Note: seal all of your vacuumed dust and debris in a separate bag and immediately dispose of it. This will trap fleas inside so they can’t escape back into your home.
Wash Your Dog’s Bedding
Along with vacuuming, owners should also wash their dog’s bedding. Fleas love to hide in dog blankets and beds, and once your dog goes to lay down, they’ll have to deal with the onslaught of flea bites.
Toss your dog’s bedding into the washing machine and wash it on the “extra large load” setting with hot water. You can pour some detergent along with a tablespoon of vinegar for extra purifying effects.