Fleas Guide

Your Complete Flea Elimination Guide
How to Remove Fleas from Your Pet, Home, and Yard

Successfully eradicating a flea infestation requires treating all areas where fleas may be present, including your pet, your home, and your yard. If any of these areas are overlooked, the infestation will likely persist.

For the best results, begin by treating your pets, then move on to your home and yard. Ensure that all treatments are carried out around the same time to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Flea Treatment for Pets

Flea control often begins with treating the pets living in your home or on your property. When starting flea treatment, it’s essential to consider your pet's species, age, and health. Always read the product label to ensure the treatment is safe for your specific pet. There are three primary treatment options for pets:

• Flea Baths
• Flea Drops
• Flea Sprays

The best flea treatment for your dog or cat will typically involve using at least one of these methods.

1. Flea Bath

Flea Baths for Dogs, Cats, & Other Pets

A flea bath is one of the fastest and most effective ways to treat pets for fleas. Using a medicated shampoo provides an immediate solution, killing biting fleas on contact, and is the recommended first step for pets with heavy infestations.

Important Tips for Flea Baths:

• Always read the shampoo’s product label for species and age restrictions to ensure your pet’s safety.

Challenges with Flea Baths:

• Many cats and some dogs dislike baths, which can make the process stressful.
• Flea shampoos generally provide immediate relief but do not prevent reinfestation, as they only kill fleas present at the time of the bath.

2. Flea Drops

Spot-On Flea Treatments for Dogs, Cats, & Other Pets

Spot-on treatments, commonly referred to as flea drops, are a convenient and effective method of flea control. These treatments are designed to be low-stress for pets and provide lasting protection against fleas. Most products are species-specific and should not be used on animals under 12 weeks old.

How to Apply Flea Drops:

1. Part your pet’s hair between the shoulder blades to expose the skin.
2. Squeeze the entire contents of the applicator directly onto the skin.
3. Applying the product between the shoulder blades helps prevent your pet from licking the treated area.

What to Expect:

• Fleas begin dying within 24 hours of application.
• Adult fleas may still be visible if your pet enters an infested area but will die after feeding on your treated pet.

Maintenance:

Reapply flea drops every 4–6 weeks as directed to maintain protection.

3. Pet Flea Spray

Flea Sprays for Dogs, Cats, & Other Pets

Flea sprays are another effective option for eliminating fleas on pets. These sprays kill adult fleas quickly and offer short-term protection against reinfestation.

What to Know About Flea Sprays:

• Always read the product label thoroughly to check for species and age restrictions.
• Flea sprays are available in aerosol cans or squirt bottles.
• While easy to apply, flea sprays often have a strong odor, which some pet owners may find unpleasant. The odor typically fades within a few hours.

Choose the treatment option that best suits your pet's needs and follow the product instructions carefully to ensure effective flea control.

teps for Treating Fleas in Your Home

Getting rid of fleas inside your home is a crucial part of an effective flea control program, especially if your pets have been infested. To succeed, it’s essential to treat all areas where your pets have rested, played, or groomed. Indoor flea elimination may take anywhere from 2–8 weeks, depending on the severity of the infestation. This process involves a combination of insecticides and mechanical control methods.

1. Natural Flea Control Options

Non-Chemical Treatment Methods

• Clean Pet Bedding: Wash or dispose of all pet bedding.
• Rugs and Carpets: Wash, steam-clean, or throw away area rugs.
• Furniture: Vacuum or steam-clean any furniture your pets have used.

Vacuuming Tips:
Vacuuming is a critical step in a flea control program. Thoroughly vacuum the entire home before applying insecticides, then continue vacuuming every other day for at least 14 days. Vacuuming brings fleas and their eggs to the surface, stimulates immature fleas (pupae) to emerge from their cocoons, and exposes them to applied insecticides.

Recommended Product:

• Vapamore MR-100 Primo Steam Cleaning System – $299.00 (5 out of 5 stars)

2. Use a Concentrated Flea Spray

Applying Flea Spray Indoors

There are several types of flea sprays available, including liquid insecticides, aerosol sprays, and flea powders. To control fleas effectively, we recommend using at least two products:

• An Insecticide: Kills adult fleas.
• An Insect Growth Regulator (IGR): Prevents immature fleas from maturing.

Many aerosol flea sprays combine these two products for convenience. Adding a dust to your treatment plan can further speed up elimination and prevent reinfestation. To simplify product selection, consider using an Indoor-Only Flea Kit or an Indoor/Outdoor Flea Kit available from DoMyOwn.com.

Steps for Treating Fleas in Carpets and Rugs:

1. Spray Application:
2. Apply Flea Dust:
3. Reapplication:

Pro Tip

It’s natural to avoid infested areas, but doing so will only prolong the infestation. Flea larvae and pupae need stimulation from activities like vacuuming, walking, and body heat to become active and expose themselves to the applied products.

Avoid Using Foggers or Bombs:
Flea foggers are only effective in empty areas without furniture, boxes, or other obstacles. These obstacles prevent the fog from reaching many areas, leaving parts of the infestation untreated.

Steps for Outdoor Flea Control

A comprehensive outdoor flea treatment involves targeting areas where fleas may be present, including places your pets frequent and locations where stray or wild animals may roam.

To achieve the best results, it is highly recommended to use a combination of two products:

• A liquid insecticide to kill exposed fleas.
• An insect growth regulator (IGR) to disrupt the flea life cycle and prevent immature fleas from maturing.

To simplify the process, consider using an Outdoor Flea Kit containing the necessary products.

1. Clear Yard Debris

Prepare the Area Before Treatment

• Remove all leaf and yard debris to ensure the treatment can penetrate to the soil and grass, where fleas develop.
• Focus your treatment on infested areas identified during your inspection. These areas may include:

There’s little need to spray open, sunny areas, dry or dusty locations, or hard surfaces like patios or driveways since fleas cannot develop in those environments.

Application Steps:

1. Use a liquid flea insecticide mixed with an insect growth regulator.
2. Apply the solution using a hand pump sprayer or backpack sprayer to thoroughly treat the targeted areas.

Pro Tip:

2. Repeat Treatment Every 14 Days

Ensure Long-Term Control

Flea infestations take time to eliminate. You should start noticing a reduction in the flea population within a few weeks, but follow-up treatments are essential.

• Second Treatment: Apply a second treatment after 14 days to address any remaining fleas.
• Severe Infestations: You may need 3 or 4 treatments spaced 14 days apart for severe infestations.
• Ongoing Prevention: If wild animals frequently visit your property, apply monthly preventative insecticide treatments throughout flea season to reduce the risk of re-infestation.