Oh My Gosh!
Fleas in my furniture, how did that happen?
Flea life cycle |
Flea infestation |
Flea locations in your home
Getting rid of fleas on your dog
Getting rid of fleas in your furniture |
Let's get started |
Summary
Pet death and pet illnesses due to adverse reactions to chemical flea and tick products
Flea life cycle
Whilst fleas love to live and lay their eggs on your pets, carpets, rugs, mats, curtains and drapes, they are equally at home in your furniture such as couches, lounge suites and chairs, sofas and timber foors.
We hang curtains and drapes to keep the sun out in summer and the warm air in during winter. In doing so, we inadvertently provide a perfect haven for fleas and their off-spring to set up home - warmth and accumulated dust, year in and year out.
The accumulation of dust comes from the fact that people tend to only wash their curtains, and have their drapes professionally cleaned during an annual spring clean.
Flea infestation
Once people realise they have a flea infestation in their home their first reaction is to blame their family pet.
However, while it is true, that the fleas in your home have most probably been brought inside by your cat or dog, it is preposterous and far from the truth to blame your pets; or indeed other peoples' pets.
Cats and dogs who go outdoors without proper flea protection are cats and dogs who will eventually end up with cat or dog fleas, period!
Therefore the blame as to who caused the flea infestation lies entirely with the pets' parents. If the cap fits, YOU must wear it!
Flea locations in your home
Once fleas have made their way indoors courtesy of your pet, they don't stay long on him or her. Recents stats indicate 5% of the flea population in your home will be on your pet; the remaining 95% will be ensconced elsewhere, which of course includes your curtains and drapes.
Fleas love warm dark places to set up home and together with your dog's and your families' warm blood to feed on they are in nirvana in your home!
By their very nature they are tenacious little nasties and getting rid of them is far easier said than done. If you have an infestation you are best to over-do than under-do.
Off course it is a priority to treat your pet, but this must be done in tandem with cleaning and vacuuming your curtains and drapes; together with the remainder of your home and surrounds.
To be successful, please take a moment to read our articles on:
Fleas in BedsFleas in Carpets
Fleas in Curtains
Fleas in Lawns and Yards
Fleas on Pets
Three Steps to no Fleas
Getting rid of fleas on your dog
First off bath your dog with a herbal Shampoo and ConditionerThe trick here is to lather up your pet and leave the shampoo on for a minimum of five minutes at least. Any less and you are wasting your time. Five minutes are needed to completely drown all adult fleas and kill all of the off-spring in the flea's life cycle.
Follow up after his bath with an herbal Spot-on treatment together with attaching a Flea Tag on an herbal Collar.
Getting rid of fleas in your furniture
Most pet lovers treat their pets like a members of their family and this means pets get to share in most family activities, including sleeping or hanging out on the furniture in the home, e.g. couches, sofas and comfortable lounge chairs!
In the unfortunate event that some fleas slip the net and end up setting up their home in your home, 95% of your infestation will be camping in your your furniture, in fact they will be hiding anywhere that your pet has sat or slept on
Once fleas are ensconced it's a devil of a job to "Stop the Fleas" and indeed get rid of them.
Let's get started
Step 1
Wash all your furniture and cushion covers, bed linen including every single item you use to make-up your bed and on your bed, in very hot water and detergent.
Wash every bit of your pet's bedding with very hot water and detergent.
Step 2
Dry all furniture covers and bed linen in a clothes dryer and set it at the highest temperature allowed in accordance with care labels' instructions. Above 90 degrees Centigrade is best if permissible.
Dry your pet's bedding in the same method as your own, when dry, dust it with flea powder.
Step 3
Rewash and dry all your furniture and cushion covers and bed linen every 3 or 4 days to kill any newly adult hatched fleas, which may have slipped the net. Continue to do this until you are on top of the flea infestation.
Rewash and dry your pet's bedding every 3 or 4 days as well.
Step 4
Sprinkle your mattress with an All-in-one Flea Powder and leave on for 24-48 hours before vacuuming off. Remember your vacuum cleaner is you best weapon against fleas.
Step 5
Spray your furniture and mattress with a natural repellant to kill and repel any future fleas. Please take a moment to read our page on Home Flea Remedies and peruse our Stop The Fleas Products page. There you will find a plethora of different "Only Natural" flea control and prevention products. All are safe to use around children and pets and can be ordered online.
Your Vacuum cleaner is your greatest weapon against fleas in your bed, under your bed, on your furniture and in your home in general. Vacuum daily until you are sure you have the problem under control.
It's a good idea to put a Flea Collar inside the vacuum bag and once the bag is full, seal it and dispose of it off your property.
Summary
Getting rid of fleas in and around your home will take diligence on your part; this could take weeks or even months. Therefore you must take a 4-pronged approach as summarise below, other wise you wont be successful:
- Treat the fleas on your pets - we suggest bathing your dog followed by affixing an Herbal Collar and a Flea Tag
- Control the fleas inside and outside your home by using chemical free and safe flea repellants
- Be systematic and regular in your chosen method of flea repellants
- Start now!
Pet death and pet illnesses due to adverse reactions to chemical flea and tick products
The video below is well worth watching. As part of the federal Government's investigation of the safety of chemical pet control products, Chris May speaks to Cindy Tanghetti about the loss of her Golden Retriever; to Jan Jaffe about her dog requiring four blood transfusions; and to Judy Waylen about her dog's hair loss and horrible crusty skin disease - all due to the use of various toxic chemical flea and tick control products
This article and information forms part of the Carole's Doggie World Holistic Library and is presented for informational purposes only.The information is not intended to be a substitute for visits to your local vet. Instead, the content offers the reader information researched and written by Carole Curtis for www.carolesdoggieworld.com