So you have gotten the fleas off the dog and cat, now you will have to keep them from getting infested again. There are a number of non-toxic remedies on the market that will help you keep your entire house flea free. It takes a bit of patience, persistence and some inexpensive products, as well as a vacuum cleaner.
Things You'll Need
- Borax
- Salt
- Vacuum with hose
- Broom
Instructions
Purchase pure borax powder or boric acid, or a flea product that contains boric acid. It's important to use a very fine powder, especially in carpets, so that it is left behind after vacuuming. There are also many flea powders on the market that you can use after washing your bare floors and shampooing the carpet.
Wash all bare floors well and allow them to dry. This will go a long way in killing the fleas and flea eggs. Use a steam cleaner. If you use a mop and a pail of water, there is a chance that the residue of the soap will be left behind. This sticky residue will attract dirt and make it more difficult to clean the next time. If you do not have a steam cleaner, use a mixture of white vinegar and water (half and half) to clean bare floors.
Vacuum all carpeting well. Use a hose attachment to get into corners and small spaces. Place a piece of tape over the opening of the vacuum cleaner bag and toss it in the garbage.
Sprinkle boric acid or borax onto the carpet. Allow the boric acid to settle and kill the fleas and flea eggs. The flea eggs will stick to the boric acid powder and become vacuumed up when you vacuum again.
Dispose of the second vacuum cleaner bag. This will ensure that the fleas do not escape back into the carpet.
Launder all bedding where the companion animals sleep. Launder your bedding as well. Sprinkle boric acid, or the boric acid-containing product, onto your mattress and allow it to settle for about 20 minutes. Then vacuum up using the vacuum cleaner's hose attachment.
Repeat this process a couple days to weeks later to kill any fleas that may have hatched.