My first question is that if there are no fleas in a trap and it has been 3 weeks does that mean that room has no fleas? No. FLEA TRAPS are a great tool to help monitor and even reduce local populations. But their range is limited. If you don’t catch any fleas for 4 days, move the trap 10-15 away from where it’s been and repeat the process. Only after you’ve moved them throughout the entire house for 8 weeks with no fleas having been caught can you safely know they’re done. But the key here is that during these 8 weeks, you will have been moving the traps as described above and not just letting them stay in one position.

Second question is … could we take the fleas on our clothes and have someone elses home infested or our car? Yes. Since 25-40% of our customers are people who don’t have pets, it’s clear that fleas will jump onto a person, take a blood meal and then lay eggs where this person resides. So it only stands to reason that if you had a flea hitching a ride on you during a trip to the other part of your home or even during a visit to someone elses home, you could carry a pregnant flea. But remember, the reverse is true. In other words, anyone that enters your home or your car could do the same whether they own a pet or not.

Third and final question is that we are planning on steam cleaning the carpet and have gotten mixed opinions on whether to do it or not, will it help? Steam cleaning will definitely help the fleas but not the “flea problem”. In other words, fleas need moisture. And when you steam clean your carpet, you’ll be both destroying all the chemical you’ve applied as well as added moisture to where they live. The end result is that they’ll be able to develop faster and thrive. So yes, steam cleaning will help the fleas. But my guess is you were asking if it would help stop the flea problem and the answer to that question is no.

…and if we do treat the carpet/area rugs can we put powders (fleasbuster) down afterwards? How dry does the carpet have to be? It needs to be completely dry. On average, it will take 1-2 weeks for the carpet to dry enough before any ONCE A YEAR FLEA GRANULES can be applied.

Also, if we do steam clean the carpet does that mean fleas will hatch sooner and we can come home to a swarm of fleas afterwork? There is no way to tell whether there will be a surge or not. Surging populations are dependent on when the pupae are ready to hatch so if there are lots of fleas ready to hatch following a steam cleaning then yes, you’ll see more.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Once a Year Flea Treatment:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-20-ounce-jar

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

If you read through our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn fleas don’t want to be on people other than to bite and once they get their blood meal, they’ll leave. So where do they go? Usually a dog, cat or some other animal. And though fleas can get on your clothing, they won’t stay on it. So there is no need to wash your clothing other than what you normally do.

As for fleas living in your bed; this doesn’t happen either. Fleas live on host animals which will be an animal and though they can get in a bed, they’ll quickly die if they don’t get onto a mammal of some kind. So there is no need to wash or do anything to your bed or bedding other than what you would do normally.

Now will the fleas move with you to your new home? Not likely. But as our article explains, it only takes one flea to infest a house so if you don’t pre-treat it with one of the flea control options listed in our article, the risk will be there. Since 25-50% of our customers are people who don’t own pets, it’s clear to us that any home can develop a flea problem. And if you’re moving from a location which had a flea problem, the potential for a new problem to develop is no doubt enhanced. To prevent this from happening, I suggest doing some spraying or the ONCE A YEAR TREATMENT we have listed in our article since it’s so easy.

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Once A Year Treatment:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control#once-a-year-treatment

 My husband and I recently uthenized our dog and two weeks later we start getting bites and come to the realization that we have fleas.

I had no idea that our dog had fleas, I think that she did not have fleas as we just moved into a new house a year ago and I’m thinking the fleas were here previously none the less we now have fleas.

My husband and I vacuumed the house upside and down and the next day we had a Pest Control service person come in and spray the house. They used a growth regulator and some other type of chemical that gets rid of fleas. The next day I found a flea again so I called them and they came back again 2 days later. Next day my husband and I vacuumed the house again and I am still finding fleas. While we do not have a huge infestation I have seen 2 fleas in the past two days they are still here.

I have a 8 month old baby and thank goodness they are not biting her only me mostly it seems and my husband a little.

I am now using salt on the rugs. We have no carpet in our home we have hardwood everywhere and laminate in the basement but I do have rugs. I am planning on vacuuming again tomorrow and perhaps buying flea bombs as well and trying to purchase some other products that you have suggested.

I have a few questions:

Is this ever going to go away? I feel like a prisoner in my home to a flea.

Do I have to wash every piece of clothing, curtains etc in my home?

Should I ask for my money back from the Pest Control service?

I would appreciate your input.

Thank you so much.

If you read through our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE you’ll learn more about what is happening. Basically it’s the flea pupae (third stage of the flea) that’s causing all the issues. Since there is no pet around for them to target, they will all end up on any people present. In most cases this will be one of the local residents and for the time being, it seems like you are their prime target. As our article explains, this is quite normal. Generally it’s the woman in the house that bears the brunt of the flea attacks once a pet is removed.

More importantly, since there is no way to kill them (flea pupae that is), there is no need to keep spraying which isn’t safe for you or your baby. No doubt a good treatment was needed and from what you included in your message above, it would appear that there has been plenty of material applied so I would refrain from any more treatments for the near future. As for your questions and what to do? Here is my response.

First, the problem will in fact go away. Since fleas only live a short while, the pupae will eventually run out and with a good treatment in place, there is no way any flea eggs can develop so in theory the local flea cycle should be broken. Normally this will take 2-4 weeks; in bad cases 4-8 weeks.

Second, there is no need to wash anything beyond what you normally would do.

Third, whether you ask for your money back from the service company your hired or not is a personal decision. If they told you they’d treat once and you’d never see another flea, then you might consider going that route. Of course this would be a huge mistake on their part and risky to say the least because most any “real” flea infestation will take time to run it’s course and it’s perfectly normal for the customer to see more following any treatment. And in cases where the pet is no longer present? These are no doubt the worse.

Lastly, there is a couple of things you should do to help get the rest of the flea pupae to hatch out. The first is continue to vacuum. As our article explains, this will get the pupae to hatch and in the end, this is what you need to happen for the problem to “run out” and be done. You should also install several FLEA TRAPS around the home. These will also get the pupae to hatch because the pupae will perceive the trap as a small animal that’s laying on the ground. Flea Traps will help collect any rogue fleas as well as get the pupae to hatch and by making the trap the target instead of yourself, you can no doubt break the cycle with a lot less fleas bothering you or your family. I also suggest you read our Flea Control article so you can better educate yourself regarding this pest. Knowing what to expect will make dealing with the problem a lot easier. Good luck!

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Welcome to the world of pet ownership! I’m not sure if this is your first pet or not but for starters, I suggest you read through our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE which will explain this pest in great detail. As you’ll learn, there is a great chance of a problem developing in your home if you leave it untreated. For this reason, I suggest you do the following.

First, set out some ONCE A YEAR FLEA GRANULES. You’ll basically be treating your carpets and furniture so that any areas where flea larvae might prosper will have a layer of protection in place. Regarding the vacuuming you say you’re doing; keep it up. Especially on tiled or other hard surfaced floors. This will help remove any flea eggs and larvae which are near to impossible to remove from the carpet (which is why you should treat it).

Second, set out some FLEA TRAPS. These will not only help by collecting fleas; they’ll help by alerting you to any activity you may have otherwise missed.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Once a Year Treatment:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-20-ounce-jar

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

I believe that being “paranoid” of fleas is a bit over kill but I do believe you should be concerned based on your message. The fact is a good 20-30% of the people we help each year get fleas yet they do not own a pet. So how does this happen? There are many reasons for this and several are covered in our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE. As you’ll learn, it’s not the clothing that’s the problem but rather the surrounding environment where you live. I suggest you read through it for now as this will enable you to better understand this pest and how to handle future issues with it should you  encounter another infestation.

That being said, would it be worth doing some treating in or around the home to prevent fleas? Yes. In general, any kind of preventive pest control is smart and no doubt this applies to fleas. By treating ahead of the problem, you’re able to use a lot less, not have to keep applying it and save the aggravation of dealing with the pest. And based on where you’re seeing animal activity, I suggest you set out some BIFEN GRANULES as a way to prevent anything from happening. If you apply these 2-3 times a year, you should be able to keep all the local perimeter pests under control including ants, crickets, grubs, fleas, etc.

As for the home, I suggest setting out some FLEA TRAPS. They last many years, cost very little and can do a great job “alerting” you to any problem that may be developing. This way you can act accordingly before it’s too late. But should you treat inside? I would say this is not necessary. But if you feel you must do something, the least toxic, longest lasting product to apply that would stop fleas from living in your carpeting would be the ONCE A YEAR FLEA GRANULES. Odorless and easy to apply, they’re a good choice given the conditions you’re in.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Bifen Granules:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/granule/bifenthrin-g-25-lb

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Once a Year Flea Treatment:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-20-ounce-jar

Cats are sensitive to many pests and can detect fleas before people. It’s my guess there is a flea problem developing in your home and he’s onto it before you’ve noticed anything happening. I suggest you set out some FLEA TRAPS in your carpeted areas to get a handle on what’s happening. They’ll capture many different pests that can be biting and not just fleas so they will probably alert you to what your cat already knows. I also suggest you read over our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE so you learn more about this pest.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

If you read our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn that in fact fleas do not migrate or leave their host. Instead they’d much rather want to live out their life where they can stay protected, keep warm and have plenty to eat. That would be on a dog, cat or some other animal. Even in the cases where people are being bit the fleas involved do not want to stay on the target person; there is rarely enough to keep them satisfied beyond the food people supply so they’ll usually bite and jump away.

As for the “black droppings” you claim to have found; this is normal to see on any infested pet and if the pet isn’t treated, flea eggs and pupae would be falling off it as it moved about throughout the day. In fact, it’s all the flea eggs and pupae that fall off it which poses the potential for problems to arise.

Which leads me to your home. If your house is properly treated with some ONCE A YEAR FLEA GRANULES and you have some FLEA TRAPS installed, there is little chance of a problem developing even if flea infested dogs where present. So if you’d like her and her pets to come visit, get the home treated as our article explains and there will be no reason for concern.

As for your sisters home; it is quite possible for pets living there to harbor the flea problem and not the home itself. And as our article explains, it’s normal for fleas to ignore certain people yet be attracted to others so maybe they like you and not her. One way to find out for sure is to go to her home and see if you get fleas on you. If you do, there is no doubt a problem. But does that mean there is a problem? Well, maybe for you but what about your sister? I would say no if they’re not interested in biting her. And guess what? This situation exists and is quite common.

In fact I have a brother who doesn’t care at all that his home gets fleas because they’re not interested in biting him or his wife. For some reason the fleas ignore him but no one wants to go inside his house because it can be so bad. My other brother is immune to mosquito bites so when we sit outside his house, he doesn’t get bit while me and others get eaten alive! In this case he clearly has mosquitoes active but in his mind, it’s our problem and not his. Don’t be surprised if something like this is happening with your sister and her house as this scenario is quite common and exists all over.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Once A Year Flea Granules:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-20-ounce-jar

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

We rescued an injured feral cat last year. She’s somewhat friendly, she still wont let us come near her. We tried a tranquilizer pill (in food), but she wouldn’t touch it. Is it still possible to eventually break the flea life cycle? Are we doomed?

If the feral cat is left untreated, it will no doubt continue to have issues on itself. But if the home is properly treated, any eggs falling off her should not be able to develop (in theory). This means only the feral should continue to have problems because as our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE explains, fleas will not leave their host so even if the feral does have active fleas, they’ll be content to stay on her where they should live their life and die.
Now if you’re still seeing fleas in the home or on any of your other cats, that would mean there is something not working with either their treatment or the treatment of the home. And if that’s the case, I suggest you first get some of our FLEA TRAPS installed and start monitoring the situation inside to see where the focal point is for the ongoing issue. If you’re able to identify a key location where activity continues, get it treated the best way possible which our article will no doubt cover (for carpeting, tile, cement, hardwoods, etc.).

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

It will. But if you review our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn that in fact clothing is rarely if ever a place where one would have flea eggs laid. As our article explains, fleas want to live on their host. In most cases this will be a pet. But when local populations get large, there will usually be a problem in the home or surrounding yard as well. These local infestations will usually lead to people getting bit when walking around the premises. But will the fleas stay on these people and lay eggs? No.

In summary, there is no reason to “waste” hot water all for the sake of trying to rid clothing from fleas. Normal wash cycles will do the job. But if you have a local flea infestation, you’ll need to start an integrated flea control program as our article explains if you want them gone.

Flea Control: http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Flea Trap (great tool to set out to see if you have local activity on the ground): http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

1 small dog who is primarily inside, but takes walks and goes out in the back yard 1 stray young cat who mostly lives under front porch (among leaves and other debris that have blown under there — not readily accessible — meaning under the porch AND the cat!

Indoors has been infested; dog is miserable; I’m miserable (tho’ not bitten) and have been vacuuming and spreading Diotamaceous Earth like a coke dealer!

What do you recommend for treating under the porch (I’d have to push something through the lattice)? (I’ll be treating the cat with Program as soon as it arrives).

Indoors: the bed and bedroom where dog sleeps (in my bed — yikes!) I’m thinking there could be flea larva in the underside of the mattress (?) There is no box spring, but the dog has always used the platform of the bed as a back scratcher. Have an old leather couch in living room which is no doubt harboring the buggers.

I’m freaking out here … and will appreciate any advice you can offer. I’m a pretty old woman without a lot of money, but if you think I can conquer this, I’ll do it! Are your products really safe for cats who groom themselves so much? Thank you in advance for your help.

There is no doubt our products can solve the problem. For under the porch, use the DE supply you’ve been applying inside the home. If you don’t have an applicator of some kind, get a PUMP DUSTER that will enable you to get it under there with much deeper penetration.

http://www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/dusters/gilmour-d1-duster

For inside, go with the ONCE A YEAR GRANULES and FLEA TRAPS. This will prove a lot more effective in the long run compared to the DE.

Regarding contact with either product; once applied the materials should be so sparse over the treated area that they won’t pose a hazard to people or pets. This means they’ll be fine even if they lick themselves.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Duster: http://www.bugspraycart.com/equipment/dusters/gilmour-d1-duster

Once a Year Granules: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-20-ounce-jar

Flea Traps: http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Thanks

No doubt certain active ingredients can be irritable to cats and pyrethroids seem to lead the way. To avoid any problems like this, go with the ONCE A YEAR FLEA GRANULES for the carpeted area. Combine the treatment with some FLEA TRAPS and you’ll have a safe alternative for the pet as well as product that lasts longer than any other.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Once A Year Flea Granules:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-20-ounce-jar

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

We get this question quite a bit. A hard freeze will kill most any exposed insect. And if it didn’t kill them, it would at least make it immobile which in turn would contribute to it’s death. And fleas are no different. But will cold weather “cure” a flea problem? No way!

Mother nature has designed insects to be able to withstand the environment in many ways. Even in regions that get freezing cold for several months, at some point if they warm above the freezing point there will be some insects that emerge and get active. That being said, cold weather will no doubt “turn off” most any insect effectively shutting down their internal functions. Sometimes they can rebound in any one calendar year but for most, it will lead to their end.

Since fleas have a short life span anyway (7 days or less), many are dying daily whether it’s cold or not. And flea larvae are even more susceptible to the environment which means the cold will no doubt affect them big time. But as explained in our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, there is nothing that can kill a flea pupae so they’ll remain in the yard ready to go. That means the next time it’s warm out they could start hatching thus creating the problem all over again.

And since it only takes one flea outside to cause a major problem inside, the prospect of getting a flea problem inside the home is always present – even in the middle of winter! In other words, if you or your pet went outside on a warm day and got a flea pupae to hatch onto your clothing or skin, you could very well bring it inside and initiate a problem. So too could the cat.

So to answer your question, yes, a good cold night can kill some fleas. But no way will this mean they’re gone for the season and though it will help to reduce local populations, fleas will still be present in some phase ready to prosper once the weather warms again.

At this point there is a distinct possibility that a flea problem could develop in your car. If you read our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn that it only takes one flea to infest a home and a car is no different. And once they get on any red blooded host, they’re first task is to bite so if there is just one female flea in the car that’s fed, it could be the start of something bad. And based on what was on your husband, there is a good chance some flea eggs could actually be there already. Does this mean they’ll survive and cause an infestation? That’s anyone’s guess.

So if you want to be completely sure nothing will develop, the simplest thing you could do would be to apply PRECOR 2000 to the upholstery and carpeting in the car. First do a thorough vacuuming and then lightly treat these areas. The Precor 2000 will kill both adult fleas and their eggs and remove any chance of them getting established. Since it will only take a little to do the treatment, use the rest of the can inside your town home if that will make you feel better but it’s probably not going to be needed.

That being said, you many want to install at least one FLEA TRAP in the home. These do a great job of monitoring local environments and if you did develop a problem, it would collect the fleas which in turn would let you know you need to do a more thorough treatment inside.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Precor 2000:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/precor-2000

Flea Trap:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

First the easy answer; treating the home with one of the methods listed in our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE will do the job. Since you just got the kitten, I strongly recommend the ONCE A YEAR FLEA TREATMENT combined with at least 1 FLEA TRAP. This process is both easy and highly effective.

Second, puppies or kittens under the age of 12 weeks old are at a disadvantage for treating since there are almost no remedies that have animals this young on the label. The only item we know is safe to use is ECO EXEMPT. Essentially made from food, this item is federally exempt and considered a low impact type product. As such it has a lot of label advantages including a section that allows for the treatment of pets with no age restrictions.

Here are direct links to the products and information mentioned above:

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Once A Year Flea Treatment:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-20-ounce-jar

Flea Trap:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

ECO Exempt:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/exempt/liquid/eco-excempt-gal

If you read our FLEA CONTROL ARTICLE, you’ll learn how easy it is to get fleas. And in this case it’s just as simple: someone brought a flea into the home which laid eggs! As our article explains, once the eggs hatch it’s game over unless the area where the fleas are hatching has been treated. So lets go over the “short list” of how this could have happened. Mind you I’m keeping this “short”.

1) You or one of your family members brought into your home a flea which laid eggs or dropped pupae in your home.

2) A visiting person or pet brought in a flea that laid eggs or dropped pupae in your home.

3) A bit of clothing or other item transported a pregnant flea into your home which laid eggs.

4) A flea hopped into your home and started laying eggs.

That’s it. I know this doesn’t provide a precise answer but in fact if you have active fleas hatching out of your carpet it means one of the four scenario’s listed above played out (the only one I didn’t list is that it is possible a very evil person came and “planted” flea pupae in your home but this is highly unlikely). And as our Flea Control Article explains, it only takes one pregnant flea laying eggs for the home and/or yard to become a flea generator. This means the time involved is right on schedule as well. Let me explain.

The average yard has a flea or two active somewhere in the grass or mulch. This is especially true when it’s not treated for fleas and it’s warm outside. Squirrels, rats, mice, chipmunks, birds, neighboring cats, neighboring dogs, raccoons and many other wandering animals during the summer leave a trail of fleas and flea eggs where they’re active. That means most yards will have a flea or at least a flea stage in it. Now as our article explains, fleas really don’t want to be on people but in fact prefer animals. That means these common “yard fleas” are mostly never seen or noticed by the average home owner (they’ll choose the local animals over the residents of the home). But as soon as a pet comes to the area, the local fleas will be attracted to it like a magnet. If I was to guess, I’m willing to bet the visiting pets attracted some local fleas. This no doubt happened the very first day they went out in the yard around your property. These fleas hitched a ride on the visiting pets this is most likely how they got inside. Once inside most of them would die if they stayed on the pet AND the Frontline was still plenty active. But lets say the Frontline had worn off and lets say just one flea fell off the pet inside the home. If this flea had fed prior to coming inside it could be ready to lay eggs. That means it’s quite possible the very first day these pets came to your home they could have picked up a flea that was pregnant and hadn’t fed once on the Frontline treated animal. Now if it started laying eggs, these eggs would have been active and surely some of them could have fallen into your carpeting.

A similar scenario that’s even more likely is that the flea which came inside didn’t have to feed. If this flea had fed on another untreated animal but then got on one of the visiting pets, it would not be affected by the Frontline and could in fact lay normal flea eggs. No doubt this happens more than people imagine which is why it’s important to treat all areas where a pet has access.

Now going back to our timeline; our article clearly explains it only takes 7 days for fleas to run a full cycle and as your message states, your guests were there for one week. One week is 7 days  which is plenty of time. Now when your guests leave and the developing fleas are ready to hatch, the pets are gone so what do you think the flea pupae will do? They’ll go to the closest alternate food supply and in fact that will be you and your family members.

In summary, what you’re describing is all too common. For some reason people conclude that just because an animal is using Frontline that everything else will be spared a flea infestation. But even the makers of Frontline want the home and the yard treated as part of a complete flea program and since neither of these areas were addressed before your guests arrived, it’s no wonder you’re infested. I suggest you get the Flea Granules for inside the home, several Flea Traps and get everything controlled again. More importantly, I’d be sure to do the same BEFORE you have guests arrive with a pet if you wish to avoid this problem again.

Flea Control Article:  http://www.flea.net/flea-control

Flea Traps:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/traps/electric/flea-trap

Flea Granules:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/first-defense-2-lb