Reliable ways to get rid of fleas in the house

Living with fleas in your apartment can cause numerous problems: their bites can cause itching and pain, and the venom they inject can cause allergic reactions. Furthermore, these blood-sucking insects, jumping around your apartment, can spread diseases dangerous to humans. They live in the pile of carpets and furniture, in stuffed animals and bedding, in floor cracks and under baseboards, and can jump up to five feet high. If fleas have infested your apartment, it's important to choose the right method of control. Both chemical treatments and folk remedies have their advantages and disadvantages.

Fleas: habitat and feeding method

When fleas enter a person's home (through cracks in doorways, on pets' fur, on shoes, etc.), they lay eggs, which hatch into larvae and then beetles. Adult fleas feed on blood but avoid food scraps. The larvae live in floor dust, piles of trash, and flower pots, feeding on decaying organic matter. This should be taken into account when dealing with parasites, as not all treatments are equally effective.

The following types of fleas are distinguished according to their habitat:

• living in the fur of animals (mice, rats, dogs and cats);
• basement;
• land;
• sandy;
• linen.

Fleas should be dealt with immediately, as they are carriers of dangerous diseases.

Ways to get rid of the problem

To effectively get rid of the problem, you must adhere to the following sequence of actions:

1. Treat your pets for fleas; there are special medications for this.
2. Treat the room to remove adult flies.
3. Destroy insect eggs and larvae using dusts and powders.

The insecticide chosen depends on the insect species. Shampoos, collars, drops, and sprays are used to protect pets from fleas. Aerosols, powders, ampoule suspensions, smoke bombs, and fumigators are used for indoor treatment. Powders, sprays, and heat treatments (boiling, ironing, and freezing) can be used against linen fleas. Other insect control methods are also available.

Folk methods

Over the many years of human struggle against fleas, many methods of their destruction have been devised, the most popular of which are the following:

• Herbal infusions. These insects dislike the scent of wormwood, tansy, and eucalyptus, so it's worth preparing a mixture based on these ingredients. Combine these ingredients in a 2:1:1 ratio and pour boiling water over them, then leave them in a cool place for 12 hours. Then, spray the area with a spray bottle.
• Extreme temperatures. In this case, both freezing items (including mattresses, pillows, and rugs) and exposing them to fairly high temperatures (for example, drying them in the sun) will be effective.
• Yeast and garlic. Mix these ingredients in equal proportions and spread the mixture around the perimeter of the room, leaving it for 10 hours.
• Baking soda. Dilute equal amounts of baking soda and salt with water and apply to the rooms.
• Pine shavings. These wood particles are most often used as a preventative measure. To do this, stuff your pet's mattress or pillow with them.

Photo Gallery: Popular Home Remedies

Chemicals

For home remedies, a wide range of products are available for both home and apartment treatments (sprays, aerosols, suspensions, powders, and liquids) and pet protection (drops and solutions). Smoke bombs are increasingly being used to rid basements of pests.

Aerosols, suspensions and sprays

If you've decided to tackle fleas yourself, consider the modern Lambda Zone product, which is becoming increasingly popular. This brand came to our market from South Korea. These microgranules can kill cockroaches, bedbugs, and fleas in just a few days. Because the poison is in small granules and leaks out in small quantities, the product is safe for humans and animals, but leaves no chance for insects. The microcapsules adhere to the fleas' paws, and the toxic substance penetrates through the chitinous shell and digestive tract, paralyzing the nervous system and then killing the parasite. Furthermore, the microencapsulated suspension is distributed by the insects among other members of the population, expanding the drug's spectrum of action.

The advantage of the Lambda Zone drug is that it is odorless, but its effectiveness is questioned by users.

Raptor aerosol is fast-acting, ready-to-use, and easy to use. It's effective against cockroaches, ticks, fleas, and bedbugs. It contains two active ingredients, providing a dual effect:

1. Tetramethrin, a pyrethroid, enters the insect body through the respiratory system and chitinous shell, killing adult insects.
2. Cypermethrin settles on the surface and "waits" for 7 to 10 days until new fleas hatch from the eggs. This is when it takes effect.

The drug Raptor is highly effective and has no unpleasant odor. It can be purchased at hardware stores at an affordable price. Despite these positive characteristics, the product does have a significant drawback: its toxicity. Before spraying this aerosol, remove children, pets, and food from the apartment. Wear a respirator, gloves, and protective clothing during treatment. You can reenter the apartment after an hour, having thoroughly ventilated the area. Wet cleaning should not be performed for at least 10 days after the treatment.

Manufacturers recently introduced a new product—an aquafumigator. The package contains a container filled with a special liquid from a packet. By placing the container in a jar of water, a chemical reaction is triggered, producing steam that fills the entire apartment. After the procedure, you should leave the home for several hours and then thoroughly ventilate the room.

The Raptor brand offers two products for flea control: an aerosol and an aquafumigator.

Many people are familiar with the brand Dichlorvos, whose products previously had an unpleasant and pungent odor. Today, manufacturers have managed to eliminate this drawback: they now produce aerosols with aromatic additives such as lavender and lemon. Dichlorvos Neo, which is completely odorless, is very popular. The preparation contains 3 active ingredients: cypermethrin, permethrin, piperonyl butoxide, which cause paralysis of the insect. Spray the aerosol over the floor where fleas are found. Wear protective clothing, a respirator, and gloves. After spraying, leave the area for a while, then ventilate and wet-clean. To kill newly hatched fleas, repeat the procedure after 7-10 days. Manufacturers recommend using special paper strips that kill the fleas on contact. This method is used if you don't have pets.

The drug Dichlorvos Neo is popular among customers because it does not have the odor typical of aerosols.

Another product containing cypermethrin is Raid. It paralyzes the parasites' nervous system. It contains aromatic fragrances. When treating a room, spray the aerosol until the surface becomes damp. A repeat treatment is necessary after a week, as this is the time during which the eggs hatch. Raid provides protection against fleas for a month.

Aerosol Raid destroys both crawling and flying insects

The Celandine line of products has proven effective—treatments for animals and separate sprays for indoor pest control. The permethrin-based product is effective against fleas but does not kill eggs, so repeat treatments are recommended. Protection from insects lasts for three months.

Antiparasitic spray Celandine kills fleas and prevents their reappearance in the home.

Combat spray quickly kills pests without affecting their offspring. The spray can has a convenient nozzle that allows you to spray the product in hard-to-reach places.

Combat spray guarantees instantaneous flea control

Checkers against insects

Smoke bombs are used to treat basements, attics, and in cases where there is a large accumulation of insects in the house. To do this, place the product in a metal container and light the fuse. Smoke fills the space, killing the parasites. After a few hours, thoroughly ventilate the room. Highly effective brands such as Fas, Quiet Evening, Climate, and Vikhr will help kill basement, ground, and sand fleas.

Smoke bombs are an effective means of getting rid of not only insects, but also rodents, mold and mildew.

Insecticidal powders

Flea dusts don't provide immediate results, but they are reliable and long-lasting. The powders are scattered in areas where fleas live or dissolved in water and sprayed. After a few days, the area is cleaned with a damp cloth. Dusts are used for small infestations and as a preventative measure. Products from the brands Fenaxin and Chisty Dom are particularly effective. The first product contains fenvalerate and boric acid (both components affect insects through the digestive system). The packet has marked holes through which the powder is sprinkled in flea habitats: on the floor and in the seams of upholstered furniture. Fenaxin can be dissolved and sprayed. The product is ineffective against larvae, so a repeat treatment is necessary after 10 days.

Clean House is a powder containing cypermethrin and malathion, which paralyze insects. The product is inexpensive and available in hardware stores and veterinary pharmacies.

Insecticidal liquids

Delcid is an emulsion diluted with water. It comes in ampoules. Fufanon is a Danish product in the form of an oily liquid in vials. Both products have a strong odor. However, fleas are sensitive to it, which increases their effectiveness.

Strong-smelling ammonia can also combat parasites. Apply a solution of 5–6 drops per 500 ml of water to surfaces, and the fleas will disappear.

Photo Gallery: Powders and Liquids for Flea Control

Turning to the professionals

You can contact the sanitary and epidemiological station professionals who have extensive experience in eliminating parasites. Ground-floor apartment dwellers and residents of private homes face a particularly challenging time controlling these insects. Every fall and spring, they are subject to a flea infestation from basements. The easiest solution is to call the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service and schedule a pest control appointment, which takes 20 to 60 minutes. They will offer a highly effective but expensive "hot fog" treatment, which involves heating the pesticide and dispersing it into fine droplets that remain suspended in the air for up to 7 hours. Another method, "cold fog," involves spraying without heating (in this case, the microparticles remain suspended in the air for up to 4 hours). A more affordable option is fine mist spraying. Specialists guarantee the absence of stains on carpets and furniture, as well as long-lasting results (you won't notice the insects for up to six months). Fleas hatching from eggs may appear a few days after the treatment, but they die. This continues until the last parasites die.

Insect control is carried out using various technologies.

Pet protection

Today, flea drops are common among dog and cat breeders. They are reliable and easy to use. The medication is applied from a special dropper to areas where the animal can't reach with its tongue: on the withers for dogs, on the back of the head for cats (near the ears). For large pets, the medication is applied along the spine at three points. The drops begin to work within a few hours. To prevent re-infestation, the solution is applied once a month. The effectiveness of medications such as:

• Inspector. The drops contain fipronil and moxidectin, which act on blood-sucking insects by paralyzing and then killing them. The oily, yellowish solution is packaged for use in special 0.8 and 0.4 ml droppers. The instructions calculate the amount of product to apply. Inspector is classified as hazard class 3 and is considered safe for pets. A single application will protect your pet from reinfestation for four weeks.
• Advocate. This German product is expensive (ranging from 750 to 1,400 rubles). The manufacturer uses imidacloprid as its base, which activates sensitivity to nicotine, resulting in the death of the parasites. The second ingredient, moxidectin, causes paralysis. The solution is effective against both adult insects and their offspring. To prevent reinfestation, repeat the treatment after a month.
• Frontline. A French product that acts on parasites within 24 hours of application thanks to fipronil. It provides protection for cats for 6 weeks and for dogs for up to 4 weeks. For preventative treatment, pets are treated after one month.
• Stronghold. A yellowish, odorless solution based on selamectin. Its oil-free formula allows it to be better absorbed into the skin and leaves no greasy residue on the fur. This product eliminates not only adult insects but also larvae.
• Advantix drops, manufactured by the German company Bayer, repel parasites and are destructive to insect eggs.
• Practitioner. A flea treatment in the form of oily drops based on pyriprol. Manufacturers produce the product for both large and small dogs.

Photo Gallery: Flea Drops

Ultrasonic devices

In addition, the market offers a variety of ultrasonic repellents that do not kill insects, but rather create an atmosphere of alarm for them, causing them to leave the home. The most famous brands are Grad, Tornado, Typhoon.

The Pest-Reject insect repellent is safe for humans and animals. Fleas flee to avoid its ultrasonic signal. It's powered by an AC power source, and the pulse penetrates walls. The device has a coverage area of ​​200 square meters. However, it's worth noting that reviews of the device are mixed.

The Pest-Reject device operates using electromagnetic waves.

Special ultrasonic flea repellents for pets are also available. These devices are available in collar or pendant form. They are battery-powered and emit 40,000 Hz waves.

Ultrasonic collars are an alternative to conventional antiparasitic agents: they are completely safe, but they are far from the most effective.

Reviews of flea control products

Inspector mini has a slightly pungent odor when applied, but it dissipates within a few minutes. The fleas leave their "host" almost immediately. I checked both the face and the stomach, areas particularly favored by the insects. Everything was clean, even though before using the drops, I was catching several fleas every day.

Bayer Bolfo flea and tick aerosol is one of the best products available. For five years now, Bolfo (spray) has been an indispensable household item. It has stood the test of time, dogs, and various locations. I travel a lot to dog shows in other cities, and I often have to stop along the way to walk the dogs. Fields are especially infested with ticks. We always take Bolfo with us on trips. I treat my dog ​​in any unfamiliar location, even if it has already been treated. If the dog doesn't travel, I treat it every two weeks. If I'm traveling, I can spray the dog's belly and paws every other day. I haven't had any allergies or other reactions. My breeds: German Shepherd, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and mutt.

We decided to apply Stronghold to the withers, and followed the instructions! We bought it at a veterinary pharmacy, and the salesperson said there were no side effects at all! The next day, after applying it, he started vomiting yellow foam! This meant his pancreas couldn't cope, and the intoxication process... the medication spread throughout his body, poisoning his organs and tissues! The kitten completely refused to eat, and he vomited again that evening.

Two years ago, we used collars—they were effective, but the fur underneath them sheds. My cats aren't Persians, but they're not shorthaired either. My cat's appearance suffers especially—she has a fur "frill" under her neck (her pride), which sheds when she wears a collar. Last year, we resorted to Inspector TOTAL K, a universal drops for external and internal parasites. Their special feature is that they're expensive and very effective. It's expensive for three cats, and after using them, fleas torment the animal in agony—they run wild and bite violently. But at least we forgot about fleas for a whole year!

As far as I know, first remove all carpets temporarily. Wet cleaning several times a day. Just be careful when you're washing them; they jump onto furniture and sofas—they're supposedly trying to escape. Wipe down the furniture at the same time. A folk remedy is wormwood! Brew it and wash the floor with it, or simply sprinkle it under sofas. Ask at the market for a pencil (or other supplies) and use it to draw on the floor where the child can't reach. Generally, if there's a child at home, I wouldn't use too many chemicals. Various herbs are the best deterrents for these bastards. As a child, I remember simply placing bunches of wormwood under carpets and sofas as a preventative measure. And by the way, only sand fleas live in apartments; the ones that feed on animals only feed on animals, and they don't attack people.

Flea control is a serious matter that requires a comprehensive approach. It's essential to first treat your pets, identify the cause of the infestation, and then deal with adult fleas and their offspring, not forgetting subsequent prevention of future infestations. Choose the right product and enjoy the comfort and coziness of your home.