Pets will reinfest carpets if they do not have flea baths.
Fleas are blood-sucking parasites that enter homes on pets, people's clothing and secondhand furniture. Only adult fleas spend their time on their hosts. Flea eggs, larvae and pupae live in furniture and carpets. Vacuuming alone will not remove flea infestations from carpets. You have to use pesticides to get rid of fleas. Flea pupae are resistant to pesticides, so follow-up treatments and preventative measures are necessary to keep the pupae from starting a new infestation. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Eliminating Fleas
1. Vacuum the carpets and furniture thoroughly. Empty the vacuum cleaner into a trash bag. Seal the bag and dispose of it outside of the home.
2. Remove pets and family from the home. Following the directions exactly, set the flea bomb -- a pesticide canister that releases a fog of chemicals -- and leave the house. The bomb should go near the center of the home away from walls. Stay out of the home for the length of time specified on the packaging.
3. Bathe all of the household pets in flea dip while the flea bomb is at work in the home. This way, the pets will not immediately bring fleas back into the home.
4. Open all the windows when you re-enter the home. Let the house air out, then vacuum the carpets again.
Prevention
5. Keep all pets indoors to stop fleas from coming into the home on pets. If this is not possible, use flea prevention medication on all pets. Make sure to use it as directed and to keep up with it, even when no fleas are present.
6. Prevent infestation of carpets by using flea control powder on carpets when vacuuming. Sprinkle the powder to the edge of the carpet and under furniture. Allow it to set for the amount of time specified on the product, then vacuum thoroughly. Do this once a week for two weeks after flea bombing to kill the fleas that are emerging from their cocoons. These may not die during flea bombing.
7. Wash all secondhand items before bringing them into the home. Do not take in stray animals without first bringing them to the veterinarian for a flea bath and shots.
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