Getting rid of fleas around the house

[Johnny]

Man, the freakin fleas are horrible this year. I have to give my lab two baths a week. I've broadcasted some type of flea/tick killer all around the house twice within a month and have hit the dogs with front line but they are still relentless. My wife bought some Sevin granule flea/tick killer I'm going to throw out here in a little bit. I know we got a bunch of dog owners here so what do y'all use to get rid of fleas, or at least put a big dent on them?

[1troubleshooter]

Bayer tree and shrub in a 3 gallon pump sprayer about a half bottle and spray yard every day...and Comfortis has worked miracles for the dogs they where covered in fleas when we first started using it now they are flea free.

[Spoken0313]

I'm Im interested in this as well, I don't even own a dog but I think my neighbor behind me has never washed their dog so I end up with fleas in my yard I'm sure I can thank the 5 other dogs whose owners let run free as well. It's frustrating to have fleas and not even own a dog!

[careybirdwell]

The fleas moved on after I started using the Sevin dust & granule. I had them really bad here in Magnolia

[Deb]

Fleas are tough to get rid of. I'd call the exterminator.

[TX kyleboy]

My daughter is moving into a new apartment. First day we moved furniture in she had flea bites all over her. The exterminator is bombing the interior. Do we need to treat the yard too to get rid of these pests? The apartment was empty for a couple months and the previous owner did not have pets. Why does the apartment have fleas? Especially since it was thoroughly cleaned with carpet cleaning, new paint, etc as you would for a new tenant?

[Bluesman]

Fleas are one thing but those lice that get on birds is just plain creepy. Had them once in Dallas. They die pretty quickly without the host that died.
Just a finch nest above an outside door.

[Froggy]

Bayer tree and shrub in a 3 gallon pump sprayer about a half bottle and spray yard every day...and Comfortis has worked miracles for the dogs they where covered in fleas when we first started using it now they are flea free.

X2. I've used Bayer Tree and Shrub spray for the last 3 years. We have 8 dogs, horses to the north, sheep to the west. Absolutely no fleas.

1.47% imidacloprid. Same active ingredient in Advantage Flea Control. $18.00 at WalMart.

[Mike Javi Cooper]

Sulfur… get it in 50lb bags from a feed/seed store spread it around the yard and around the house foundation once a week till the fleas are gone then every couple of weeks will keep them gone..

[wpcattleco]

Comfortis is the only thing working on my two labs and it works great.

[ItsLeo]

Comfortis is the only thing working on my two labs and it works great.

I used the Frontline spray for a quite a while. At first it worked great. I think fleas eventually build up a resistance to it. Because suddenly it didn't seem to help at all.

We switched our three dogs to Comfortis two years ago and the fleas are gone! Only downside is some dogs are allergic to it.

[Matteo]

OK. Here are several things you can do.

Just for qualifications. I was in pest control for several years and have a degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and work as a chemist.

I would save pesticides for a last ditch solution. There are good effective ones out there but you may not need them...

Clean up any debri layning around. Leaves, sticks etc. all work as shelter for fleas and prevent effective treament.

If you have a pier and beam home, be sure to give attention to the area below the home.

Flease like dry hot weather. Flea eggs are susceptible to fungal attck when moist. After raking up debri. Make it a habit to water with a sprinkler in the evenings on a regular schedule. Being moist all night allows for better fungal growth.

I would get some flea killing nematodes as a first attck. Here is a link. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natur...a-Control.aspx

There are several plants that can be planted that will keep fleas away and look really nice too. I never had anyone with banana trees call me for a flea infestation control job. Also plant Pennyroyal, Kalanchoe or Bryophyllum. Make sure that if you have pets, that you plant only the pet safe plants. Here are some other plant ideas too. http://fixfleas.com/plants-that-repel-fleas

Often While on a flea job the fleas where inside the home as well. Be sure to vacuum the house (move the fruniture) well to secure as many eggs and adults as possible then put the vacuum bag in a trash bage tied up and dispose of it. Then buy fog bombs that the labels says will kill fleas. treat the house at the same time you treat the yard.

It is aslo a real good idea to talk to your neighbors about it. If they are having the same problem, it is best that all of you treat at the same time if possible to prevent reinfestation.

Talk to your vet and get all pets on a flea treatment at the same time too.

Some poeple have good results using Diatomacious earth to kill the fleas outside naturally. If you do this, be sure to get the correct kind of DE and remember that DE is silica and is not good for you to breath.

I hope all of this helps you defeat your problem. If all else fails. USe peticides in combination with the suggestions above.

GOOD LUCK.

[crossbowman]

I can't match the qualifications of Matteo, but I got rid of fleas on my dogs and in my yard with seven dust. I never had them in the house and never did have them really bad. I guess I got rid of them before they got too bad.

[cashcropper]

My old outside dog was eat up with em and I used dips and sprays but couldnt get on top of em. After 2 weeks and 1 Comfortis we is flea free.That was 3 months ago and I cant find a flea on my place.

[Mark44]

fleas very hard to kill. they go through three stages - I think this is correct - and in the middle stage they are unkillable. nothing kills them. in that stage they can go into "hibernation" and just wait it out. then when a host comes by out they come. the exterminator who helped us said he used to live in Florida and people would lock up the condo at the end of the season and go bsack north. when they arrived for the winter the vibration of dragging in wheeled luggage would "wake up" the fleas and out they'd come - after the place was closed up for six months!

they are hard to get rid of. comfortis and a lot of pesticides!