A flea bite causes itchiness.
Fleas, one of the most common house pests, hide in crevices and wait to feed off their hosts. Having pets makes your household even more susceptible to a flea infestation. Even if you get rid of the fleas, their cocoons are much more difficult to locate and can lie dormant in your house for months before hatching. Although it is difficult to get rid of fleas completely, there are measures you can take to at least greatly diminish their numbers and reduce their chance of coming back.
Instructions
1. Wash yourself and your pets thoroughly. Submerge every part of your body in water. This not only drowns many of the fleas but also cleans the dried blood they feed off of. Special shampoos are available for pets and people. Fleas that affect pets are commonly called cat fleas. However, they do often bite humans, particularly on their lower legs.
2. Treat your pets with flea powder or a similar flea-killing product. You can also attach a flea collar. However, pets sometimes have an allergic reaction to some of these products, so check with your veterinarian first.
3. Comb your pets with a fine-tooth comb. Pet stores often sell special combs used specifically for combing out fleas and other bugs. Work slowly and thoroughly to ensure you remove both the bugs and their eggs that are caught between the teeth of the comb.
4. Wash your bedding and clothing regularly, using the hottest water possible and drying the items at the highest possible heat. This eliminates another possible hiding place for fleas and ensures the bugs don't target you while you're sleeping.
5. Spray insecticide around your house. Take care to seek out crevices where the bugs might hide, and specifically spray areas where your pet sleeps. Fleas often avoid light as they're developing, so also treat darker areas in your house with insecticide. Retailers sell various products tailored specifically to fleas.
6. Keep your home clean. Regularly dusting and sweeping can eliminate hiding places for fleas. Vacuum your house, ensuring that you get to corners and crevices.
7. Call in an exterminator if all else fails. Using a professional is one of the surest and easiest ways to rid your house of fleas, although it also one of the most expensive. Ask for references to ensure that the exterminator is reputable and reliable.
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