| Author | Content |
Pinita
Annandale, VA
August 17, 2006
09:27 AM Post #2631194
| I could not find where to post the question about fleas. I did not posted in pets because I have no pets. I do not know how did I get this tiniest bugs but persistent. My husband bought two 32 oz of some spray in Home Depot. The fleas were still there. He went and bought a two gallon and sprayed the whole house. The fleas are less but they are still there.
Anyone can help. Before to call an exterminator than in this area is very expensive we want to try to cure this infestation by ourselves. Does any body knows what product to buy. I googled the question but most of the sites talk about pets. If someone knows any information I would like to know the name of the product and where to buy, or if someone knows a home based formula I will appreciate give me the information.
Thank you.
Rosa |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
August 17, 2006
10:08 AM Post #2631343
| I guess my first question would be are you positive that they're fleas? I don't think fleas are going to survive very long unless they have an animal to live on so I wouldn't be surprised if they're actually something else. Unless you just bought the house and the last people had pets? If you're sure they're fleas, you may actually want to shop around at pet places, they sell lots of things to treat fleas on the pets but they also sell things to control the fleas in the house itself, so that's probably your best bet. You could post in the pet forum too, I'm sure people over there have used the stuff to control fleas in the house and could provide advice on what works the best. |
ericalynne
Windham, NY
(Zone 4b)
August 17, 2006
11:35 AM Post #2631635
| fleas can live on people and mice too. you don't need domestic animals in your house to get fleas. the golf course next to my house always has fleas. i have a cat and she gets fleas once in a while. the answer is vaccuum, vaccuum, vaccuum. put a mothball, or flea powder in the bag to kill the fleas. everyday for a week or so. and don't forget to toss the vaccuum bag. |
Pinita
Annandale, VA
August 18, 2006
01:31 PM Post #2635439
| Thanks Ecrane3 & Ericalynne for your answers and your ideas. I do not know if they are fleas. My husband says they are fleas. They are very tiny insect. When I came to the basement the other day in a barefoot they jumped to my feets, and ankles. I try to kill them with the palm of my hand and they jumped quickly. This is the only description I can give. Ericalynne mention of a flea powder. I guess you get that at the pet store? My husband found a spray at Home Depot. I will go today to a pet store to see if I find the powder. I also I will post this in the pets. Thank You, Thank You.
Rosa |
Bubba_MoCity
Missouri City, TX
August 18, 2006
01:47 PM Post #2635487
| I got a product a few years ago - Ortho Flea-B-Gone. Came in a small spray bottle, less than a quart - used at the doorways - stopped the fireants and tree roaches from entering, too. Lots of "critters" on the Gulf coast.
We have pets, but they are treated - internally with Prevention - so any fleas that do get on them are killed when they bite. Keeps the yard free of fleas, too. Unfortunately, it does not work on the fireants in the yard - that's a whole separate issue.
FIL had major sand flea infestation in the country (NE TX). Treated the house floors with sevin - got the fleas but was a mess to clean up. Took several applications - dogs would wander the fields and creeks and bring more home. Told him to get the dogs on one of the prescription preventatives - very few problems after that. Some fleas would hitch-hike on people's clothing, but nothing like it was. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
August 18, 2006
05:28 PM Post #2636138
| If they were jumping then they likely are fleas. I would definitely recommend checking pet stores for flea sprays, unless the stuff hubby found at HD specifically said fleas on it (most of the stuff they sell is for ants, wasps, etc, and I'm not sure if the things that kill them are good on fleas or not, better to go to the pet store and get something that's specifically for fleas) |
claypa
West Pottsgrove, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 19, 2006
02:12 AM Post #2637513
| Fleas can live for two years without host animals. They hatch and live long enough to breed again, and the eggs are viable for a long time. I've had luck with the 'bomb' type that you turn on the spray and leave the area for a day or two, which is ideal for basements. Our Home depot sells them, there are a lot of rental properties around here. |
Ticker
Lisbon, IA
(Zone 5a)
August 23, 2006
09:59 AM Post #2651150
| I agree that you'll need to spray, then spray again to catch the hatchlings. However, a friend of mine had a horrible infestation in her basement. She sprayed, too, but she also had a pan of water sitting in the middle of the basement floor and then she hung a light bulb about 10 inches or so over the pan of water. The fleas are looking for somewhere warm and will jump to the light bulb and then end up in the water and drown. It's weird but it really works. Use a fairly large roasting pan and fill it up with a couple inches of water and let the swimming party begin!
Diann |
Wvdaisy
Buffalo, WV
(Zone 7a)
August 30, 2006
11:17 PM Post #2677265
| Try Boric Acid powder. You can sprinkle it on the carpet and use a broom to brush it in or even disolve in water and mop with it on hard floors. This will kill them. The light and water trick does work, too.
Lana |
Pinita
Annandale, VA
August 31, 2006
08:59 AM Post #2677968
| Daysi:
Thank You but the boric acid does not work. I tried. The jar says that will kill ants and coakroaches. I do not have coakroaches but I have ant that come from the kitchen window. The boric acid does not kill even the ants.
I am treating the area with some type of fogger and with a type of dust that I bought at Kmart. Then I vacuum after three days. I found less but they are some still there.
I will do the treatment this weekend again. Hopefully I break the cycle of the eggs. I will let you know.
Thanks
Rosa |
Ticker
Lisbon, IA
(Zone 5a)
August 31, 2006
09:16 AM Post #2678005
| You might want to go to a vets office to get the fogger and spray. I know it costs more, but..
Diann |
Pinita
Annandale, VA
August 31, 2006
01:31 PM Post #2678720
| Ticker:
Actually the fogger that I bought at a pet store cost more and did not help. The fogger that I bought at Kmart was better and it was $3.00 less and I found a barbain in HOme Depot that it was even cheaper than Kmart.
If it work I will tell what kind is. All I know now because I am not at home is that the can is green.
Thanks
Rosa
|
Wvdaisy
Buffalo, WV
(Zone 7a)
August 31, 2006
04:13 PM Post #2679079
| The boric acid has worked for me before and worked for my neighbor this year.
Lana |
Jax4ever
Boxford, MA
(Zone 6a)
September 05, 2006
08:03 PM Post #2695450
| I am way late to this chat, but get some Diatomaceous Earth. I found a 5 lb bag of food grade on the internet; I forget the company's name, so just Google "diatomaceous earth".
I was plagued by ants this spring. I have pets (click on my name) and I didn't want any of us exposed to insecticides. And, if you drop a "bomb" of insectacide, the creatures might still come back. Diatomaceous Earth sticks to the insect and kills it by drying it out, therefore it is effective on any and all insects. This stuff is a white powder; it's kind of messy, but better than bugs. I dumped it behind my appliances, in baseboards, all over the cellar and dusted the carpets with it. No more ants!!! It will kill your bugs, be they fleas or not.
I don't own a diatomaceous earth company or anything! I was just happy to find a safe inscet-killer! |
DanceyTx
Midway, TX
(Zone 8b)
September 05, 2006
08:16 PM Post #2695466
| If it is fleas you have they will surely bite! If you don't have any bites it must not be fleas.
If there is a flea within a mile it will surely get on me and bite the dickens out of my ankles. :( This year has really been bad for sand fleas due to the drought and heat. My pets are all treated and have been since early spring. |
Pinita
Annandale, VA
September 06, 2006
09:31 PM Post #2698730
| jax4ever:
Never late! Ifound in the internet in mastergardening.com what you are talking about. It comes in a small pail 3.5 lb. Is that the one you are talking about?
I went to the basement and I did not find any fleas today. I will wait because I just treated with the fogger named SHOT and I also put the dust in the carpet that I bought at Kmart.
I think I like your suggestion because this you can put inside and outside.
I keep you posted and let you know what happen. thanks
Rosa |
Manders77
Glenpool, OK
September 13, 2006
05:21 AM Post #2718202
| I have found that the boric acid works for me and the dish with a little dawn and water under the light. I have seen many sites on how to apply the boric acid to your carpets, but hubby put it in a sock of all things and sprinkled the dust out. It worked great and was easy to do. I never get bit by the fleas but my husband does. And a great way to see if you still have them is to put on a fresh pair of white socks and walk the basement, if you find them on your socks you still have em.. I know it sounds crazy but fleas are attracted not only to heat but to white. Try it and see. Good luck with it.. its such a pain. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Pinita
Annandale, VA
September 13, 2006
02:46 PM Post #2719546
| Manders:
Thanks for your advice. I already tried boric acid, but it did not work for me. I received yesterday a order of five pounds of Diatomaceous Earth that I ordered through the internet. This will be my last resort. I hope this will work.
I will wait at least one week and then I will let everybody know if this work.
Tahnk You again.
Rosa
|
Pinita
Annandale, VA
September 14, 2006
08:56 AM Post #2721856
| Hi all:
I believe that the winner of this tread is Jax4ever. I ordered the Diatomaceous Earth that you advised through the internet from a gardening company. The dust came in a small bucket of 3 1/3 lbs. I put it only in the area that the fleas appear to be and then I put it around the edges of the kitchen and the window's kitchen. This happened three days ago. Since that night I have no see an ant or moth in the kitchen. I still have to check of the fleas downstairs.
I will keep you informed and let you know the website that I ordered the product. Thanks Jax4ever.
Rosa |
trois
Santa Fe, TX
(Zone 9b)
 September 24, 2006
11:58 PM Post #2756556
| I have always been a magnet for fleas and chiggers. Someone here on Dave's about 3 years ago suggested that they will not bite you if you take a Super B complex daily. I have not had a single bite from either since I started taking these. We have frequent feral cats on our porch and I used to get bit a lot. Now they jump on and right back off. The fleas, not the chiggers. They also sell them for dogs.
trois |
Pinita
Annandale, VA
September 28, 2006
10:53 PM Post #2768684
| Thanks Trois for the hint about Super B Complex. I am taking simple complex B. I guess is not the same because the fleas bite me big times.
Rosa |
weedyone
Seattle, WA
(Zone 8a)
October 08, 2006
06:01 PM Post #2797772
| Did you recently buy this house? When we moved into our house we had fleas and it was because the previous owner had a dog. This is what we did to get rid of them: changed the furnace filter then let off a couple foggers/flea bombs and left the house for 24 hours. We had to fog the downstairs twice but it worked!
Weedyone |
LnKann
Shawano, WI
(Zone 4b)
October 08, 2006
08:25 PM Post #2798201
| I went to an exterminator's office and found that they sold products that killed fleas on the spot but also left a residual that killed the eggs after hatching. I had a huge infestation and this producted killed them all within a week. |
Lellie
Anna Maria Island, FL
(Zone 9b)
October 09, 2006
08:53 AM Post #2799585
| Pinita...hoping you have eliminated your flea infestation by now, but if you haven't...and you need more diatomaceous earth, buy it from a pool store...it's way cheaper than off the Internet. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
October 09, 2006
10:41 AM Post #2799951
| You're not supposed to use the pool grade DE, it's processed differently and is not appropriate for this, you need the regular kind. |
Pinita
Annandale, VA
October 11, 2006
11:50 AM Post #2807123
| Thanks Ecrane I have read that we do not suppost to use the DE for the pool. I guess Lellie did not read the whole thread. I notice that this is commun some people advice something that has already written that we shoudn't do. I am aware of all this.
Rosa |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
October 11, 2006
03:39 PM Post #2807787
| I think the discussion of pool vs garden DE might have been on a different thread and not this one, that's why I mentioned it again to make sure people who read this thread but maybe not the other one would still have the info.
This message was edited Oct 11, 2006 12:40 PM |
hey_jude
Scottsdale, AZ
November 03, 2006
02:53 PM Post #2878572
| Fast, cheap and easily vacuumed up afterwards.
Sprinkle the floor/carpet with garden lime. It suffocates the fleas and eggs. Leave it for more than 2 weeks to make sure the eggs are dead. Then vacuum.
You';ll know after that period that they're gone. If any remained in the cracks along floorboards, baseboards etc, repeat. |
Pinita
Annandale, VA
November 03, 2006
02:57 PM Post #2878590
| I cannot believe that garden lime kill the fleas. I wish I had know. I spent so much amout of money trying one advice and other. However they were gone with the last try of DE. Now I know garden lime is a lot cheaper.
Thanks Lee
|
hey_jude
Scottsdale, AZ
November 03, 2006
03:24 PM Post #2878671
| It worked for me when I lived in Florida (the flea capitol of the world to my knowledge). I spread it all ovet the property, looked like it had snowed but it WORKS!! |
CajuninKy
Inez, KY
(Zone 6a)
November 04, 2006
06:28 PM Post #2881862
| 5% Sevin Dust killed the fleas in our house. Sprinkled it in the carpet. Couple of days later and the problem was gone. Vaccumed up what was left. Had tried sprays and foggers but to no avail. I love that Sevin Dust! LOL |
Pinita
Annandale, VA
November 16, 2006
09:18 AM Post #2918757
| The problem with 5% Sevin Dust you can not spread in your house. It is so toxic that you cannot do that. Be careful. I bought it and I was told not to use inside the house. I use only for the garden. |
CajuninKy
Inez, KY
(Zone 6a)
November 17, 2006
02:04 PM Post #2922516
| None of us had any ill effects at all. It didn't do the fleas any good, though. LOL We have always used it to dust the dog houses and their bedding straw. It has never bothered any of our animals. We even dust them with it. It doesn't kill slugs. They nearly ate my peppers and cucumbers up. But the beer got 'em. The moral: Drinking and sliming don't mix. |
graceful0917
denver
United States
July 08, 2007
02:48 PM Post #3711509
| HI, Pinita:
We live in apartment, and we do not have pet. We have some flea, too. May I ask you what do you think the most effective way to kill flea, thanks, |
katie59
Woodinville, WA
(Zone 8b)
July 08, 2007
02:57 PM Post #3711550
| I'm inclined to agree that the fleas wouldn't survive unless they had a source of food - ie a mammal to feed on. Have you put down traps for rodents? I would recommend that you do that to see if they are bringing in the fleas. If you do have a rodent colony, then a one-time flea infestation treatment probably wouldn't bring you long-term relief.
Gardens Alive has a variety of what they call environmentally responsible products for gardening and weed and pest conrol. I searched there are found these flea-control nematodes. It's the first I've heard about a treatment like this and it may not be even as cost-effective as a professional exterminator, but I thought I'd share it.
http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=2779&ss=fleas
Here's another suggestion for a yard treatment for fleas:
http://www.fleasmart.com/fleayard.htm
Again, I'd also double-check to make sure that there is no rodent problem first/simultaneously.
Good luck. Keep us posted!!
Kathy
|
Monacc
Roslyn Heights, NY
August 06, 2007
08:52 PM Post #3826386
| Hi Everyone:
I'm desperate, I have fleas in my room I don't know how they got here, I just know they've been bitting me non stop, but they don't bite anybody else just me, my family doesn't think they're fleas but they bite and jump, we don't have pets but we had a cat over a couple of onths ago and like a month after that they started to bite me, i don't know what to do, I read about the complex B and i'm gonna star taking it, hopefully i'll work until i get ride of them. is it possible they are just living from bitting "me"? |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
August 06, 2007
09:20 PM Post #3826514
| I don't see how it could be fleas from the cat--they wouldn't have waited a month after the cat left to start biting you. If it had started right after the cat was there then maybe it's possible, but if they went a month without an animal to feed off of they would have died. Any chance you've got mice? If you've got rats or mice, then they can have fleas which could be in your room. If they really are fleas, I'd read through the previous responses in this thread, there are lots of suggestions here and I don't know why one of them wouldn't work for you. |
trois
Santa Fe, TX
(Zone 9b)
August 06, 2007
11:08 PM Post #3826949
| We have had the worst flea problem in history for here. We have switched to a commercial livestock spray. They still don't bite me though, just the dog. They don't seem to be in the house at all.
We are using Permethrin 10%. 5cc mixes with water for a quart. We spray the porch also. |
Len123
Adrian, MO
(Zone 6a)
August 06, 2007
11:15 PM Post #3826976
| borax. 20 mule team. wears holes in their shells and they leak fluid. i think boric acid is the variety used on roaches. |
EbbyLou
Troy, NY
August 19, 2007
09:40 AM Post #3873792
| I when into my basement by the washer and dryer and there they were fleas. I have a cat the lives in the basement, but she never goes out side. She catches a mouse about 6 times a year.I gave the cat a flea bath. I went to HD and purchased Hot Shot foggers. I bombed all three floors of my home with 9 bombs. Came back and did not get any bites. Till the next day. I got 12 more bombs and repeated the the treatment again. Came back and they are still in the basement. I have never seen any on the first or second flloor of my home. For the thrid time now I got 12 more bombs for a totoal of 33 bombs and guess what. I still have fleas in the basement. I went to the vets office and he gave me some spray told me to spray it all over the basement and not to go in the basement for 24 hours. Guess what I still have fleas in the basement. I got another can at $30 a pop. did it again. I STILL HAVE FLEAS.
The cat is no longer in the basement and she does not have fleas
Any suggestion!!!!! they are driving me crazy |
Ticker
Lisbon, IA
(Zone 5a)
August 19, 2007
10:34 AM Post #3873960
| This is going to sound really weird, but a friend of mine had fleas in her basement and no amount of spraying or bombing would take them out. She finally resorted to a couple of cake plans of water with a light bulb hanging about a foot over the pans. The fleas jump into the light, per-say, and bounce off or miss and land in the water and drown. That is the only way she was able to get rid of them. I would think that if you have as many as you say a small kids wading pool would be the route to go and then hang a treble light over the pool about a 12 to 18 inches. Good luck. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
August 19, 2007
11:50 AM Post #3874216
| My guess is you've got rats or mice around, they tend to have fleas and as long as the rats and mice are around, the fleas are not going to go away. I'd call an exterminator and have them come set some traps (don't let them use poison in case your cat were to catch one of the mice). Once the flea hosts are gone, you'll have a much easier time getting rid of the fleas. |
Len123
Adrian, MO
(Zone 6a)
August 19, 2007
05:00 PM Post #3875299
| the eggs can live for a long time after the fleas. sprays only get the fleas. try the borax.
it should destroy the eggs also. |
rosewynd
Anza, CA
(Zone 8b)
November 17, 2007
11:43 PM Post #4205424
| The borax works. If you have carpet, spread it and work it in with a broom. |
peter123
Los Angeles, CA
September 09, 2009
01:22 AM Post #7043142
| I have fleas and no pets. I've been living in a one bedroom apartment that had new carpets put in, for alomost two years but in the last month I some how got fleas. I fogged both rooms and they were gone for two weeks but now there back. I have found two since the fogger and five before that. I'm a fastidious person espeacially when it comes to cleanliness. I'm seriously losing my mind over it, I feel totaly violated and disgusted in my own home. I am throwing out all my fabric furniture, washing everything, vacumming everything and going to stay in a hotel for a night or two while I come in to constantly set foggers off. If this doesn't work I'm getting rid of everything I own (except electronics) and moving out.
One thing that seems suspicous to me is that about a month ago (the same time I noticed fleas) I had complained to my landlord about dogs constanly barking, all day and even in the middle of the night. A few neighbors have dogs in this building but swear they keep there dogs clean and free of fleas. Anway one of the neighbors was so upset when the landlord confronted him about the barking dogs that he moved out. Another tenant with a dog has also moved out since then. Maybe I'm paranoid but I sometimes suspect that they could comb the fleas and eggs off their dog and put it by my front door.
As for rodents, I highly doubt it because I don't like to keep food in my house, again the cleanliness. Instead I always eat out, maybe I will bring home a salad or some sliced fruit but never anything I need to heat up. I don't even use my stove, I turned off the gas line.
Anyway best of luck to everyone with their flea problem, vile creature. |
jmp24
Medford, NJ
September 09, 2009
10:21 AM Post #7043836
| I had one of my outdoor cats bring fleas in one year, and got infested. I bought Ortho Home Pest Insect control and drenched my entire home with it. It worked.
I also am skeptical about how anyone could get fleas without pets - very strange. Once you have seen and been bitten by fleas, you will always recognize them. If you are not sure, I'd catch one and take it to an exterminator and get a solid ID. There is such a thing as sand fleas too, alot of places in my area get them due to our sandy soil - the ocean once came this far inland. The sand fleas also bite, but they don't look exactly like regular fleas. And you don't need pets to get them.
What freaks me out is how they - whatever they are - can stand up to all the pesticides that you all have been using! That scares me, that these critters are becoming immune to these hard core chemicals - and is probably the result of long term or misuse of such pesticides. |
katie59
Woodinville, WA
(Zone 8b)
September 09, 2009
07:11 PM Post #7045469
| I was wondering how long a flea could live without a host. This site says only a few days, so you must have something living down there to feed on. I found this statement at the bottom of the site. I thought it was worth posting:
"Fleas, but no pets?
Buildings sometimes become infested with fleas even when there are no pets around. Other animals such as bats, roof rats, squirrels, raccoons, and wild dogs and cats commonly nest in structures and may be the source of an infestation. An experienced pest control company can treat for fleas and seal openings through which wildlife may enter your home. "
http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-1738.html
|
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
September 09, 2009
08:52 PM Post #7045799
| I would contact your landlord, they can have a professional come out and treat for the fleas which will probably be more effective than you going after them with foggers (and they can treat other apartments besides yours to help completely get rid of the problem). And as Katie pointed out they can probably figure out what sort of critters might be getting into the building to cause the problem in the first place and seal up openings, set traps, etc.
Also don't assume just because you keep your place clean that you couldn't have problems with rodents, etc. Some critters will come inside because they're looking for shelter or a place to build a nest. And in an apartment situation where you share a building with other people, their lack of cleanliness could attract mice and things and once they're in the building, they can get in the walls and go all over the building. |
katie59
Woodinville, WA
(Zone 8b)
September 09, 2009
10:08 PM Post #7046044
| What ecrane said . . .I have 12 cats and I found mouse droppings recently when I moved my old fridge out to get a new one!!! He would have had to cross at least one linoleum floor to get into the house . . . |
CajuninKy
Inez, KY
(Zone 6a)
September 09, 2009
10:48 PM Post #7046197
| They got in our carpet once and we had trouble getting rid of them. Finally sprinkled sevin dust liberally in the carpet, let it sit for several days and vaccumed it up. No more fleas! |
Bubba_MoCity
Missouri City, TX
September 10, 2009
03:18 PM Post #7048340
| FIL in East TX had a problem in his house - dog brought them in. Wooden floors, but they lived in the spaces between the boards. He did the sevin dust trick - no more fleas, but it did have to be done several times a year. Vacuming removed so much of the powder. |
