Fleas

[nfn]

Help, I appear to have fleas in my house. I've used Bob Martins Home Flea Fogger Plus in every room, some rooms twice but they're still here. We don't have any animals and we are personally very clean. The house is dysoned regularly (including furniture) but I can't get rid of them.

I assume they're fleas, they look like them and jump about (also can't squash them to kill the little critters).

Any advice would be very very gratefully received. I feel really dirty. Thanks

[mystress]

Hi nfn,(Grapefruit Wine Drunk!)LOL

Seriously,if you have used the Bob Martins Flea Fogger,dysoned & do not have animals,then I cannot see them being fleas.Have you been bitten by them? because fleas need blood to survive.Sorry,but I cannot think what other insect they might be,but I am sure someone will.What sort of size are we talking about,Cat fleas for example,you could probably get 2 or three on a pinhead.

I hope this is of SOME help?

[chongalolo]

A few years ago we had the same problem.  After trying various sprays from the supermarket  I went to the local vets and bought some flea spray from them.  It was very expensive but did the trick.  Sorry I can't remember the name of it but I'm sure your vets would be able to help.

[shaz-rla]

The only way we got rid of fleas when they were in the flat I shared (owner had 2 cats who were never de-flead) was to get the council in and do a spray through!  We tried to get rid of them ourselves but must have been so infested it didn't work.  You haven't bought a new rug or any other piece of furniture that might have had them?

[nfn]

We've not brought anything new into the house for a long while, clothes excepted but I always wash everything before we wear them anyway.

Mystress, I'm pretty sure they're fleas. My friend's cat had them once (years ago) and I remember her sitting de-fleaing him/her (can't remember, I don't do cats). They're about 1mm in size, black and only jump. Neither his little Lordship nor I have been bitten and they seem more keen on him, esp his clothes, than me. That said, tonight I've had a couple jump on me. There was one on the bathroom floor last night (vinyl floor) and it was just jumping around.

I'm looking after my friends kids on Saturday, 2yrs and 8 weeks and I'm terrified they'll get onto them and cause problems.

If you're still sober (lol) any ideas?

[nfn]

chongalolo I think I might try and catch one and pop into the vets tomorrow to see what they say, thanks.

[shaneystar]

You can get a spray from the vets called Frontline.
I use this on my dog.Wether it will kill the fleas around the house I don't know.I spray round his basket and so on with Bob martins stuff..
If you can't get rid of them get in touch with your local council who will come and de flea the place for you.Some do charge for this though.I hope you soon get rid of them.

[Robinia]

Years ago I used something called Nuvan Staykill & it worked brilliantly the first time. Call your local pet store, I'm not sure whether it's still available.  (You have to remove any fish in tanks before use).

[niknak]

Don't clear ivy from walls and trees,don't go near old nests?

Hugs as ever,

Niknak

[mystress]

Hi nfn,

Well, as it looks as if they ARE fleas, then follow chongalolo's advice and ask the nearest Vet for Frontline,or another good one is Acclaim,I have several Cats, so have some experience with fleas(unfortunately)

 

& YES,I am still sober(you naughty person you!)

[mystress]

Correction:~

"shaneystar's reccomendation of Frontline"(sorry shaneystar!)

[cherrybomb]

I use Nuvan top it's in an orange can from the vet's. It is the best but expensive. 

[Robinia]

I've just noticed the bit about small children (was very tired last night!).  I'd be very cautious about having them in the house soon after using any strong chemicals. 

cherrybomb if I remember correctly Nuvan Top is for treating the animal not the house. (I had to buy both as I did have a dog. It was a bit expensive but I'd already wasted money on several cheaper things that didn't work).

[shaz-rla]

Seriously nfn, if they are as bad as you say it really would be best for you to get professionals in to spray the house top to bottom, could be in wardrobes etc...  I wouldn't advise on having the kids on Saturday if you can help it, or what about taking them out somewhere or looking after them in their house? Good luck and let us know how you get on.  

[ceebee007]

I had some in the house once - again, like you had no idea where they had come from since I don't have pets.  (I did wonder if I had brought them in from the garden ?)  Anyway, used a spray called Kybosh which seemed to do the trick, (available from hardware stores I should think) although I wasn't happy about spraying chemicals about since my son was quite young at the time - kept him well clear of the particular room sprayed.  It worked though.

I also remember staying in rented accommodation once and encountering fleas there.  I did manage to catch a few, and I found the only way to kill them once caught was to drown them in a basin of water, because, like you say, nfn, you can't squash them!

Good luck!

[nfn]

well folks, I caught a couple on selotape last night and managed to seal the little devils in. I popped to the vets where 4 people, 1 nurse, 2 receptionists and a vet couldn'y understand how I'd got them Yes they are fleas.

Anyway I've got an expensive can of RIP flea which I have to used absolutely everywhere in the house. A couple of hours later clean like mad in all the places I'd forgotten I'd got and hope. 3 weeks later I've got to do the same thing again and if it doesn't work take the can back and they'll give me a full refund. They're extremely reputable so I belive the last bit at least!!

Thank you all very much for your advice, I might feel dirty but at least you're not snubbing me!

Incidentally, the vet thinks that a cat (there are lots around here) has probably got in through a window whilst the house is empty and left us a little pressie (thank god it wasn't a mouse, they only leave those in the garden). My friends hasn't got to work tomorrow so she's having his little lordship for me so I can de-bug.

Mystress, how's the wine?

[willowman]

My partner and I run a boarding cattery, and this time of year we get cats in with fleas, so we're quite used to the little b*****s.

I know it's natural to feel dirty, but there is no need. They are just one of those things that happen, like ants etc.We are perfectly honest with customers and say that their cat has fleas and it's "that time of year". Animal owners understand.

We run a flea comb over our guests, and look for droppings on the bedding and shelving. We get the owners to sign a permission sheet allowing us to treat them, we use Frontline from the vets.

For cleaning pens after they have gone we use a spray called Acclaim.

If you manage to catch one it can be drowned in bowl of water, or crushed between your thumbnails.

When our cat used to bring them in, I would sit with bare legs so they would think "Ah, dinner". As soon as they jumped on me I would hit them with a bar of wet soap. They get stuck to it, allowing you to crush them. Great evenings entertainment whilst watching telly!

[netibiza]

Please also remember that fleas can also live in cracks in tiles and concrete so spray everywhere.

[Mistopheles]

I bought a sack of hay which was full of the little critters, and they went through the entire house! You do feel so dirty, but it can't be helped. After trying everything else, we set off a bug bomb, turned off the heating, and went away for a week. Came back to a flea-free house. Not a perfect solution, but if nothing else works...

[nfn]

Well folks, I've de-bugged. I've spent about 9 hours cleaning, spraying and re-cleaning. I've done the beds, washed the curtains and cushions and put spray everywhere, all the little nooks and crannys. I even took the covers off the sofa and cleaned them (cost �8 at the laundrette cos my machine isn't big enough).

I'm not going to tempt fate but I haven't seen any kind of critter in any room at all!

I'm now at the narked stage, as I've said we don't have any animals and the vet thinks it must have been a curious cat, it's cost me about �50 in total to get rid of something the pet owner should have been keeping an eye on and taking care of! Oooh I'm so cross I could crush a grape!

[Jaques]

Hey guys,

Interesting read, I hope someone is still watching this thread.

There is something in my house. I think it's fleas, but cannot be sure really. Have had a few bites at first (which were in a row so I suspected bedbugs after reading up), but now smaller stings but no no bites which leaves marks, just that itchy, dirty feeling.

I did try the cheap stuff, and then Staykill, which I sprayed once a week for 2 months (vacuuming, throwing the bag, spraying etc). This seemed to cool them off for a while, but now they're back with a vengence.

As I have only sort of spotted 'things' jumping/flying in the corner of my eye, but never really seen a flea, I am now getting a bit paranoid, thinking that it might be my imagination. Although, there is definetely(?) something crawling/jumping on me when I lay in bed and also under my clothes sometimes.

I have no pets (ex girlfriend had a cat though), but did have a padded second hand armchair for a while (stoopid me!) so there are reasons to suspect fleas, but it's just that I can't see any of them on me or around me. Capturing these ghosts seem impossible.

If it's fleas what should I do? Does anyone know about temperatures, do minus degrees kill both fleas and their eggs and larvae? Does dry clean kill anything at all Does anyone know what it could be it it's not fleas?

Would appreciate any help and opinions as this is driving me mad.

Thanks