Fleas

[OooErr]

Hi,
We don't have any pets (although other family members who we occassionally visit do) but we seem to have fleas in our flat. We have wooden floorboards throughout so no carpet for them to feast on either. We have a 15 month old baby so are reluctant to spray anything too strong as he is crawling around everywhere and we wouldn't really like him to come into contact with the chemicals. Any suggestons on how we can get rid of the problem? Many thanks.

[t.asha]

1st Use a hoover on all your soft furnishings - sofa's, chairs, beds, cushions & curtains etc , also in all the cracks between your floorboards, and the spaces under your skirting boards etc, anywhere that dust collects - I'm sure you get the idea. Fleas spend most of their lives in these places. Also you could make or buy a flea trap - Which is basically a dish of warm water slightly warmer than body temp. with a little soap or detergent in it to break up the surface tension. Place this in any room which is going to be unoccupied for a while. Fleas are attracted to body heat so they jump in the water and drown. You could also try lavender in the bedding as they don't like the smell - especially in the babies bed. Hope this helps.

[Thunderbird+]

I think Id get a pest control expert in to get a positive id.
Other conciderations - if you have not lived in the flat long and the previous occupants had pets and you've just turned the the heating on, this may trigger them off.
Its possible you could have the flat treated before going on a weekend break ?

[Clanad]

Just to be sure you aren't laboring under a misconception, be aware that fleas don't "eat" carpets, since they live solely on blood from it's victims... so if you have no pets and no one in the household is experiencing bites (check the baby closely since the flea only needs to feed about once per month), I would suggest your problem may not be fleas. Obviously the advice to clean the carpets and furniture is good in any case...

[RATTER15]

It is possible that you have infested the flat by bringing fleas in on your clothing, so assuming it is fleas, do all the hoovering as above answer, then most importantly, EMPTY YOUR HOOVER STRAIGHT INTO THE BIN OUTSIDE, as they will find their way out again. You say you have wooden floors, this not good news from a Pest Controllers point of view, as wood is not a good medium for holding the chemical required to kill the fleas, but it can still be done.

I would recommend employing the services of a pest controller for the treatment for a few reasons!
1) His work will be guaranteed (make sure it is) so if treatment fails, he will need to re-treat it free of charge.
2) A pest controller will use chemicals far more effective against fleas and less toxic to humans, some of these flea treatments I use for this purpose is less toxic than table salt, once it is dry!
3) A pest controller, will no how to treat the property, none of this rubbish about just spraying the edges of the room and the bedding, that don't work.
4) He will be responsible for the welfare of persons in the flat and will give you expert advice.

I am a pest controller