How to Get Rid of Fleas in Carpet

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Summary: If you are dealing with a flea infestation you likely need effective methods for removal from the carpet. Here are non-toxic alternatives.

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Author: Richard Horgan

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How to Get Rid of Fleas in Carpet

Few household pest control situations are more troublesome from a health point of view than the need to eradicate fleas from a carpet or carpets. Especially if the household is one that contains young children or is home to a couple soon planning to have kids.

Most Flea Remedies Are Toxic 

For this reason, within the larger context of homeowners tending towards "green" and safe solutions, it is highly advisable to opt for a non-toxic method of eradication. When analyzed, a solid two-thirds of the leading chemical flea control products on the market were found to be neurotoxic, with many containing ingredients that have been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as carcinogenic.

First Steps to Flea Control

At any one time, cat or dog fleas may be present in a residence in one of their four evolutionary forms:  egg, larva, pupa, or adult. The first phase of attack for getting rid of fleas in carpets is to use some good old-fashioned home cleaning techniques: vacuuming, shampooing of the rugs, beating of the rugs outside and so on.

Natural Alternatives

If none of these techniques works, the infestation may be more severe and require additional, targeted treatment. One of the most widely used safe flea eradication methods involves a solution made up on one part Borax (a boric acid derivative) and four parts salt. Given the fact that one female flea can produce up to 20,000 eggs over three months and that it can take up to six weeks for flea eggs to hatch, such a comprehensive plan of attack may be needed.

Once the two components have been applied together as a mix or separately, they can be more deeply penetrated into the carpet surface by means of a broom. Ideally, the mix should be left in the carpet for a couple of days before being vacuumed up, to dry out and kill the flea larva.

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Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Family pesticide use in the home, garden, orchard, and yard22.3 (1992): 260-266. Print.

US Environmental Protection AgencNew Data will Help Ensure Protection of Children | Pesticides http://www.epa.gov/

Veterinary Teaching HospitalFleaswww.vetmed.vt.edu

Article Citation

"How to Get Rid of Fleas in Carpet." Sophisticated Edge. N.p., n.d. Web. . <http://www.sophisticatededge.com/how-to-get-rid-of-fleas-in-carpet.html>.  

.The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. It is not meant to take the place of health care or services you may need. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your health.

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