How to quickly get rid of fleas in an apartment: proven ways

Not all apartment owners can honestly admit that unexpected “guests” appeared in their home. Many believe that fleas start only in houses where they neglect regular cleaning, maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen, etc. - in general, where there is continuous unsanitary conditions. In fact, things are a little different. No one is safe from the appearance of parasites: neither the owners of animals, nor families with small children, nor neat elderly couples who know everything in the world, nor owners of elite housing. When insects appeared, you have to look for ways to quickly get rid of fleas in the apartment. We have selected the most correct solutions.

So what's the deal? Where do these insects come from in apartments? There are several reasons:

• Pets (dogs, cats, hamsters, decorative rabbits, etc.) while walking on the street can receive a “gift” from their brothers who are already infected with fleas.
• HumanWithout noticing it, he can bring insects on shoes or clothes into the room. The likelihood of a flea coming together with furniture carpeted and even in bags.
• High humidity premises such as sewer niches, cellars and just porches (especially lower floors), creates ideal conditions for the reproduction and habitat of fleas. Expanding their territory in search of food, they move to apartments.
• Rats and mice also active flea carriers. Moreover, an unpleasant “surprise” can wait not only for residents of the first floors (this is first of all), but also for the upper ones, since rodents feel good in attics.
• Neighbors can share the "tenants." The latter will move not only along common corridors and platforms, but also make their way through ventilation ducts, floor gaps, skirting boards etc.

Types of fleas and their habitats in the apartment

Those who think that all fleas are the same, we hasten to disappoint: there are more than 2 thousand of these parasites. Representatives of approximately 30 species can become “guests” of houses and apartments. The most common are:

• Human (the parasite is dangerous for all mammals; it is particularly fertile).
• Dog and cat (migrate to animals, feeding on their blood).
• Rat and mouse (they get into the apartment if rodents have settled in the basements and attics).
• Field, they are grassy (carried by animals on wool).
• Earthy or basement (dwell on the floor, under skirting boards, in carpets, like dust).
• Woody black (appear in the apartment after people visit dachas and personal plots).
• Sand (representatives of the streets, but meeting them at home is very rare).

A person can be bitten by any of these fleas. For active life, they all need blood and no matter who will be the “breadwinner” - pets or people. Wherein, vampire insects do not settle on humans, on objects with a smooth surface, on the bare floor or linoleum. They are more "liking":

• Stuffed Toys.
• Shaggy flooring.
• Litter of pets.
• Cracks under the skirting boards parquet and cracks in the walls.
• Boxes with old things.
• Trash bucket and the adjacent area.
• Kitchen sink, near which increased humidity almost always persists.
• Wardrobes with clothes and blankets.
• Upholstered furniture and mattresses.

Advice! It is possible to determine that fleas are wound up in the apartment according to a number of external signs:

• Size - from 1 to 5 mm.
• Color - from golden wheat to brown-black.
• The body is vertically flattened.

The insect is hard to catch because of the sharp high jumps.

If a pet lives in the apartment, then the likelihood of fleas is very high. But regular preventive actions can successfully resist the appearance of insects. If bite marks characteristic of these bloodsuckers appear on the legs or other parts of the human body, it’s worth it once again check for parasites in the house. There are several ways to do this:

• White surfaces. To the floor, near closet, couch or other upholstered furniture to put several sheets of white paper or spread a white cloth. If fleas are wound up in the apartment, after some time black dots appear on light surfaces.
• Wet cloth. Take a damp cloth, wipe it with a floor or walk along the carpet, and then lower it into a container of clean water. If the liquid turns pale pink, then it is possible that the apartment has bloodsucking, and their feces painted the water.
• Double-sided tape. Attach the adhesive tape to the most “popular” places for fleas: doorways, baseboards, window sills and rapids. If there are insects in the room, after 2-3 days they can be found on tape.
• Bright light. Fill a small container with soapy water, into which several (3-4) floating candles are placed. Housing fleas (if any) will jump in bright light, and in the morning a considerable number of them can be found in the liquid. By the same principle, instead of candles, they use a lamp, a night lamp and even a TV. True, you have to leave it turned on for the night (just turn off the sound), and put a baking sheet or bowl in front of it filled with water.
• Liquid honey. This method of detecting insects is quite common. Small pieces of cardboard or flat utensils are coated with a layer of sweet, sticky goodies and placed in places where fleas are suspected to accumulate.

What are fleas dangerous to humans?

The appearance of bloodsucking insects should be taken very seriously. The fact is that fleas feed on blood. The supplier of "food" can be not only dogs, cats, birds, rodents, but also people. What is the danger of bites of these parasites to humans?

• First of all, these are unpleasant painful sensations, itching, redness of the skin.
• An allergic reaction to a bite, a significant increase in temperature and swelling at the site of the wound is possible.
• Fleas can be carriers of infections such as hepatitis B and C, typhoid, encephalitis and other serious diseases.
• There is always a risk of infection with different types of worms, salmonellosis, nematodes or various fungal infections.
• Very big troubles can be expected from rat fleas, in the arsenal of which there are pseudotuberculosis, melioidosis, myxomatosis, etc.
• In addition, constant thoughts about insects and waiting for bites can turn into a phobia or cause a nervous breakdown.

Important! If fleas are found in the apartment, it is necessary to immediately begin their destruction, without wasting a minute of precious time, since the female insects breed at an incredible speed. Over its short life, the female lays up to 500 eggs, which in less than a month become full-fledged bloodsuckers

How to prepare an apartment for pest control (extermination of fleas)

Before proceeding with the destruction of fleas, it is necessary to properly prepare the apartment. The effectiveness of pest control will depend on the actions taken.

And you need to do the following:

• Wash bedding and clean.
• Store food in well-closing cabinets or refrigerator.
• Clean all upholstered furniture detergent.
• Cover with plastic wrap household appliances and flowers.
• Vacuum carpet.
• Carry out a thorough wet cleaning.
• If you have pets for a while, find them another place to stay, and treat their accessories at high temperature or eliminate.

After the preparatory work, you can safely proceed to the processing of the premises.

Ways to deal with fleas

Since fleas immediately occupy all territories and quickly find the most comfortable, but secluded or inaccessible places for themselves, getting them out can be quite difficult. You can get rid of insects that settled in furniture upholstery, thick pile of carpets or under baseboards special preparationsthat industry offers, and homemade remedies. To choose the most suitable disinsection method for a specific situation, you should learn more about them.

Chemical way

Since you can’t offer fleas a poisoned bait and don’t put a trap, the following remedies are used to combat them:

Aerosols

Today, modern synthetic drugs are relevant, which are quite effective, affordable and safe for humans, as well as pets. We are talking about aerosol sprays. The algorithm for working with them is simple:

• spray the product around the apartment, in hard-to-reach places, behind and under cabinets, shelves, on the floor, in the kitchen under the sink, behind the beds etc.
• tightly close the room so as not to weaken the effect of the spray.
• ventilate the room after the time recommended by the manufacturer.
• carry out wet cleaning, and wash processed items and toys in hot water.

Aerosols that have already been verified by users and have many positive reviews deserve special attention:

• The well-known Dichlorvos, even with the prefixes Ultra, Neo, Varan A or TM, is a universal remedy for crawling, flying and jumping insects.
• Raid is well known in many countries. With a large assortment of products from different directions, “Reid from cockroaches and ants».
• "Raptor" is a popular remedy because it is non-toxic, odorless and gives excellent results.
• "Aerosol from ants and other insects Dr. Klaus "is used to destroy fleas, bedbugs, cockroaches, ants and other crawling insects. The advantages of the drug include affordable cost and a considerable amount. Treatment with the drug is carried out several times.
• "Combat Super Sprey" destroys a lot of different insects: fleas, skin-eaters, ants, spiders, bugs, moth and its larvae. The action of synthetic components has earned a lot of praise from users.
• “Clean House” is characterized by a fast flea destruction rate, relevant for complex processing of an apartment.
• Spray "Delicia Contra Insect" affects and leads to the death of insects of various species, meets the stringent requirements of all standards. Be sure to ensure that the drug does not get on the skin of pets.
• "Delicia" is a universal aerosol, easy to handle, leads to the death of not only adult bloodsuckers, but also their larvae.

Solutions

High concentration insecticides scare away and completely kill insects. A person needs to work with them very carefully:

• dilute with water according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
• using a spray, process the apartment: carpets, walkways, beds, upholstered furniture, baseboards, areas behind cabinets, etc.
• withstand the necessary amount of time (the exact number is indicated in the instructions).
• carry out wet cleaning and thoroughly ventilate the room.

Important! The drugs are dangerous for people and animals, so for some time they are better off outdoors.Processing recommended in respirator, goggles and gloves

The most effective drugs include:

• "Get Total (Get Total)" - a new proposal - an emulsion with microcapsules filled with the active substance. The drug is active for up to six months, destroys both adults and eggs.
• "The executioner" is a fairly popular tool, due to its effectiveness, low toxicity and speed of action.
• "Tsifoks" - has a wide spectrum of action, is active, insects die in 20-30 minutes. after processing.
• "Ziper" - has a characteristic pungent odor, active, does not cause insects to be addictive.
• "Yuraks" - actively fights against any insect parasites, paralyzes and kills them.
• The list can be continued by such effective water-soluble drugs as: "Kukaracha", "Medilis", "Zone", "Zone Delta", "Get", "Tetrix" and others.

Powders, granules and crayons

Insecticide powders are drugs of contact action, not intestinal. The mouth apparatus of the flea is prickly sucking and is designed in such a way that the insect can only pierce the skin of an animal or person and drink blood. Therefore, some drugs "apartment vampires" can not use. Powdered flea exterminators occupy a worthy place among effective insecticides and have a number of indisputable advantages:

• completely ready for use.
• act for a long time.
• easy to use and affordable.

If the choice fell on powders or granules, it is enough to sprinkle them in places of "dislocation" of insects and finding clutches with eggs and larvae. Among the various drugs, it is worth paying attention to the following:

• "Pyrethrum". The basis of the remedy is an extract of Persian (Dalmatian) chamomile. The powder is highly effective.
• "Ecociller." The composition of the tool contains the smallest particles of diatomite (rock), which serve as an abrasive. After the drug enters a flea, the latter dies from desiccation.
• Fas-Double and Fenaxin. Powders belong to a number of universal products with two active ingredients. Packed in convenient pollinator bags.
• Clean House, Tornado Dust, Absolute Dust. These are moderately toxic dusts, but very effective. The main thing to use is to adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations.
• Crayons "Mashenka" and "Titanic". Fleas come in contact with preparations applied to the surface, and after some time they die, but they manage to bring poison on the legs and “relatives”.

Smoke bombs

New developments make it possible to quickly act on insect pests and destroy them. The principle of action of the preparations is quite simple: after ignition, smoke is liberated from the checker, which fills the entire room and enters the most inaccessible places. The chemical used in the checker has a nerve-paralytic effect on fleas and kills them. Following the instructions, people and pets, while pest control, should leave the room. But things and furniture will not only not suffer, but will also be processed, because parasites can also hide in them. Well-proven devices:

• "Quiet evening".
• "Samuro."
• "City".

Thermal

The most interesting thing is that these are two rather effective and efficient ways to get rid of fleas in an apartment. The problem is the seasonality of the work and the creation of the necessary temperature regime.

Freezing

The method is applicable in the winter, because fleas are afraid of low temperatures. It is generally accepted that the most acceptable temperature for insect death is from -23 ° C to -25 ° C. The fact is that at minus 10 degrees the ability of parasites to multiply sharply decreases, and at - 15 ° C the larvae will also die. Therefore, the first stage will be a long ventilation of the room for 2-3 hours., And the second - general cleaning. When “freezing” an apartment, it doesn’t hurt to take out carpets, mattresses, pillows and blankets, knock them out well or shake them out and leave them for a while in the cold.

Heat

Just as fleas do not tolerate frosty air, they are afraid of both high temperatures and the bright rays of the sun. It is about + 45 ° С - + 50 ° С. To destroy insect parasites, it is necessary to maintain the indicated temperature for at least 25 minutes. To obtain the desired result at home, it is best to use an iron that has the function of a steam, or a steam generator. The instant death of a small bloodsucker occurs at plus 70 degrees.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for insect parasites are the experience of generations, folk wisdom and knowledge. Indeed, today not everyone knows the properties or even the smell of this or that plant, the great potential of kerosene or what “tar” is. But it all works. Of course, such methods are good as prophylaxis or when the number of “little vampires” has not become a natural disaster. The methods are safe for adults, children and allergy sufferers, so they can be safely used to combat galloping parasites.

Soda and salt

They are excellent desiccants. A mixture of these substances can simply be poured onto the carpet, then their crystals during friction will destroy the shell of the insect, get inside and dry the parasite, leading to its death.

Mix salt and soda in equal amounts (200 g each), place in a container (you can just a glass jar) and pour 2 liters of water. Mix everything well and leave for several hours (10-12), then the product can be applied to the carpet and left overnight. A dry mixture of soda and salt (1: 1) is used almost similarly: they are mixed, rubbed into the coating, left for 8 hours, thoroughly vacuum cleaned.

Diatomite (mountain flour)

Also successful in combating bloodsuckers. The advantage of the powder is its safety for pets.

Vinegar in mixtures

The most common two of the following options:

• Mix vinegar and camphor in a ratio of 1: 1. Composition process floors, skirting boards, crevices and floor coverings.
• A mixture of vinegar (3%), camphor alcohol and floral cologne is suitable for processing carpets, baseboards, crevices in the floor.

Ammonia

Due to its pungent pungent odor, it is able to actively destroy parasitic insects. In undiluted form, it is enough to drip a few drops over the baseboard or in the gap. To process floors, walls and furniture, it is necessary to prepare a solution of warm water (5 l) and ammonia (25 drops), which must be handled very carefully, since alcohol fumes are toxic.

Borax powder

It can be used as an independent tool, or as a mixture with water. To apply structure on a surface of carpets, paths or rugs and to leave overnight. Vacuum the processed products well in the morning.

Bleach

Chlorine in different forms (the best option - "White") is perfect for processing the floor. To improve the effect, it is worth adding a few drops of ammonia, in which case the pungent odor will expel fleas, and alkali will destroy them.

Boric acid

It causes dehydration of insects and their subsequent death. The powder is evenly distributed over the surface of rugs and carpets, left for 48 hours, and then cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Interestingly, boric acid actively kills flea larvae.

Kerosene

You can meet different options for the use of kerosene in the fight against fleas:

First. Dilute 100 ml of kerosene in a bucket of water, then apply the mixture on carpets, close all doors, leaving the apartment, and wait a few hours. Upon returning home, it is necessary to carry out wet cleaning of carpets to get rid of flea corpses.

Second. Purified kerosene is used to prepare an emulsion, with which you can destroy not only adult insects, but also larvae. For cooking:

1. 40 g of washing soap (brown) is dissolved in 200 ml of hot water,
2. the resulting solution is poured into a container and 1 l of kerosene is added in small portions,
3. mix everything thoroughly to get a homogeneous mass,
4. the prepared emulsion is mixed with 10 l of water and the flea control agent is done.

Tar soap

It needs to be crushed (you can grate it), add it to warm water and make a soap solution with which it is necessary to process the furniture, wash the panels, window sills and the floor. To improve the effect - grate the soap with large holes, pour into mesh bags, which are laid out on the floor, behind furniture and in other “vulnerable” places.

Pine sawdust

They have a pungent odor that repels fleas. They must be left until morning, scattered on the floor, and to maintain a constant aroma - regularly sprayed with water. Many pet owners use sawdust to equip a pet's resting place or to fill its litter: pets are comfortable and parasites do not attack.

Garlic and yeast

Grind 3 cloves of garlic and 30 g brewer's yeast and prepare the mixture. Put the pulp in secluded places, rub into the carpet and leave to work until the morning. The smell will be quite specific, but it will scare away insects. After a night of “aromas,” you need to organize a good cleaning.

Tansy in different combinations

This plant is used together with others in different ways:

• Tansy and celandinetaken in equal proportions, it is necessary to pour boiling water and let it brew for 12 hours. Using the resulting infusion, treat the apartment using a spray bottle.
• A mixture of tansy, wormwood and eucalyptus (1: 1: 2) pour 200 ml of boiling water and stand for 10 hours. After spraying the room is similar to the previous method.
• Wormwood and tansy can be used fresh or dry. Of these, you can prepare tinctures, decoctions or just put it around the house. The specific smell and essential oils of plants successfully repel insects.

Tansy is poisonous, therefore it is unacceptable to use it in rooms where there are small children. You also need to be very careful when bathing your pets.

Essential oils

Oils repel adult insects. They cannot kill a flea or destroy its eggs and larvae, but they can make the parasites get out of the apartment. 25 g of essential oil (you can use several different ones) add to warm water (5 l). Process the walls, furniture, floors, walls, etc. with the resulting solution. After three days, repeat the procedure until the fleas disappear completely. The most effective oils are:

• peppermint and lemon balm
• juniper
• lemon and orange
• cloves and basil,
• eucalyptus and lemongrass,
• lavender and thyme,
• wormwood and cedar,
• tea tree and rosemary.

Dishwashing liquid

Almost folk, but it helps a lot when you need to remove fleas from upholstered furniture, clothes or bedding. Apply the foamed gel to the slightly moistened surface of the sofa and hold for 10-15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and blow dry - the insects die. In the case of things, they must be soaked in a diluted dishwashing detergent and then washed at sufficiently high temperatures.

You can fight parasites and win. When choosing folk remedies, one should not forget that all procedures should be carried out regularly (at least 1 time per week), and the destruction or expulsion of insects will take a certain period of time. But, if you try, success is guaranteed.

How to prevent the appearance of fleas in the apartment

No one wants to experience the unpleasant moments associated with the appearance of fleas in the apartment. And it is not in vain that they say: “Forewarned — that means, armed.”

Perhaps all of the following will help in time to take the necessary measures and prevent the appearance of parasitic insects in the house. To do this, take the following measures.

1) Keep a close eye on pets, bathe them regularly, comb out and carry out processing from fleas. To get rid of blood-sucking animal pests, use:

• Drops of external use, which are rubbed into the skin of the animal in the area of ​​the withers and tail.
• Anti-flea shampoos.
• Special sprays and collars.
• Tablets.
• Injections for administration, usually every six months.

2) Time to change the litter of the pet. If she appeared recently, then you need her:

• Shake well and treat with a steam generator.
• If possible - freeze.
• Wash 1 time per week.
• Replace filler with pine sawdust. If the litter is old, it should be thrown out without hesitation, because this is the place of the maximum accumulation of fleas and their eggs.

3) Conduct regular cleaningairing and maintaining cleanliness in the apartment.

4) Periodically use vinegar and essential oils for adding to the water intended for mopping.

5) After visiting the street, monitor the cleanliness of shoes and clothes.

Instead of output

If the situation gets out of control and it is not possible to cope with parasitic insects on its own, then it is better to contact professionals in specialized organizations. And only specialized specialists will be able to accurately determine the type of fleas, select the right professional tools for their destruction, calculate the required amount of the drug and its concentration, and also give a guarantee that at least a year of “tenants” will not be. Although, this is not a very cheap “pleasure”.

Therefore, the sooner the better. As soon as the first signs of fleas in the apartment appeared, you should immediately get down to business. In addition, irreplaceable helpers are always nearby: a vacuum cleaner, water, a bucket and rags, special means of disinfection and disinfection, a steam generator, protective gloves, a mask and a great desire to get rid of these parasites.

A little patience, and soon no parasite will remain in your house!