solution for fleas in carpet

[floridacara]

Originally Posted by wireyourworld

Fleas can stay safely in their cocoons, dormant, for 7 years.

Huh. That might explain why we had such a massive, literally overnight problem?

Very informative, thanks for the info.

[vtallison]

The minute you moved in you were a "hot body" for them to feed on. When you have pets, their internal temp is higher than ours so the fleas usually feed on them 1st. The fleas do not live on the animals they live in our rugs, furniture etc .

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Koale

mix a fifty/fifty ratio of table salt and Boraxo soap. Sprinkle it generously over your carpeting and work it in w/a broom. Let it stand for 10-15 minutes then vacuum up...works great and no pesticides involved.
Koale

Yes, this works great. Companies that specialize in flea removal treatments in this area treat the entire carpeted areas with a boric acid solution. It was highly effective in eliminating a flea problem that our cat brought into the house from our yard and is very safe for humans.

Boric acid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Insecticidal - Boric acid was first registered in the United States as an insecticide in 1948 for control of cockroaches, termites, fire ants, fleas, silverfish, and many other insects. The product is generally considered to be safe to use in household kitchens to control cockroaches and ants.[14] It acts as a stomach poison affecting the insects' metabolism, and the dry powder is abrasive to the insects' exoskeleton.
Boric acid is also made into a paste or gel form as a powerful and effective insecticide much safer to humans than many other insecticides. The paste or gel has attractants in it to attract insects. The boric acid slowly causes dehydration.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Boraxo is an American brand of powdered hand soap.
As its name implies, Boraxo is composed largely of borax, and is marketed as a product for those who get their hands especially dirty during the course of their work, such as mechanics and farmers.
Boraxo began as a product of the former Pacific Coast Borax Company (later bought by U.S. Borax), and became known as one of the sponsoring products of the long-running radio and television Western, Death Valley Days. While future President Ronald Reagan was host of this program, he frequently did commercials for it, including one at his ranch involving his family.
As of 2006, Boraxo is manufactured and marketed by the Dial Corporation.

[JanND]

Originally Posted by acealive1

the foggers wont help, not hot shot, not raid, none of it. i've tried for like a year and it only puts em to sleep.


if anyone here has ever dealt with fleas or other things with more legs than us in apartments then heres the solution.

theres this stuff called spectracide. its a home defense type product that works inside and out. it comes in a black anti freeze type container and it has a sprayer nozzle attachment with it. it'll set you back $9 and change but its a big bottle. spray, not soak the carpet or affected areas and i promise by morning you'll have killed them all.


i hope it works for anyone that has this problem

"Enforcer flea killer" for carpets (shake powder for carpets)kills fleas, lice, ticks, ants, silverfish, roaches. Walmart in pet section, under 5.00. Works good. I used it when my cat got out and rooted around under neighbors shed, where there are always wild rabbits. I used it on my floors. Have a good vacumn cleaner.

[JanND]

Originally Posted by Koale

mix a fifty/fifty ratio of table salt and Boraxo soap. Sprinkle it generously over your carpeting and work it in w/a broom. Let it stand for 10-15 minutes then vacuum up...works great and no pesticides involved.
Koale

My Mom used to mix borax w/ sugar for roaches back in the day. I did research and borax is a good pest killer....don't let pets eat it, or get it on them accidentally though, vacuum very thoroughly. Another thing I found for fleas, on the pets is powdered brewers yeast. Rub it on their coats. Lots of homeopathic remedies if you google it.

[wireyourworld]

Originally Posted by floridacara

Huh. That might explain why we had such a massive, literally overnight problem?

Very informative, thanks for the info.

Yup. I quote from the foster and smith website (keep in mind they only promote products they sell)

"I went on vacation, and since I've been back, my house is suddenly infested with fleas! No animals were in my house while I was gone. What happened?
Most likely, there were quite a few flea eggs and larvae in your house before you left, but so few adults that you didn't notice them. While you were gone, the adults laid more eggs and the eggs and larvae continued to develop. The complete flea life cycle, from egg to larva to pupa to adult, normally takes about 15 days. However, under inhospitable conditions (e.g.; cold temperatures, or lack of a host) the pupa stage can become dormant. This dormant period can extend the flea's life cycle to over a year. When the pupa senses the vibrations, carbon dioxide, or warmth that tell it an animal host is near, it finishes developing into an adult and emerges from its cocoon. While you were gone, all of the immature fleas in your house developed to the pupa stage, and then stopped. When you came home, the dormant flea pupae quickly finished developing into adults and emerged. That is why you 'suddenly' have so many adult fleas in your house"