Flea infestation is one of the most troublesome issues faced by homeowners. These pests bite your furry friends as well as you and others, making it quite painful to get rid of if you don’t have the right resources. Hence it is recommended to consult a home flea treatment service for effective extermination of pests. For sufficient results, the following article lists things to do before and after a home flea extermination.

Before home flea treatment
Experienced technicians will treat outdoor areas and pet-resting sites with a residual insecticide and an insect growth regulator. There are some essential things that homeowners should do to prepare for successful flea treatment in addition to the actual treatment. Some of these things are mentioned below:

Clear the clutter
Most fleas can be found on carpets, which later stick to both pets and homeowners. Make sure to clear the area around the carpeting and closets. Keeping the floor, furnishings, and trim easily accessible is important.

Clean all the surfaces
Sweep and mop surfaces like tile, wood, and vinyl floors. Exterminators also suggest vacuuming floors, carpets, cushions, mattresses, upholstered furniture, floor cracks and crevices, closet floors, drapes, and pet resting areas.

Use a powerful vacuum cleaner
Using a clean vacuum cleaner canister or bag will ensure the best suction. Ensure to empty the vacuum cleaner’s contents into a trash bag and seal it before disposing of it outside. Make sure not to use the vacuum cleaner bag as it may be counterproductive in controlling flea infestation. For vacuum cleaners with canisters, wash them thoroughly and do this process outdoors to avoid pest infestation.

Use detergent
A flea can leap at least 800 times farther and jump 130 times its own body length. This indicates that fleas could potentially reach clothes hanging up in the closet. Hence, wash all fabrics close to the floor as they may have a maximum flea infestation. Apart from this, wash all blankets, sheets, clothing, small rugs, and other fabrics and bedding using detergent and hot water.

Wash or dispose of pet bedding
Thoroughly wash all pet bedding. And while you are at it, get your pet treated for fleas by a vet or a professional groomer.

Remove food and other items from the site
Before the home flea treatment, make sure to store and cover all food. Pest exterminators also recommend covering fishbowls, fish tanks, and other aquariums. In fact, it is best to remove them and other small animals from the site to keep them from inhaling the pesticide.

After home flea treatment
Flea exterminators typically use strong insecticides and pesticides that can be harmful to both homeowners and their pets. Hence it is important to do the following after home flea treatment:

Vacate the premises
Once pesticides have been sprayed, and other measures have been taken to get rid of the fleas, plan on vacating the residential space for four hours after the treatment, as it will take approximately four to five hours for the pesticides to dry away. Do not forget to ventilate the residential property before re-occupying.

Vacuum lightly
Clean the living space by vacuuming lightly for two weeks. Make sure to fill the vacuum sack or canister with a small amount of flea powder to kill the fleas that may have been vacuumed up. Continue vacuuming as it will get rid of fleas through their life cycle more quickly, thereby ensuring better effectiveness.

Thorough cleaning after 30 days
While vacuuming the carpet can help remove the eggs that are dropped from fleas on the pet, it is recommended to deep clean the premises after a month of professional extermination. This is to make sure all fleas have been vacuumed up, irrespective of their lifecycle. Vacuuming also causes adult fleas to come out of their cocoons while the carpet treatment is fresh and effective.

Discard materials used to dispose of fleas
Make sure to remove and discard the bag from the vacuum cleaner and other cleaning tools from the site to ensure 100% protection. Do not panic upon spotting fleas a week after the treatment, as it is normal for a few fleas to be around post-treatment. Keep the lawn cut short if it was treated to ensure maximum effectiveness.

While these tips are necessary for maximum efficacy, it is equally important to consult the best services for home flea treatment. Ask neighbors and friends for the best home flea treatment service and read customer reviews online before calling for an appointment. Ask them relevant questions regarding extermination procedures and make sure they are licensed or certified, as this will ensure they use safe treatment procedures. Some of the best home flea treatment services include Orkin, Terminix, Apex Pest Control, and Turner Pest Control.