072010-flea2.jpg We've talked many times about fleas and bedbugs in the home and both creatures make our skin crawl. As much as we love natural products (especially for use on our pets) there comes a point in time where all we want is our home back and every bug, insect or creepy-crawly dead! Here's how we did it in our home recently and we hope the method might provide some relief for those who might find themselves in the same situation.

After moving to a new neighborhood, it was discovered that the yards were full of fleas. Awesome. Totally awesome. We have two dogs that have reactions to typical topical flea treatments so we're unable to medicate them in that manner, but we do have a backup plan if the need arises (thank heavens).

1. Act Immediately: Any time spent waiting is time your animals (or yourself) are suffering. Act now, call into work or have a friend help out, the clock is ticking!

2. Round Up Dirty Clothes and Linens: Bag all your dirty clothes and linens in a trash bag and seal it off tight. Place it in the hallway or car while performing the next two steps.

3. Wash Your Pets: If you have the ability to do it at home, we highly suggest Neem Flea Shampoo. It's safe for your pets and doesn't leave skin itchy or dry. It works on contact and a little goes a long way! If you need to take your pets elsewhere to be washed you'll need to have a friend or neighbor stand in the hallway or outside while the next step is completed.

4. Bombs Away!: Even though we prefer natural products to anything, sometimes we like knowing that this thick fog floats into all the nooks and crannies in our home. Before now you had to read labels very carefully to ensure the fogger killed flea and bedbug larvae as well as the adult critters. Now you can find Hot Shot and Raid in Flea formulas that will do both without all the intense reading (plus they were both cheaper at our local hardware store than other foggers).

5. Drop Your Clothes Off At The Cleaners: Most laundromats will clean your clothes for a few dollars a pound. Although it can be weird to have someone else do this, it's cheaper to have someone do your laundry than it is to board your animals.

6. Wait: Find a friend or a local park to hang out at (though it could be hard to do with a cat) until the bombing time is over.

7. Clean: Surfaces that could have food prepared on them or eaten off of (if you're an animal) should be washed with soap and water. Vacuum carpets and upholstery to suck up dead fleas (and any remaining live ones) and empty your vacuum into the trash in a sealed container and take it out of the house.

There are other options such as Diatomaceous Earth, but when you need results NOW, this is the best way we've found to take care of business! There's just no time to do things twice or wait around and hope things get better!

Do you have any other tips to add to the list? Let us know below!

(image: Petside)