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fleas :(

GLGBGLGB
in Eco-Friendly Family

So I found fleas on the dog tonight and I am really wanting to avoid the whole bug bombs and toxic chemical route at getting rid of them.  Has anyone has success using natural products for getting rid of fleas. 

Thankfully the dog isn't allowed in the bedrooms or furniture but I'm afraid they are all over the living room carpet.  Is it possible they could have spread all over the house?

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Re: fleas :(

  • Heather & DaveHeather & Dave

    The thing that has worked for me is to vacume.  I would do all the carpets and if you see any fleas, do it again. 

     

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  • MummyGruetzieMummyGruetzie member
    We don went through a horrible episode at one point with fleas. Nip it now, while you still have it relatively contained! Vacuuming and changing and throwing out the bag right away helped. Diatamaceous Earth (sp?) also seemed to help. As did Orange Guard from Whole Foods. I literally tried everything.... We had an all-natural exterminator come (don't do this--it wasn't effective and still smelled chemical-y), tried the different herbs and spices that you'll see recommended. I think the smart vacuuming and DE was the best though. Also, I faintly remember something about temperature. They either can't live in hot or cold. But you have to be kind of extreme for that to make much of a difference. Good luck.
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  • Heather & DaveHeather & Dave
    If you try DE be careful not to inhale.  It is bad for your lungs.  It is also messy and hard to get out of carpets.  Good luck.
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  • Dobie_MamaDobie_Mama

    imageHeather & Dave:
    If you try DE be careful not to inhale.  It is bad for your lungs.  It is also messy and hard to get out of carpets.  Good luck.

    The type that you want to use in your home (food grade) isn't harmful to your lungs, because the percentage of crystalline silica should be <2%. We buy Perma-Guard and it's less than .50%.

    It is extremely messy, but effective. We've used it for about 5 years now and haven't had any problems with fleas since switching, knock on wood. The best vac to get it up is one with a double filter, as you want to protect the vac mechanisms and the air output. 

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  • Heather & DaveHeather & Dave
    imageDobie_Mama:

    imageHeather & Dave:
    If you try DE be careful not to inhale.  It is bad for your lungs.  It is also messy and hard to get out of carpets.  Good luck.

    The type that you want to use in your home (food grade) isn't harmful to your lungs, because the percentage of crystalline silica should be <2%. We buy Perma-Guard and it's less than .50%.

    It is extremely messy, but effective. We've used it for about 5 years now and haven't had any problems with fleas since switching, knock on wood. The best vac to get it up is one with a double filter, as you want to protect the vac mechanisms and the air output. 

     

    Good to know.  I had no idea there was a difference. 

     

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  • Heather & DaveHeather & Dave
    imageDobie_Mama:

    imageHeather & Dave:
    If you try DE be careful not to inhale.  It is bad for your lungs.  It is also messy and hard to get out of carpets.  Good luck.

    The type that you want to use in your home (food grade) isn't harmful to your lungs, because the percentage of crystalline silica should be <2%. We buy Perma-Guard and it's less than .50%.

    It is extremely messy, but effective. We've used it for about 5 years now and haven't had any problems with fleas since switching, knock on wood. The best vac to get it up is one with a double filter, as you want to protect the vac mechanisms and the air output. 

     

    Good to know.  I had no idea there was a difference. 

     

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  • preggocraigopreggocraigo
    It REALLY helped when I shampooed the carpet. It pulled out so much dirt and junk. But if you go this route I'd have someone else do it because the shampooer is heavy. My back ached for days even when I wasnt expecting
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  • wheelsonthebuswheelsonthebus member
    I was dealing with this a few months ago. What.a.nightmare! I found FREQUENT cleaning and bathing the dog to be a must. We have hard woods, but I sprinkled Borax all over the couches and area rugs and left it over night. I also put frontline on my dog. (Not exactly earth friendly, but I wanted to avoid bombing the house.) It resolved in a month. Not fun. I feel for you!

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  • AmberS1211AmberS1211
    Not sure where you are but I live in CO... we have tons and tons of "indoor gardening" stores and sometimes they have natural bug bombs, you still have to leave the house for a couple hours but it doesn't have chemicals like your typical store bug bombs
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