Does the washing machine kill the fleas ?
Fleas, although they may not harm you to any extent, are extremely unwanted pests. They are extremely stubborn, which is a prerequisite for combating them. Not always their presence is associated with the transmission of diseases, but their bites have caused a very unpleasant itching. Some family members may be allergic, and then side effects and purulent infections may follow. This means you need to deal with the detractors immediately. The good news is that infecting your home with fleas can be eliminated through your "good helper" - the washing machine. Their desire to live is unbearable before going through a hot cycle following the use of a dryer.
How can you get fleas in your home?
You are unlikely to invite "unwanted guests" to your cozy home, but there are definitely many ways to "comfortably" fit into it. Adult fleas are supported by the blood they get through the bites on your pets, and why not yours. You may not be willing to part with the animals, although they do attract fleas, so you must take care of their destruction.
However, there may be eggs and larvae on the flooring as they are a wonderful place to live. The larvae feed on dandruff, organic animal or human waste. The bad news is that they can get that kind of food from animal fur and human clothing. Very often you can find fleas on your beds if you allow the animals to lie on them. Pests are fans of warm temperatures in general. Because of this, havens such as classrooms, apartments and backyard houses are among the preferred. This, in turn, requires you to find the best solution to deal with them.
How To Remove Fleas From Your Clothes?
Fleas adversely affect animals and humans. Completely removing them is not very easy, unfortunately. Destroying them alone is not as much of a problem as multiplying them. According to scientific data, a female flea produces up to 2000 eggs over a life span of 100 days. The annoying thing is that they can exist almost anywhere in your home. Not only in the fur of pets, but also on sofas, carpets, beds, clothes, as well as in the yard - in warmer, humid and shady areas. This means that the treatment against them should be quite detailed in the interior and exterior of your house. This will help prevent the possibility of re-infection.
Your clothes could very easily fall into an "ambush of fleas" if found on the floor. You need water to remove them. She is the number one enemy for them. However, there are additional requirements as ordinary immersion is not enough. Studies show that certain types of eggs manage to stay alive for days even though they are submerged. Also, bathing your pets with water alone is not particularly satisfactory. You need to add soap or some other shampoo. The washing machine is the best option for disinfection of clothes, pillows, towels, linen and more. In it you can put contaminated clothing and eliminate any pests.
Definitely, it would be difficult to survive anything when it comes to the cycle of the washing machine. The chemicals contained in various detergents and fabric softeners will help you eliminate fleas in any of the four stages of life they go through. The most effective action against them is to set up a program that uses high temperature and copious amounts of water. The combination of detergents, heat turbulence and drying in a tumble dryer will produce excellent results. In this way you will win the difficult fight against fleas and their eggs and larvae.
Use familiar tricks to treat your clothes differently:
- For bleach-resistant clothes - immerse the clothes in lightweight and use bleach and water solution
- For clothes that are not recommended to use bleach - use antimicrobial agents. Pine oil and other disinfectants may be used
- Machine Washing - Use 16 cups of chlorine bleach in 16 gallons of water to kill fleas and disinfect clothes
- For rough handling clothes, set the cycle to the highest temperature that uses copious amounts of water. This is the surest way to kill fleas, their eggs or larvae
Pest control procedure
There are several different methods for removing fleas from your home, but for the best results and the certainty that you have removed them, you must use a comprehensive program. Keep in mind that 10% of fleas are adults, the rest are larvae or eggs that can grow in your home if you don't kill them. The overall process involves the treatment of pest habitats, flea destruction, and the prevention of new attacks. How to handle all this?
Vacuum - The more often you clean your floor and carpets, the more likely it is that there will be no fleas in your home. Focus mainly on the places where your pets are resting, all the beds and seating furniture, the edges of the rooms, all the flooring, and the hard-to-reach areas around the furniture. Then make sure to throw the bag in the trash, making sure it is tightly tied.
Wash regularly threatened areas
The area around your dog or cat's bed is most important. Clean it very well or replace it with a new one if you have the opportunity. Wash all the plush toys that are in your home (whether they are for your pet, your children, or just the interior). Do this at least once a week to get the results you are aiming for. Last but not least, be sure to emphasize on your clothes, bedding, towels, curtains, blankets and more.
Use insecticides
Although every household's desire to use less harmful chemicals is rare, it is sometimes inevitable. There are other useful options, but it is often necessary to use an insecticide to penetrate to kill everything. However, you can focus on preparations with lower toxicity. Consult an experienced veterinarian to assist you in the process. Treat different places and pets with the best powders and sprays recommended by competent persons. It is important that they stop the reproduction of eggs and destroy the adults.
Use natural flea products
Try natural remedies such as infusion dust or borax powder. This treatment is a fairly common method that also produces good results. It is used in the fight against fleas and their reproducible. You may try this first before embarking on more aggressive insecticides.
Use protective clothing
You may not be very comfortable wearing such clothing, but it is recommended. Dressing them during treatment will protect you and your family from potential bites. Such clothes are long pants and long shirts, thick socks, long-sleeved blouses and more that will reduce the access of fleas to your skin. Also, lighter colors provide less hiding space than darker shades.
Preventing New Fleas from occurring
To keep your indoor and outdoor fleas clear of the fleas once you have used them, you must treat them for a fixed period of time. Your veterinarian will carefully explain to you when and what to do, as well as prepare a personal plan of action for you. Generally, during periods of severe infection, it is advisable to apply it once a month. The most difficult period for survival of pests is winter, which is best for you. Get a flea comb to remove pests immediately if you see even one.