Discovering fleas in your apartment can be alarming, especially if you don't have any pets. Flea infestations in Tampa happen for several reasons, and it's important to get things under control as soon as possible. Fortunately, there are many home remedies available to kill fleas and keep them away. Read on to learn more about these stubborn pests and how to stop them from invading your space with professional pest control in Tampa.
I Have No Pets, So Why Do I Have Fleas In My Apartment?
It's possible to have a flea infestation in your apartment, even if you don't have any furry friends living with you. If the previous tenant in your unit had a pet with fleas, they could burrow within the carpeting. If nobody gave the apartment a deep cleaning or a carpet replacement before you moved in, you might have just inherited a previous flea problem.
Stray animals and rodents carry fleas. Should these critters hang around your apartment complex, they could spread fleas fairly easily. If you have a balcony and a curious critter decides to spend time there, their fleas may make their way inside your dwelling. If the exterior of your apartment building isn't secure, mice and rats may get into crawl spaces or the HVAC system. As pests scurry about the building, they'll leave fleas and their eggs behind, which could lead to a full-blown infestation.
Home Remedies For Residential Flea Infestations
Discovering fleas in your apartment can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are several ways to keep these pests from invading your space. Try some of these home remedies today:
- Sprinkle baking soda or salt all over your carpets and furniture prior to vacuuming. Both of these common household items help to pull fleas out. Once you finish cleaning, dispose of the vacuum bag immediately or empty it and wash out the canister.
- Make a citrus spray out of lemon or orange essential oil and water. You may also make a solution by cutting up lemons and boiling them in water. Spray the mixture wherever you discover fleas.
- Keep flea repelling plants on your balcony and throughout your apartment. Spearmint, rosemary, lavender, chrysanthemums, and pennyroyal are the most effective plants.
- Create a flea trap using dish soap and warm water. Fill a plate or shallow bowl with the mixture and place it in rooms where fleas may be hiding, as the solution functions as a glue trap. Leave the plate or bowl out overnight for best results, as fleas are nocturnal.
When home remedies to keep fleas away fail, it might be time to contact a high-quality Tampa pest control company, like EcoTech Pest Control Services.
Flea Eggs: Everything You Need To Know
The flea life cycle comprises four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. On average, it can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months for flea eggs to become adults. Female fleas lay their eggs on an animal host. As a flea-infested animal moves around, it will shake off eggs and leave them everywhere they travel. Flea eggs can lay dormant for several weeks before hatching, making fleas one of the most frustrating pests to eradicate by yourself. Even if you kill all of the adults, you may still have eggs that can start the life cycle all over again. For stubborn flea infestations in Tampa, contact a flea exterminator with experience.
Complete Flea Control Services For Apartment Homes
The best way to get rid of fleas in your Tampa apartment home is with services from EcoTech Pest Control Services. We've been helping local customers with tough flea infestations since 2013. Don't let these nuisance pests take over. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment and get started on our effective residential and commercial pest control services in Tampa.