Why Can't I Get Rid Of The Fleas In My West Chester Home?

How Can I Tell If I Have A Flea Infestation In My Home?

The most surefire way to know that you have a flea infestation in your home is by actually seeing the pests. Fleas hide in small crevices that are out of the way so they can be warm, sheltered, and undisturbed. That is, of course, unless they're feeding. Since fleas are parasites, they'll try to find a mammal host to latch onto.

Aside from seeing fleas in a hiding place, one of the best ways to know you have a flea problem is by listening to yourself and your dog or cat. Fleas are disturbing pests. By their very nature of feeding on mammals, they cause discomfort in their hosts. Here are some signs that your pets may have a flea problem:

• Excessive scratching
• Red skin
• Rust-colored fur (easier to tell on pets with light-colored fur)
• Pale gums
• Biting their ankles and hindquarters
• Hair loss

Aside from clues from your pets, you may have a flea allergy and feel excessive itching if the fleas have found your body to be a form of sustenance. Aside from the discomfort caused by them, you may also find fleas, their brown and red flea dirt (i.e., blood droppings), and salt-like eggs in your carpets, drapes, or other such areas about the home.

Are Fleas Harmful To Humans?

Fleas may not be the most dangerous pests; however, their biting frequently causes itching, skin irritation, redness, and hair loss. In addition to the obvious physical discomfort they cause, the CDC has confirmed that fleas are not as benign as you may have thought. Fleas can spread the plague, flea-borne typhus, cat scratch disease, and a number of flea-borne parasites. You can contract flea-borne typhus, for example, quite readily. When the flea bites you in order to feed, you tend to scratch the area, which breaks the skin barrier. They defecate as they feed on you, and some of this can find its way into your open cuts at the bite site. If you contract flea-borne typhus, the symptoms can include nausea, stomach pain, coughing, fever, body aches, and more. Fleas are more than just an itchy nuisance. If you have a flea problem, call the experts before they do real damage to your health.

How Do Fleas Find Their Way Into Homes?

Fleas are parasites — they feed on the blood of mammals. They will latch onto anything from the family dog to a rat or mouse. Since they have a propensity to hitchhike, they share in their host's mobility. While a flea may not have had the ability or desire to move into your home on its own, once it's firmly latched onto a larger mammal, it just goes along for the ride.

Can you have fleas without pets? Yes, you sure can! It's all too easy for fleas to get in your home. They are no more than 1/8 of an inch long, so almost any imperfection or gap on your home's exterior serves as an access point. They can get into a home through rips in a window screen, small cracks in the floor, and more.

What's The Best Way To Get Rid Of Fleas In My House?

Cleaning is key if you are dealing with a flea infestation in your home. The following activities will help get rid of fleas:

• Vacuum all carpeting.
• Wash bedding and carpeting.
• Steam clean infected areas.
• Bathe your pet in a flea bath.
• Use a pet-safe flea spray.

All of these activities are good ways of getting rid of fleas in your home and making sure that they do not return. If you need further help in ridding your home of fleas, call Masters Touch Pest Solutions for the best flea control in West Chester. We have over 30 years of experience and always put our customers first, focusing on family-oriented values. Schedule an appointment with us, and we'll provide a thorough inspection, complete eradication of your flea infestation, and regular service appointments in the future.