Get Rid of Flea Problems | Flea Removal Specialists
Prices from £90/£100 +VAT
To get rid of fleas from your home or business premises call 0800 026 0308
Fleas are small parasites that grow to about 3mm long and feed off the blood of their hosts. They normally live for two to four months. Cat fleas are the most common type of flea found in UK homes. They live in carpets and are rarely seen, only leaving the carpet to feed by jumping onto a cat or dog. If they jump onto soft furnishings or clothing they’ll always return to the carpet. They don’t live on humans and only bite them if a cat or dog isn’t available to feed on. Although they can feed on a variety of hosts, fleas are only able to breed when feeding on their preferred host. An infestation where no pets are present will not breed but will still need treatment as the fleas will be forced to feed on humans.
How do I know I have a flea problem?
The most obvious sign of a flea problem is when people get bites, usually on their feet, ankles and legs because fleas can’t jump higher than six inches. Bites can occur on other parts of the body, particularly on children as they are more likely to be playing on or lying on the carpet. Often a flea infestation will go unnoticed until the absence of a pet, after which the fleas are forced to look for an alternative source of food so they bite humans.
If the infestation becomes huge and the carpet pile is low, the fleas will be visible on the carpet. They may also be seen on the cat or dog.
Why should a flea infestation be treated?
Each female flea can lay up to 25 eggs per day. For every flea found on a cat there will probably be a hundred more living in the carpets within its home. If fleas aren’t treated they will continue to breed and develop into a huge infestation. They can hitch a ride on people’s clothes and spread to other people’s homes and public places such as restaurants, theatres, cinemas etc.
Fleas cause discomfort to both humans and animals when they bite. They often prefer women and children to men. People react in different ways to bites and the reaction may be immediate or may take several hours. A usual reaction is itching but some people may experience swelling as well.
How is a flea infestation treated?
If there is a huge infestation of fleas the effectiveness of a flea collar on a pet without a full flea treatment of their home is very limited.
A full flea treatment will only work if proper preparation is carried out. After preparation, a residual insecticide is applied to all the floors, upholstered furniture and soft furnishings. The fleas will absorb the insecticide, although they don’t die instantly. You may see fleas for up to three-weeks after the treatment as some fleas may have been in their pupae cases during the treatment and will emerge at different times.
What preparation do I need to make prior to treatment?
- Clear all clutter from the floor (toys, books, boxes, shoes etc).
- Vacuum the total floor area, with particular attention to the edges of carpets.
- Vacuum upholstered furniture including under the cushions where debris will have collected.
- After vacuuming remove the vacuum bag and place in an outside bin.
- Mow lawns as fleas may survive in outside areas in warm weather.
- Fit pets with fresh flea collars and treat them with a topical insecticide specifically for animals.
What do I do after treatment?
- Keep people and pets away from treated surfaces until dry (if bare skin comes into contact with the insecticide whilst wet then wash it thoroughly).
- Do not vacuum for at least two weeks.
- After the first vacuum change the bag and place in an outside bin.
- For the first week of vacuuming, vacuum at least once a day but preferably twice.
- Keep the property warm and reduce humidity by leaving windows open or using a dehumidifier.
- Do not avoid treated areas as fleas have the ability to remain dormant in their pupae cases for up to a year unless stimulated by warmth, movement and carbon dioxide.
- As long as pets have been treated, keep them indoors so that any fleas present in the 3-week period after treatment will feed on them rather than humans.
Special situations
- In shared, communal or multi-occupancy buildings it may be necessary to spray on a monthly basis until the infestation is eradicated.
- In an office environment it is vitally important that people with pets (especially cats) get their homes and animals treated ongoing. If this concern is not addressed, flea problems in the office will continue.
- Often in a previously empty house where a cat was living there will be a flea problem once the new occupiers move in. The original occupiers may have not realised there was a problem as the fleas would have been feeding on their pet and not them. The fleas lie dormant until a new host arrives.
PEST UK’s Guarantee
Treated areas in a domestic environment are guaranteed for one month after the first spray. The guarantee is only valid as long instructions and advice on hygiene and other matters are adhered to. The guarantee does not apply to premises where more than two animals are present.
Commercial offices are not guaranteed.
How much does it cost to get rid of fleas?
Insecticide x1 spray from £90/£100 +VAT for a house up to 3 bedrooms
What products do we use?
Listed below are some of the insecticides we may use. Click to access its data sheet
All insecticides are biodegradable, almost odourless, non-tainting and do not corrode or stain, as well as being completely harmless to mammals.
About fleas
The life cycle of a flea takes about four to six-weeks from egg to adult, longer at lower temperatures. A female flea may lay 25 eggs per day, a total of about 800-1000 eggs during their lifetime. The eggs are comparatively large, 0.5 mm in length, oval or round in shape and pearly white in colour. They are sticky and attract debris from their surrounding habitat which camouflages their appearance.
The eggs hatch after about five-days and the small white larvae which emerge feed on adult flea faeces that is rich in semi-digested blood. It takes about three weeks for them to become fully-grown, during which time they shed their skin twice. They spin a silk cocoon in which to pupate, shed their skin again and change into the pupae stage.
After about two-weeks the adult emerges from its pupa if it is stimulated by vibrations which indicate the presence of a host. It can remain dormant in its pupa for up to a year if there is no host.
Pest UK are a member of the BPCA (British Pest Control Association)
