Mon 30 Jun 2014
How to Keep Fleas and Ticks out of your Home this Summer
Posted by sugarland
The calendar has changed over to June and summer is finally upon us. While the days have gotten longer and the air has gotten warmer, summer still carries with it the usual problems. Unfortunately for us, it turns out the fleas and ticks like the warm weather about as much as we do, which is why they’re at their most active during the summer months.
As most know, fleas and ticks can pose a serious health problem both for ourselves and our furry friends, so that’s why it’s essential that you take the necessary steps to keep them from infiltrating your home this summer.
How to Avoid Tracking Ticks into Your Home
Ticks are nasty! If you’ve ever been bitten by one or pulled one off of your dog, then you know what we’re talking about. These parasitic organisms can be more than just nasty, though. They’re also known to carry dangerous diseases, including Lyme Disease & Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. That’s why making sure you keep ticks out of your home is essential.
The best way to avoid letting ticks into your home is to avoid going into places where ticks are known to congregate. While a tick could theoretically be anywhere, they tend to live in heavily wooded or bushy areas. In addition, you’ll also find them in places with high, uncut grass and in leaf litter.
If you suspect that you may have been exposed to ticks, it’s essential that you check and clean your body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that you shower within 2 hours of coming indoors, so that you can adequately find and remove any ticks that might be on your person. In addition, you’ll also want to examine your pets (if you have any) and gear that may have been exposed to a tick population.
How to Avoid Tracking Fleas into Your Home
Fleas are nasty little pests. We often think of them as a mere nuisance should they crop up in our homes, but like ticks, they can also be carriers of various pathogens. That’s why it’s essential that you take all the steps necessary to prevent fleas from infesting your home.
The primary way to avoid a flea infestation in your home is through cleanliness. Make sure that you have regular and thorough habits with respect to your personal hygiene. In addition, since pets are highly susceptible to fleas, make sure that you bathe and wash your pets regularly. You may also want to consider various medications and other solutions to prevent your beloved animal from being infested with fleas.
In addition to hygiene for yourself and your pets, you’ll also want to make sure that your home is clean as well. Fleas love dust. So, part of preventing fleas from congregating in your home simply comes down to doing the chores! Make sure that you’re getting all of those hard to reach places where pests are known to hide and thrive. In addition, you’ll want to make sure that you’re regularly washing fabric and upholstery, especially your bed sheets!
Get an Inspection and Extermination if Your Plans Fail
At Sugarland Exterminating , we specialize in taking care of pest infestations of all shapes and sizes, including fleas and ticks. We understand that sometimes there’s just not enough that anyone can do to keep these pests from finding their way into our homes. When that’s the case, you can call us to conduct an inspection, after which we’ll be able to suggest effective and quick ways to handle the pest problem.
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/avoid/on_people.html
http://homebuying.about.com/od/sellingahouse/qt/Getridoffleas.htm