On What to do if Your House is INVADED . . . by fleas.

My home recently had an itchy problem... fleas! This has happened once before, many years ago. Back then I lived in a small apartment with two cats. They were indoor/outdoor cats. Inevitably in the summer, in spite of flea collars, they got a bad case of fleas. And so did we!

I finally resorted to flea bombing the place. That was before products like Frontline became readily available. Nowadays all you have to do, it seems, is start early and keep up with those monthly drops between your pet's shoulder blades, or those great flea pills you can get for dogs or cats from your vet, and presto! No fleas.
But what if you were remiss in the spring? What if you didn't use the magic drops or pill, and suddenly you're hopping with tiny little vampires all over your pets, your furniture, your carpets and -- ulp -- yourself!

I confess that last summer this was me! I was cheap, or just plain lazy, and didn't buy the drops or pills in the spring. In late summer I noticed the dog scratching quite a bit, and I did use the drops then -- but it was too late. We were already infested. I just didn't realize how bad the situation was until one morning when I was sitting on my couch, I glanced at a white blanket draped over the back. Before my eyes, five fleas hopped across the blanket and disappeared into the pile of the sofa.

Argh!

I consulted with a veterinarian friend and a dog groomer friend, and they agreed. I must go to war -- I'm talking boots on the ground, here.

So I coordinated my efforts. I bought flea shampoo for the dog and flea spray for the cats. I got them all flea collars. I bought plug-in-flea traps which have a night light at the top, and a pad of fly paper below. The room is darkened at night, and the only light is the nightlight above the fly paper. The little buggers are attracted to the light, and when they try to hop up, bam! They get stuck on the fly paper. Heh heh. So long, blood-suckers!
I bought flea spray for the furniture and carpets. And finally, the big guns; three flea bombs.

One fine morning after the kids left for school, the dog got a flea bath. I then applied a flea collar to her and popped her out onto the screened porch, which had been sprayed the night before. I held the cats down and thoroughly sprayed their fur with specially designed flea spray for cats. This is dangerous! (Not for the cats! For the humans!) I got scratched. I then put flea collars on the cats and tossed them out with the dog. (Alternatively, you could deliver all your animals to the groomer for a flea bath on bombing day.)
Next I made sure all the windows were closed, the air conditioner was off, all food was put away, the fish tank filter was off and the tank covered, and Ike the Snake was out on the porch with the cats and dog. If I'd had a gas stove or furnace or water heater, I would have followed the directions and made sure the pilot lights were out. This presumably keeps the house from blowing up.
I laid newspaper down on three surfaces in the house, following the directions on the flea bomb cans, and I let em rip. Then I got the heck out of there for six hours. 

Later I went in, opened doors and windows, threw out the newspapers and cans, and washed my hands. I stayed outside on the porch for an hour.

Then I vacuumed the entire house, and threw the bag away outside.

I plugged in my little fly paper traps, let the animals back in, and waited two weeks. Then I did it again. All of it. You've got to deal with hatching eggs, alas.
We were flea-free after that, but what a production! I don't care to repeat it.

This past spring I was prepared with those magic pills, and it's a good thing as I've heard fleas are particularly bad this year. The expense has been worth it, because once you've got the little bloodsuckers in your life, you've got to coordinate your efforts on all fronts, or you'll just get 'em back right away. Believe me. I know! 

Some people recommend spraying the yard to lower the number of fleas which can jump on board their pets in the first place, (and on them, too! They'll ride in on human legs, folks), but I don't like to do this, as it also kills bugs I want. And I'm not convinced it's good for other fauna.

Other people recommend planting certain herbs in the yard to repel fleas. Some of these include: Lavender; Pennyroyal (but NOT if you have cats! It's toxic to them.); Catnip; Mint (invasive...use a root containment system or it'll be everywhere); Wormwood (keep away from food crops. Wormwood produces a botanical toxin.)

And before using anything on or around your animals or kids, check with your vet and your doctor.

Good luck, and don't worry about fighting fair. In the war against fleas, anything goes!