- Joined
- Jun 14, 2014
- Messages
- 67
- Purraise
- 8
I don't trust any of the commercial environmental sprays/foggers - even after the time they're supposedly safe. They contain very toxic ingredients. And, Commercial sprays/foggers don't generally kill the eggs at all. The "safe", "natural" sprays I was able to locate - all contained essential oils - which are toxic for cats (Especially Cedar Oil and Tea Tree Oil). So, I wouldn't suggest those, either.
A BETTER WAY?: A friend - with MANY, MANY cats, had a major flea infestation in her apt. She had used Revolution on MOST of her cats (She did not do the elderly cats). But, her apartment needed more help! A rescuer friend suggested to me that she use Ivory DISH soap - and spray it all over Floors, Rugs, Furniture, Door & Window Sills, and other "Suspicious Areas" (for eggs). So, she finally put some ivory soap in a large spray bottle - and added a small amount of apple cider vinegar – about 1/4-1/6 of total (which I had read about). Both are supposed to kill fleas AND their eggs on contact. It worked wonderfully to clean up her apartment.
Any place you see flea droppings - usually also contains eggs, as the hatched larvae feed on the blood in the droppings. The eggs are very light in color, so areas of light-color debris - are also very suspicious. And, hidden places - such as spaces between Wood on Floors/Furniture, under Door Sills/Windows, Slots in Air-Conditioners, etc. - also are prime for fleas to lay eggs. Spray your vacuum cleaner, too, after use - in areas where debris/eggs could have fallen. (To save money on Vacuum bags: - When you're done vacuuming – Switch to the Hand-Held Hose – You can put Shipping Tape SECURELY on the outer Hose opening – to keep fleas/larvae from escaping – so – you don' have to throw the bag out immediately. When you use the Vacuum Cleaner again – First check the tape when you remove it - and Ball it up securely – and place in a plastic garbage bag and seal it.)
My friend even used this spray solution on pillows & bedding, when she couldn't wash them regularly. (Saturate the surfaces - and under Mattress edges. Do it well before bedtime, so it can dry before bedtime).
She had also used other dish soap before she could locate Ivory dish soap - That worked too. ANY Liquid Dish Soap will kill Fleas/Eggs. I think, though, that the Ivory may be better because it may have some residual effect that the others don't - as it's got a "creamy" texture. None of her Wood Flooring or Furniture or Upholstery/Fabrics was damaged at all. Test it on a small area of item first, if you're concerned. I wouldn't suggest using laundry detergent - as it can damage furnishings - and - irritate cats.
I think it's best to get a new sprayer bottle(s). Try to buy a 24-32oz "Sturdy" sprayer - rather than left-overs from other liquids (they leak, generally don't have a good "spray area", and, they run out quickly). Used ones may have chemical residue on the plastic inside. And, you want to make sure you have a well-functioning Sprayer! A good resource to check for Good Sprayer Bottles and Ivory Dish Soap is Walmart -or their site. For most effectiveness - You should repeat this treatment often (every day or 2), as the liquid needs to make contact with any new fleas/eggs.
PS: She also flea-combed the more heavily infested cats - and the elderly (untreated) cats - with the comb dipped in Water with Ivory soap and a little apple cider vinegar. (Shake the comb a bit so you don't totally saturate the cat). And, she dipped the comb into this solution QUICKLY - every time a flea was caught - to kill the fleas before they could hop off!.
PS: It also helps to put plain table salt under couch cushions, etc. The salt will deter/kill fleas - because it dehydrates them. (Don't know if this works well in Humid environments.) But - DON'T put salt in areas where your cats will come into contact with it substantially - as - they will lick themselves - and can ingest more salt than is safe for them.
Good Luck with your situation, Jackie Page
A BETTER WAY?: A friend - with MANY, MANY cats, had a major flea infestation in her apt. She had used Revolution on MOST of her cats (She did not do the elderly cats). But, her apartment needed more help! A rescuer friend suggested to me that she use Ivory DISH soap - and spray it all over Floors, Rugs, Furniture, Door & Window Sills, and other "Suspicious Areas" (for eggs). So, she finally put some ivory soap in a large spray bottle - and added a small amount of apple cider vinegar – about 1/4-1/6 of total (which I had read about). Both are supposed to kill fleas AND their eggs on contact. It worked wonderfully to clean up her apartment.
Any place you see flea droppings - usually also contains eggs, as the hatched larvae feed on the blood in the droppings. The eggs are very light in color, so areas of light-color debris - are also very suspicious. And, hidden places - such as spaces between Wood on Floors/Furniture, under Door Sills/Windows, Slots in Air-Conditioners, etc. - also are prime for fleas to lay eggs. Spray your vacuum cleaner, too, after use - in areas where debris/eggs could have fallen. (To save money on Vacuum bags: - When you're done vacuuming – Switch to the Hand-Held Hose – You can put Shipping Tape SECURELY on the outer Hose opening – to keep fleas/larvae from escaping – so – you don' have to throw the bag out immediately. When you use the Vacuum Cleaner again – First check the tape when you remove it - and Ball it up securely – and place in a plastic garbage bag and seal it.)
My friend even used this spray solution on pillows & bedding, when she couldn't wash them regularly. (Saturate the surfaces - and under Mattress edges. Do it well before bedtime, so it can dry before bedtime).
She had also used other dish soap before she could locate Ivory dish soap - That worked too. ANY Liquid Dish Soap will kill Fleas/Eggs. I think, though, that the Ivory may be better because it may have some residual effect that the others don't - as it's got a "creamy" texture. None of her Wood Flooring or Furniture or Upholstery/Fabrics was damaged at all. Test it on a small area of item first, if you're concerned. I wouldn't suggest using laundry detergent - as it can damage furnishings - and - irritate cats.
I think it's best to get a new sprayer bottle(s). Try to buy a 24-32oz "Sturdy" sprayer - rather than left-overs from other liquids (they leak, generally don't have a good "spray area", and, they run out quickly). Used ones may have chemical residue on the plastic inside. And, you want to make sure you have a well-functioning Sprayer! A good resource to check for Good Sprayer Bottles and Ivory Dish Soap is Walmart -or their site. For most effectiveness - You should repeat this treatment often (every day or 2), as the liquid needs to make contact with any new fleas/eggs.
PS: She also flea-combed the more heavily infested cats - and the elderly (untreated) cats - with the comb dipped in Water with Ivory soap and a little apple cider vinegar. (Shake the comb a bit so you don't totally saturate the cat). And, she dipped the comb into this solution QUICKLY - every time a flea was caught - to kill the fleas before they could hop off!.
PS: It also helps to put plain table salt under couch cushions, etc. The salt will deter/kill fleas - because it dehydrates them. (Don't know if this works well in Humid environments.) But - DON'T put salt in areas where your cats will come into contact with it substantially - as - they will lick themselves - and can ingest more salt than is safe for them.
Good Luck with your situation, Jackie Page
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