kp&nala: I haven't really seen any alternatives, but we used flea bombs when Yoda had fleas last year. I'm sure that's not the best solution, but it's the only one we knew of at that point. I'd be interested in knowing if there's any alternatives out there as well.
I just looked this up... Here's my findings:
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Now, how to evict these clearly unwanted tenants? The procedures
aren't much different for a non-pet owner than they are for a pet
owner. In fact, it's a little easier because you don't have to chase
down a reluctant housepet and treat it with a foul smelling chemical.
The first thing you need to do is vacuum *everything* in your home -
carpets, drapes, upholstery - *everything*. Ortho, a manufacturer of
pest control products recommends the following procedure:
* Thoroughly vacuum all carpeting, upholstered furniture and floors.
* Dispose of the vacuum bag immediately and seal it in a plastic bag
to ensure no fleas escape.
* Repeat this procedure on a regular basis throughout the year to
prevent flea populations from growing.
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Finally, you can purchase a "flea bomb" at your local grocer. These
are sometimes referred to as "indoor foggers", and are relatively
inexpensive. Since you have no pets of your own, a single "fogging"
should be more than sufficient to ensure that you've gotten rid of all
of them. Be certain to follow all package directions exactly, though
- most flea bombs require that the home be thoroughly aired out after
treatment, and you'll need to wash any residue off of surfaces such as
countertops and cupboards, and vacuum thoroughly once more.
This is far less expensive than calling in a pest control service for
a non-recurring problem (unless you think your friend has permanent
fleas?
), and really quite simple to do. This is the method that
I've used for as long as my cats have decided that they want to
bring...friends...home, and it has worked very well. Since you have
no pets, it should work even better for you - no repeats!
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Sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax over your carpet. Leave it on about 30
minutes and then vaccum normally. You can even use it to get rid of
fleas in your yard, just sprinkle around yard and leave. I know this
sounds silly, but it really works! I have a dog and have used this
method several times.
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An alternative to chemicals...
Build a flea trap (one in each room is good)...
a) suspend a lightbulb over a shallow pan of soapy water - you can
purchase those adapters that allow you to screw lightbulbs into them
and plug them into an AC outlet, then use a disposable aluminum cookie
sheet underneath and pour the sudsy water into it.
b) at night, fleas will jump towards the light and drown
This may not be the whole answer, but it definitely helps. You can
replenish the soapy water (I used dish detergent) when the water
evaporates.
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http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=36548