General Chat

Anyone know a good remedy for getting rid of fleas?

I visit a chap who is blind. And go to his house to have a band practice as he plays trombone and he has a room where 3or 4 of us play once a week.

He lives alone but has a Staffy dog who is his constant companion and is all over his furniture etc.

Well I must have picked up some of these little creatures as I don't have animals and wondered why I was itchy. And I turned back my bed as usual a day or two ago and I have white cotton sheets. and I saw a tiny little jumper....I was amazed..stripped everything off my bed,vacuumed it washed all the bedding,went out and bought some Bob Martins flea and house spray.Have done the Bed with this for a few days,but still find the odd one and I thought of moving to another bed in the house,but don't want to spread anything from my clothes.

I have covered myself with citronella oil and tea tree wipes .
I did tell him about it after feeling bad and not wanting to offend by suggesting they came from his home,but I asked if he bathed his dog and he said he wiped her down.but he did bath her then and he got the vet round....this dog is always at the vets as she is diabetic and he spends thousands on her ..injections,eye drops ,even an op for cataracts.

He had a spray delivered from the vet yesterday,but reading it seems to have a lot of chemicals that seem a bit too harsh to spray round where the dog is with him being blind and alone.

The vet did put drops behind her neck which I think they should have done anyway to keep them away.

I would appreciate any tips or products that I could use for my house as I know it's not just psychological as I have seen these,even though they are so tiny,and am living with the vacuum by my bed and tea tree wipes and citronella oil at the ready .

Don't need this at the moment,so any help is appreciated!, :-S :-S :-0

Empty the vacuum after every Hoover as they will be in the dust in it put the contents in a plastic bag ,spray the dust and then tie it up and put it in the dustbin.

This was the advice given to me by the vet when our old cat picked up fleas .

I was constantly spraying the house including the carpets. To get rid if them . The trouble was at the time old puss roamed around the house so no room was safe .

Remember to spray the stair carpet too if you have it

It's not going to get rid of the eggs, which hoovering and spraying will do eventually, but what you could do is put a little dish of very hot water in any areas where you are finding fleas, they go for the heat ( blood temperature) and will leap in, then you can dispose of them.

The only sure way to get rid of fleas, is to spray, preferably the stuff from the Vet, as over the counter products imo and experience are not all that effective.
Also when that is done, and then done again in so many days for the eggs, drops behind the neck is good.
Have had cats and dogs, and regular grooming with flea comb also helps., (not a pleasant job tho.,!)

Its nothing to do with being dirty, so no worries there.!
:-D

The stuff you get from the Vet in a large tin, can be bought cheaper online.

Cannot for the life of me remember the name but it is fantastic.

1 can, does your whole home.

I would also suggest you discretely spray your friends home when there!!!!

Just had another thought, DazedConfused, i know you are joking, but think you are supposed to vacate the room for so many hours and ventilate, as not too good to breathe in the fumes. So better not try the descreet spraying.

:-D

my mum had a problem last year,she let off some bomb's from pets at home or whatever it is called,she then did the same 2 week's later and it seemed to sort out her's.
the room or room's have to be empty for 2hours.
good luck.

The tin spray my friend has sounds like the one mentioned .didnt note the name,but read the instructions and thought it best to wait till his cleaner came on Thurs and shut off rooms so the dog couldn't get in.
He is so independent,but can't always see where the dog is going.
It is a big 19th century terraced house so instead of the dog having free rein ,I think will have to be done bit by bit when someone there!
Im still going over everything. Talk about Autumn cleaning!!
My house smells rather nice.
If this persists will try those bombs!
:-S :-S

Once fleas have established themselves they will be there forever 'cos it is practically impossible to destroy the eggs especially in older buildings. All you can do is to follow the excellent advice given which should keep them under control.

Whatever you wear for band practice chuck it in the washing machine as soon as you get home. Don't forget to treat the car the little b-rs get everywhere.

Big fleas have little fleas,
Upon their backs to bite 'em,
And little fleas have lesser fleas,
and so, ad infinitum.

Do a search on Amazon for Flea Foggers

if it's any help my son moved into a rented house last year and found it was infested with fleas, he used flea bombs .The fleas did return but after using the bombs again they never came back.. :-)

Thanks everyone for the advice..
I have ordered a pack of 6 Johnsons flea bombs on EBay.it was a cheaper deal for same product than Amazon..it has good reviews so will see!!
Thanks Rollo about reminding me of doing car.I take this chap and 2 others out tomorrow on 60 mile round trip to see a band we like.
I will do car with spray.
I had ants in earlier in the year but never thought I'd have fleas.
Don't like the idea of never losing them...my house is only 40 yrs old..so I hope they don't want to settle!"

Play Daniel O'Donnell non stop and they will take to the hills. I am intrigued about your musical jaunts, Brenda, sounds like great fun. I'm sure I should know, but what do you play? And if you need a singer in your group in then I'm your man. I do great scat :-D <3

Sorry have gone off topic :-| good luck with the flea stuff.

BC XX

Whatever bombs etc are used they will not destroy the pupae - the latter are pretty well indestructable. If there is an animal in the property then the pupae will hatch out, after years even, and there you go again ... so with your current arrangements you will be always at risk.

"There was a little Spanish flea
A record star he thought he'd be
He heard of singers like Beatles
And The Chipmunks he'd seen on TV
Why not a little Spanish flea?

And so he hid
Inside a doggy from Madrid
He arrived in the city
Still singing his sweet harmony
As proud as any flea could be

He walked around as if he owned the town
Humming his pint sized melody
With his guitar he knew he'd be a star
And in his own home town, how proud he'd be

Then all at once he met a man
Who said, "I'll help you if I can"
He listened close to his song
And then he sang right along for you see
He loved that little Spanish flea"

Herb Alpert

( Rollo plays alto sax and keys )

B.C.....we go to see a Dixieland jazz band.They have a huge repertoire,playing old standards,a bit of Boogie,some Trad.The line up is....trumpet ,trombone,clarinet.
Rhythm section is piano...I love this particular pianist ......drums and bass guitar.
The trumpeter does a bit of scat singing and the clarinet/saxophone player has a lovely ,,,what I call old fashioned ...voice singing cole porter/ Gershwin tunes.

Since my husband died 2 years ago And after almost 5 years caring and going nowhere,I decided to get myself moving and start to go out again.
My husband had booked this band as a surprise for my 70th birthday as I used to play piano with some quite famous Manchester bands...had a regular booking when the Cavern in Liverpool opened and the Beatles very often were our supporting group.
So we go every Thurs and really enjoy the night out

So...if you want to do some scat singing Ella style would love to have you along!!

Getting back to fleas...oh no!,,,Rollo,I don't have an animal,so maybe I will get rid,hopefully.but my friend has seemed to be immune.

It was interesting to learn that his house backs onto what was a cattle market,and when they moved in they were bothered with fleas..it has been a supermarket car park now for over 10 years

Rollo,interesting to hear that you play reeds and keyboard.if ever in North Wales get n touch,

Hey Brenda ..............


could I have heard you play at the Cavern????


I went to Liverpool in 1959, and spent some time in the Cavern in that year.

Didn't go at all after that, even though I lived in Liverpool until 1964.

Thanks for that, Brenda, sounds just up my street! And good for you for getting out and about and enjoying yourself...you deserve it <3

Well...this has turned from fleas to jazz....must say rather talk about the latter!

Sylvia ..that was the time I played in the Cavern.we did regular all nighters .I have a programme from a jazz festival in Jan 1960 where we were one of the features and Ringo was playing with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes and was only a support,in fact he had to sit in on our drummers kit ...who wasn't too pleased about that..a little scruffy kid!
I have lots of lovely memories...and am still in touch with a lot of musicians I knew then,mostly due to a web site Im on,but we have met up..and we share our memories.
Bet you were there some time that I was...incidentally,Ray McFall who started the Cavern bought the piano for me as a lot of the trad bands didn't use one.
Our band name is on a brick in Mathew Street....claims to fame!!
PS ...there was no money in it then!!! :-S :-D

Brenda

My first visit to the Cavern was round about November 1959, and the last one would have been around April 1960



so I bet I did hear you!


small world, eh? :-D :-D

Did you watch the Cilla Black prog last evening with Paul OGrady, Brenda, it must have brought back memories for you as it mentioned lots about her time at the Cavern etc It was quite interesting to watch.


Lizxx