Monday, March 2, 2009

More Safe Alternatives to Flea Control in the Home

Two weeks ago, I came across two other alternatives to ridding your home of fleas:

Baby Powder

Sevin Dust

I tried both, and I noticed a marked difference after each use.

Baby powder is reported to work because the fleas "drown" in it. Sprinkle regular, cheap no-name baby powder (the kind you get at a dollar store - get a couple of bottles) on all carpeted areas and in your pets' bedding. Let it sit for at least a few hours. I recommend doing one room at a time so that you can keep your pets from walking around on it. Even though baby powder is relatively safe, it shouldn't be ingested (which is exactly what happens when a pet gets something on his/her feet - - they lick their paws, and it is consumed). Vacuum the treated area. Then move on to another area and do the same. Also, liberally sprinkle your own bedding between sheets with baby powder, and leave it. That last tip is a good one for those of you who are having fleas jump on you.

You can do the same with Sevin Dust; HOWEVER, do not put it in your bedding and only put it in pets' bedding under extreme circumstances, and be sure to cover your mouth and nose with a protective mask or just tie something around the lower part of your face (a folded bandana is perfect for this). If you do treat the pet bedding with Sevin Dust, pat the bedding to create a "dust" so that it isn't just sitting on the surface of the bedding.

WARNING: Be sure to read the Sevin Dust package carefully - - and only purchase the Sevin Dust that states one of the uses as being for pets. Other forms and strengths of Sevin Dust are not at all safe for pets or indoor usage.

You can find Sevin Dust near gardening supplies. The package should say it can be used on pets; however, I would not recommend it for the simple reason that pets clean themselves - and at the very least - their paws by licking. Licking means oral contact with chemicals, and it also means consumption and ingestion. Just because a label says "safe for" doesn't mean that we should not protect the health of our pets and all of those living in our home.

I used both of these items in the past couple of weeks, and I haven't seen a flea in a long, long time. They just seemed to disappear.

Then, as a precaution - VACUUM, VACUUM, VACUUM - - If you have a terrible flea problem, vacuum in the AM, and vacuum in the PM. This makes a huge difference. I know because I have done it and been doing it, just to remain flea-free now.

Fleas have difficult life cycle stages (difficult for us to control or halt); therefore, it is imperative that you vacuum at least ONCE PER DAY for several weeks. If you are going to beat fleas, you have to keep up the assault for a minimum of 30 days because of flea nests, flea eggs, mature, and young fleas. They are all in different stages, and that is why they are hard to get rid of. The biggest challenge for us is just staying with it - - it seems that once we no longer see the fleas, we quit, and that is where we go wrong. Keep it up.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Empty your bagless vacuum after each vacuuming session or at least put some tape over any hole or holes that fleas could escape from. If you are using a vacuum cleaner with a bag, put your vacuum outside or on a patio, balcony, or in a garage after each use, until the bag is full.
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An up and coming business with very little overhead

Have you considered grass painting?

As seen in Fortune and Inc. Magazines

Anyone here been out of work for quite some time and trying to find a way to start your own business so that you can get back to work and getting some income? I have been thinking that maybe it is the best and quickest way to earning money once more. Not to mention that perhaps in this day and age, it is best to be dependent on no employer. After some extensive research, I have learned that grass painting is an up and coming business and very cheap to get started. You just need to know the "ins and outs" of the business. I did an online search to see what is available to those wanting to start their own lawn painting business, and frankly, I was disappointed at the lack of resources. To be even more frank, I was surprised by advertisers who seem to be offering a lawn painting business in a box, for lack of a better term, and at a huge upfront investment to the entrepreneur. It is not wise to put so much money out up front at the beginning of any business.

There is an ebook available that can get you started for much less than anyone else is offering to get a lawn painting business started, and there is already a 2nd edition available. In the 2nd edition of "How to Start a Lawn Painting Business" ebook, the following topics are covered:

  • How to formulate a business plan and how to reach your personal/professional goals;
  • What equipment you need, where to get the equipment, and how to use the equipment;
  • How to market your business, to include building a website, online marketing, search engine optimization, "on foot" marketing, how / where to purchase marketing materials, sample marketing flyers, and who your likely customers are;
  • How to prepare estimates, a sample price sheet, where to get your information from, and how to deal with your customers (recommendations for payments, billing, etc.);
  • Common pitfalls and mistakes to avoid;
  • List of best resources (many of which are free) with hyperlinks included so that you can click on the resource and be immediately directed to the recommended vendor, website building company, etc.
  • How to set up your home office with specific administrative instructions, and much, much more!

Learn how to get your copy here.