HOW TO

GET RID

OF FLEAS

A CEDARCIDE GUIDE

contentsINTRODUCTION

EQUIPMENTHOW TO TREAT YOUR YARDHOW TO TREAT YOUR PETS

HOW TO TREAT YOUR HOMEPREVENTION

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INTRODUCTIONFleas multiply fast. The four-stage flea life cycle—egg, larva, pupa, adult—can be completed in as little as 12 days or can take as long as a few months. Shockingly, a single female flea can produce upwards of 50 eggs per day, meaning in as little as 60 days you could be facing a population in excess of 20,000 fleas.

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Because fleas multiply so quickly, flea problems can get out of hand in no time, which is the primary reason fleas are extremely difficult to control and ultimately get rid of. In other words, at the first sign of fleas, you need to act quickly and begin treatment as soon as possible. The key to success is to treat all potential trouble areas within a short window, and then repeat the process as many times as necessary. Getting rid of fleas is not an overnight fix, it’s a process. With patience, dedication and continued effort, you can solve your flea problem. We’re going to show you how. At Cedarcide, we’re committed to using only naturally sourced pest control solutions. In the following guide, we’ll show how to safely rid your home, yard and pets of fleas without resorting to harsh chemicals.

1. EQUIPMENTHere’s what you’ll need to properly rid your home, yard, and pets of fleas. (Quantities vary based on home size and severity of flea issue):

A garden hose

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Travel Size Cedarcide Original Spritzer (optional, but highly recommended)

A professional grade, non-thermal fogger. We recommend the Tri-Jet Pesticide Fogger

Cedarcide Original (non-toxic pesticide/repellent for use on people, pets, indoors, and fogging)

PCO Choice (non-toxic pest control concentrate for larger outdoor spaces; 1 quart of PCO treats approximately 1 acre or 40,000 sq. ft.) or

Hose End Sprayer (for outdoor pesticide application)

Cedarcide Flea + Tick Brush (optional, but highly recommended)

Cedarcide Granules (optional, but highly recommended; 1 bag of Granules covers approximately 3,000 sq. ft.)

FOR TREATING YOURSELF, PETS, AND HOME

FOR TREATING YOUR YARD

Yardsafe (ready-to-use, non-toxic pesticide/repellent for smaller outdoor spaces; 1 qt. of Yardsafe treats approximately ⅛ acre or 5,000 sq. ft.)

2. HOW TO TREAT YOUR YARDFlea issues typically start outdoors—specifically, your yard. Fleas usually find their way into our lawns through wild animals or pets, and then eventually move indoors. For this reason, your yard is the first area to address when tackling a flea problem. Here’s what to do:

Remove all unnecessary clutter from your yard: Woodpiles, lawn equipment, brush, unused furniture, etc. This is where wild animals, and therefore fleas, like to hide. Anything that cannot get wet should also be removed.

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Mow, edge, weedeat, rake, and trim the hedges. Fleas commonly live and lay eggs in high grass and thick shrubbery.

PREP THE YARD

SPRAY THE YARDThe ideal time to treat your yard is in the morning or evening. This will help prevent evaporation, allowing the treatment adequate time to absorb into the lawn.

For video instruction on how to spray your yard with PCO Choice, click here.

Now that you've prepped the yard, it's time to treat it. Here are the steps you'll need to take:

If using : Open the by unscrewing the lid, add 4 oz. of to the sprayer, and fill the remaining space with warm water. Shake to mix and attach the sprayer to the hose (ensure the sprayer’s straw is firmly in place). Thoroughly spray the entire yard, refilling the sprayer as needed (refill the sprayer approximately every 5,000 sq. ft.; 1 quart of PCO treats approximately 1 acre or 40,000 sq. ft.)

For video instruction on how to spray your yard with Yardsafe, click here.

Hose End SprayerPCO Choice

PCO Choice

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If using : Attach the hose end spray top to the hose and you’re ready to apply (1 bottle of Yardsafe treats approximately ⅛ acre or 5,000 sq. ft.).

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Be sure to spray all hedges, shrubbery, flower gardens, bases of trees and anywhere else fleas might be hiding. Spray carefully and comprehensively—fleas and flea eggs are almost always deeply hidden.

When spraying, pay special attention to the perimeter of your yard, including all fencing and brick barriers (spray no higher than 4 ft.—this is the highest fleas can jump). This step will help prevent fleas from re-entering your yard.

Spray front, back, and side yards all in 1 session. It’s important to treat all areas within a short window to prevent fleas from migrating to other sections of your yard. (We suggest repeating this process—spraying your entire yard, again—after 5-7 days. This gives any remaining fleas and eggs the opportunity to re-emerge before treating again.)

For preventative outdoor pest control, we suggest treating your yard with PCO Choice or Yardsafe monthly.

For additional protection, sprinkle on the areas of the lawn that your pets frequent the most. Cedarcide Granules also work great as a repellent barrier when applied along fence lines, foundations, and the edges of your yard.

Yardsafe

Cedarcide Granules

3. HOW TO TREAT YOUR PETSDid you know fleas are the #1 cause of skin disease in pets? Fleas also transmit tapeworms, among other diseases, in both dogs and cats. Because dogs and cats are often both indoor and outdoor pets, they’re a convenient way for fleas to move back and forth between your yard and home. Consequently, treating your pets is absolutely essential to controlling fleas. Here’s how to do that:

Lightly mist your dog's coat with , and massage the solution into their fur, in between their toes, and around their ears and tail (use hands to apply to their face; do not spray). This will kill any fleas and flea eggs currently on your pet and help repel additional fleas.

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We recommend re-applying to dogs and cats every 5-7 days, or as needed before outdoor activities. For severe flea issues, daily applications might be necessary. If you’re regularly applying Cedarcide Original to your pet, we suggest using the —it’s the most convenient way to apply Cedarcide Original to your dog or cat.

For video instruction on how to treat your dog with Cedarcide Original, click here.

For video instruction on how to treat your cat with Cedarcide Original, click here.

For cats, apply sparingly using hands or the . If sensitivity occurs, discontinue use and bathe.

Note: Consult a veterinarian before using Cedarcide Original on animals under 5 lbs. Do not apply to reptiles or birds.

Cedarcide Original

Cedarcide Flea + Tick Brush

Cedarcide Original

Cedarcide Flea + Tick Brush

4. HOW TO TREAT YOUR HOMEWhile flea issues are sometimes isolated to specific indoor areas, more commonly fleas and flea eggs are spread all throughout the home. Simply treating just the areas suspected of infestation can leave some fleas and eggs untreated, allowing the infestation to persist or return in just a few short days. For this reason, we suggest treating your entire home when facing fleas. Fogging is the easiest and most effective method for doing this. Follow these steps to properly fog your home for fleas:

Any clutter—piles of clothes, papers, linens, books, boxes, etc—needs to be removed or separated out to ensure the fogging treatment can penetrate all areas fleas may be hiding. Rule of thumb: Make your home look like it’s ready for an open house—no clutter, no mess.

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If you live in an apartment, we suggest consulting the landlord or apartment management before fogging. Sprinkler heads and smoke detectors will likely need to be covered, and all shared vents tightly closed before treatment can begin. Also, be sure to spray neighboring walls, baseboards, vents, and any other openings that fleas might use to enter or exit your apartment with Cedarcide Original before and after fogging. This will help prevent fleas from both escaping the fog and from re-entering after the fogging treatment has dissipated. Spraying in this manner with Cedarcide Original is also highly effective as a preventative measure against future flea problems.

A NOTE FOR APARTMENTS:

PREP FOR TREATMENT

All bedding, pet bedding, linens, and clothing that could potentially contain fleas should be washed and dried thoroughly on high-temperature settings. High heat kills fleas.

Open all boxes, bins, cabinets, drawers and closets.

Remove all furniture cushions and open fold-out recliners and couches to expose as much of the furniture as possible to the fogging treatment.

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Watch a video version of our fogging instructions HERE.

Switch off central air, fans, gas-powered appliances, pilot lights, and all electronics.

Lastly, remove all live plants and animals from your home before fogging (the fogging process can be harmful to pets). Remove or tightly cover all fish tanks and terrariums, too.

FOGGINGBefore fogging, we suggest placing covers on televisions, unsealed paintings and portraits, and delicate collectibles

Unpackage the , and open it by unclamping the basin. Fill the fogger 1/2 full with . Secure the top of the fogger back onto the basin. (1 gallon of Cedarcide Original treats approximately 1,800 sq. ft.)

Attach the included fogger filter onto the short end of the fogger, and turn the dial setting to a position between medium and high.

Put on the fogging mask, plug in the fogger, switch it on, and you’re ready to go.

Start by fogging the rooms farthest from your planned exit. This will allow you to fog without re-entering the rooms you’ve already treated.

With each room, begin by fogging smaller spaces like bathrooms, closets, pantries and cabinets. Once these spaces are filled with fog, close them and proceed to fog the rest of the room.

Aim the fogger directly at furniture, at rugs, carpets, beds, dog beds, and inside all drawers and cabinetry. Fog from floor to ceiling, wall to wall, until the fog is so dense you can no longer easily see across the room.

We suggest repeating this process—fogging your entire home, again—after 5-7 days. This gives any remaining fleas and flea eggs the opportunity to re-emerge before your next fogging treatment.

Tri-Jet FoggerCedarcide Original

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RETURN & CLEAN-UP

After fogging, do not re-enter your home for at least 3 hours.

When returning home, be cautious of hard floors such as tile, wood, and laminate. These surfaces may still be slick.

If you’ve chosen to fog with using the Tri-Jet Fogger as suggested, little to no additional cleanup should be required. Any remaining residue can be cleaned with a simple mixture of soap and water.

5. PREVENTIONIt’s much easier to prevent a flea issue than it is to treat one. Even with careful and consistent treatment, severe flea problems can take weeks to resolve. Whether it’s your first flea issue or your fourth, there are simple precautions you can take to help prevent future flea problems. Here’s what to do:

Check your pets periodically for signs of fleas, especially when returning from walks and public spaces like dog parks. Re-apply to pets as needed and before exposure to flea-prone areas.

Before going outside (especially in tall grass or in wooded areas), spray yourself with to repel fleas.

Treat your yard with PCO Choice or Yardsafe monthly (repeat the steps in section 4: Treating Your Yard).

Treat your home with monthly. Spray doorways, windowsills, dog beds, furniture, and along baseboards to prevent fleas from entering your home.

Lastly, exercise caution when going for walks, hiking, visiting dog parks, and before allowing other pets into your home or yard. Keeping a handy makes impromptu pet or people application easy and convenient.

Cedarcide Original

Cedarcide Original

Cedarcide Original

Cedarcide Original

Travel Size Cedarcide Original Spritzer

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CHECKLIST

Equipment (PCO Choice or Yardsafe, Cedarcide Original, a hose end sprayer, the Tri-Jet Fogger, a garden hose)

Treat Your Yard (using PCO Choice or Yardsafe)

Treat Your Pets (using Cedarcide Original or the Cedarcide Flea + Tick Brush)

Treat Your Home (using Cedarcide Original in the Tri-Jet Fogger)

Practice Basic Flea Prevention (as outlined in section 5: Prevention)

A QUICK CHECKLIST REMINDER FOR TACKLING A SEVERE FLEA PROBLEM: