Aggie MacKenzie is working with Bob Martin pet care company to help pet owners tackle fleas in the home. We caught up with her to find out how you can cover all your bases, including the home, when your pet has fleas.
Home and Garden on Female First
Why do fleas love the warm weather so much?
Fleas absolutely thrive in warm humid weather! They love it between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius so there is always a spike in numbers during the warmer weather and summer months. Eggs can develop into full adults in as FEW as 12 days in conditions like this so it means it's the ideal weather for an infestation.
Why are they attracted to animal fur in particular?
Fleas like to hide away in live in dark places where dust and debris settles so animal fur is nice and dark for them however only 5% of fleas are actually found on your pet during an infestation the other 95% of fleas are found in the home! They feed off dirt so you will find them by skirting boards, the creases and edges of carpet, crevices of floorboards, under sofas and pet bedding - anywhere the pet likes to sleep and rest!
Why is there a common misconception that fleas stay on your animal and aren't found in the home?
Most people just think to treat their pet IS enough and the home gets left - WRONG! Over a third of pet owners (36%) have had fleas in their home but 34% don't take any steps to treat their home for common pests. It's super important to treat the home as fleas can lay dormant in crevices waiting for the optimum conditions, the first thing to do is to treat your pet, then tackle your home with rigorous cleaning and home flea treatments. The Bob Martin Clear range includes a number of effective treatments for your pet and home. By vacuuming everywhere before using a product, you'll get rid of some flea eggs and larvae and prepare the fibres of the carpet and curtains for treatment.
How can you check for fleas in a home that you're buying given that they can lay dormant for up to three months?
If the previous owners had a pet who have untreated fleas, it is still possible that the fleas are present once you've moved in. If you suspect there may be fleas in the home, do the 'clean white sock' test by putting on the sock and walking over the key areas that you think could be infested. If there are fleas, you'll be able to see small black spots or actual fleas appear on the sock.
What are your top cleaning tips for getting rid of flea infestations?
Treat the immediate problem by using a flea treatment on your pet (the Bob Martin Clear range includes flea tablets, shampoo, flea collar and comb). On the same day, you must also tackle your home as that's where 95% of fleas live:
a) Vacuum everywhere your pet likes to be, this will remove some flea eggs and larvae, but also prepares the fibres for treatment
b) Move furniture and vacuum in all of the cracks, crevices and skirting boards. Even do your curtains
c) Dispose of the vacuum bag in an outside bin to prevent fleas returning into your home
d) Use a home flea treatment like Bob Martin's Clear home spray (make sure you follow instructions)
e) Wash pet bedding and any soft furnishings on a high temperature to kill a certain number of fleas
f) Treat pet bedding with Bob Martin's Clear flea powder, vacuum before and after use (make sure you follow instructions)
g) Clean and use home flea treatment regularly to keep your whole home and family flea-free
What are the most commons myths surrounding fleas in the home?
Well the most shocking fact is that most people don't know that the majority of fleas during an infestation are found in the home. I had no idea that so many people allow their pets into their bedrooms and on beds and a quarter of people asked knew that there was a flea problem but didn't do, or didn't know how to do anything about it. Most people believe they're cleaning their homes enough and while they may look lovely and tidy, there may be common pests accumulating in the dark cracks and crevices. We're also a time-poor nation and that deep clean may not happen as much as it should. It is also a problem that pet owners are not aware they should be treating their homes for fleas if they suspect their pet may have them. You need to get rid of both problems before you can be confident your home and family are no longer at risk.
After presenting How Clean is Your House- do you have any guilty TV pleasures such as Obsessive Cleaners or Hoarders for instance?
Actually my guilty TV pleasure is First Dates - I love it!
What is your biggest bugbear when it comes to cleaning?
I really don't like changing sheets and pulling on and off duvet covers! But I also love clean bedlinen, so there's no way round that one!
When did your passion for maintaining a clean house begin?
My mother was a stickler for a clean house, so it was drilled into me and my sisters from an early age.
You used to work for Good Housekeeping so what's your fondest memory from working there?
All my lovely colleagues, really. I miss the fun of office gossip!
What is next for you?
Am open to all offers! I'm also training to be a yoga teacher.
For more information go to www.BobMartinClear.com