Getting rid of fleas in the home:

1. Collect bedding, rugs and throws and wash them in HOT soapy water at least weekly.

2. Vacuum everything. Upholstered furniture, carpets, cracks in the floor, bare floors, and use the attachments to get in the corners, behind doors, and anywhere else that dust collects. This will pick up most of the eggs, but larvae will latch onto carpet fibers and stick around. After vacuuming, immediately remove the vacuum bag and seal it in a plastic bag and throw it away outside. Do this every three days for two weeks. The vacuuming will trigger any leftover eggs to hatch.

3. The remaining larvae can be dealt with by having the carpets steam-cleaned (the steam will kill every stage of flea except eggs). Or you can have a pest control company apply an infrared heat treatment to the carpet, which kills all stages of flea.

4. At night, place a tray of soapy water under nightlights. The fleas are attracted to the light and will jump right in to their deaths.

5. I like to buy horse fly spray (many are very safe) to use on the dogs. It is cheaper and those that claim to last 14 days (riiiight… ) will usually last at least a couple of days. I like Zonk It and buy it in the gallon size for both my horse and the dogs.

How does Zonk It smell? When I was growing up we had horses and my memories include the smell on horse sweat, alfalfa, coastal Bermuda hay, sweet feed, saddle soap and...liniment. I remember horseflies for sure but we never used Zonk It.

It is a newer fly spray and it pretty much smells like all the rest just a little lighter... Not great, but it is not obnoxious.

My dogs don't have a problem being sprayed, but I prefer to wipe it on against the fur to get it really in there. Rarely does it get all the way to the skin, just the first 3/4 of an inch or so of hair on my Rotts. I also rub some on the undercarriage (it is on the skin there) and on the face and chest.

I use it for when we go on hikes or to the park; places where we might pick up fleas or ticks. I don't purposely leave it on on or purposely take it off either, but since I live with allergy sufferers, I wipe (with moisturizing baby wipes) or rinse (with clear water) the dogs down every two or three days, so I have no clue how long it really lasts. I also rinse my horse off after every ride, so I have no clue how long it would last if left on. I just know that we hike weekly and don't have fleas or ticks on the dogs, but have found them on us.