Do you wash the clothes after flea bombing your house?

A flea infestation in the home not only makes pets miserable, but the entire family as well. Flea bombs do a good job of ridding a house of fleas, but your job isn't finished as soon as the bombs stop. Clean everything in the house to make sure there aren't any hardy fleas lingering, and to rid the house of toxic chemicals from the flea bombs. Treat your yard and pets for fleas on the same day.

Wash your clothes, stuffed animals, bed linens, blankets, throws and any other fabrics that have been exposed to the flea bombs. Fleas and their eggs are able to survive on just about anything in your house. If your draperies are not able to go in the washer, take them to the cleaners or at least vacuum them. If you have a baby in the house, make sure to wash anything the child is able to put in her mouth using warm soapy water.

Vacuum the entire house, and be especially thorough. This picks up any flea eggs, larvae and pupae. Vacuum the furniture, carpet, along the edges of rooms, beneath furniture, cushions and beds. Launder any throw rugs. If you don't have carpet, sweep, mop and rinse the floors and make sure you get every room. After you're finished, dispose of the vacuum bag outside.

Put away all eating utensils before flea bombing your house. If you forget to do this, all dishes are to go in the dishwasher, or get washed and rinsed by hand. Wash down the countertops, stove and all other appliances. If food such as fruit, boxes of cereal or anything else edible got left out on the countertops, dispose of it.

Spray your yard for fleas. Mike Potter, extension entomologist at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, recommends insecticides containing chlorpyrifos (Dursban) or permethrin. For long-term treatment of kennels and outdoor areas, use products containing an insect growth regulator such as methoprene or pyriproxyfen. Read the warning label directions on these products and follow carefully.

Wash all pet bedding, blankets and toys. If the pet bedding won't fit in the washer, throw it away and purchase new bedding. Wash pet dishes in hot water, and put down a fresh bowl of water for your pets.

Bathe your pets and treat them for fleas. If you skip this step, your time and hard work is wasted. Speak to your veterinarian about flea-prevention products. She sells the most effective products, and they are also available online. If your pets are kept on flea prevention year-round, you're unlikely to experience another flea infestation.