Cats and dogs make great pets and companions. They also provide, in many cases, hours of amusement for their owners and most dogs (and some cats we have encountered) are great for home security purposes as well.
One of the downsides to being a cat or dog owner though are those pesky fleas. However diligent you are in your flea prevention efforts it is not unusual for the nasty little critters to hitch a ride into your home on your pets fur and once they are in, they intend to stick around.
Carpets make a good breeding grounds for fleas, especially those with a deeper pile and when you are treating your home after discovering a flea problem it is going to take more than a quick once over with the vacuum to get rid of the problem for good.
The live fleas you can see are not the biggest problem when it comes to carpet infestation. The eggs that those adults have laid in its fibers are the real challenge. And until they are eliminated the problem will not be solved.
A good vacuuming will eliminate most of the adult fleas so that should be your first step. Just remember to empty the bag or filter outside to stop any resilient fleas making their way back into the house.
To shift the harder to remove eggs one solution available to homeowners is to shampoo the carpet. The soap and hot water kill of the larvae and eggs very effectively, with the added advantage that your carpets will be nice and clean as well.
If you have no time to shampoo there are a number of flea sprays and powders available especially for use on carpeting. Before you use one of them make sure that the product you are choosing will not harm your pets (or any kids in the home) It is also a good idea to test the product on an inconspicuous part of the carpet to be treated to make sure it is not going to damage or discolor it.