curtain dilemma please help!

spaghetti_monster

Hi guys,

Some of you may know that I recently rehomed my cat (due to extremely allergic BF)

So now although the cat is gone I have a horrible flea outbreak (think I'm favourite on the menu :eek: ) and right now I am trying to do a mega deep clean/ cat hair removal/ thorough vacuum/ flea spray etc etc.

I just took down the curtains in the front room and on close inspection they are full of cat hair and therefore probably flea eggs etc (the cat often sat near/brushed past them). I was thinking of washing them - this will probably do for the fleas but cat hair just seems to stick unless I get it off with the sticky roller. (this takes ages and gives me blisters!)

SO..... I then thought.....I actually really hate these curtains, can easily do without them and will be moving in a few months time. They are bl**dy useless, got them from ikea a couple of years ago cos they were quite cheap but they are impossible to open and shut unless you get a step-ladder!

Now I'm thinking of just washing them and putting them in the fabric recycling bin, but my inner money-saving expert is hesitating.... They were £50ish....I can't just chuck them?????...can I use them for something else...???

I know you guys will be the voice of reason!!

Thanks
Alex x

Nix143

I'm a big freecycle fan now thanks to these boards

What you can do with them depends on what fabric they are made out of I should imagne


And on the subject of fleas - your local council will come and spray your house for fleas for about £15 with repeat visits free (well it does where I live) I had same problem after I re-housed my cat - from out of nowhere I was flea infested

spaghetti_monster

I don't know if anyone would want these curtains! (I guess I'd have to keep quiet about recent visitors)

Also because they're such a pain in the a**e to open/shut they've been tied open so long they have funny fade marks.

Have been reading up on my flea house-guests. Apparently they also respond to movement and vibrations. I re-homed my cat, then went away and the house was empty for about 3 weeks. As soon as I returned I did a big clean-up (including furniture moving). Apparently this can trigger them to hatch out.
Was also thinking that although I constantly treated the cat, if any fleas appeared they went for her. Now I think I'm the main food source!!! (yuk!!!)

spaghetti_monster

I've also been advised to contact the local council - which I will do if todays efforts don't work

pickle

Try putting them in the dryer after washing, I find that this helps to remove the hair.