Flea combing does help a bit - but it's pretty time-consuming and must be done every day. I've tried a lot of stuff, but the truth is there's no substitute for the expensive stuff they sell in pet supply stores (kept in locked cases). You put the small dose on them once a month and the package usually has a 4-month supply, enough to see them through flea season. (It's applied at the base of the neck where your pet can't lick it). If the in-rug flea problem is so bad that daily vacuuming can't control it, you might have no choice but to bomb the worst room(s); if you're really opposed, twice-a-day vacuuming will probably keep things somewhat tolerable (I suggest wearing socks at all times, and picking off/killing fleas that jump on). Treating the pets early in the season should keep the rugs from becoming infested.
You can have the vet flea-dip your pet, which lasts quite a while; however, I get the feeling you'd prefer to avoid something so drastic. My husband had that done to the pets once, and even he shied away from doing it again.
You can have the vet flea-dip your pet, which lasts quite a while; however, I get the feeling you'd prefer to avoid something so drastic. My husband had that done to the pets once, and even he shied away from doing it again.