How to Kill Fleas in the Carpet: Techniques & Home Remedies
Ever walked into a room and felt the itch of unwelcome guests hiding in your carpet? Fleas can be a persistent problem, thriving in the fibers of your home’s flooring.
To kill fleas in your carpet, vacuum regularly and use products specifically designed for fleas. Keep reading to learn more effective strategies to say goodbye to these pests for good.
Key Takeaways
- Regular vacuuming is one of the best ways to remove fleas, eggs, and larvae from carpets.
- Diatomaceous earth, baking soda, and boric acid work well to dry out and kill fleas.
- Steam cleaning kills fleas with heat, while lemon sprays and dish soap traps are easy natural options.
- Regular grooming, washing pet bedding, and using flea treatments keep fleas away.
How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your Carpet in 6 Ways
Battling fleas on the carpet can be frustrating. With a mix of various strategies, it’s possible to break the life cycle during flea season effectively. Explore these six practical methods for tackling your flea problems.
1. Vacuum Regularly
Regular vacuuming is a frontline defense against fleas. It targets adult fleas, flea eggs, and larvae hidden in carpets and upholstery.
Use a quality canister vacuum cleaner and focus on carpeted areas and baseboards where fleas tend to hide. Always change the vacuum bag after each vacuuming session to prevent fleas from escaping.
2. Apply Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth, especially food-grade, can dehydrate and kill fleas over time. By sprinkling a fine layer of it on carpets and letting it sit for 48 hours, the microscopic particles can damage the flea exoskeleton. Vacuum afterward to remove the dust and dead fleas.
3. Use Baking Soda or Boric Acid
For more natural carpet cleaners, baking soda and boric acid can be effective against fleas. Sprinkling baking soda on the carpet and its crevices and scrubbing it with a brush increases the surface area for action. After leaving it overnight, vacuum to get rid of residues.
Boric acid or borax works similarly but requires caution, as it can be toxic if ingested or inhaled.
4. Steam Clean Carpets
Steam cleaning uses hot water to kill flea larvae and adults by delivering lethal heat. Since they can’t survive the high temperatures and moisture, this is a product-free way to address infestations.
Schedule steam carpet cleaning sessions every few weeks for a thorough cleaning solution.
5. Spray a Lemon Solution
A homemade flea spray with lemon can offer a pleasantly scented and natural remedy. By boiling lemon slices in water and letting it steep overnight, the resulting mixture gets sprayed onto carpets.
Apply lightly in a controlled manner to ensure the solution doesn’t overly saturate the carpet, as excess moisture can cause mold or damage.
6. Set Up Dish Soap Traps
Dish soap traps leverage the soapy film to trap and drown fleas. Setting a shallow dish of warm, soapy water under a light source can attract fleas.
The heat confuses them into jumping towards the light, where they drown. These traps are inexpensive but need checking daily.
How to Prevent Fleas from Returning to Your Carpet
Preventing these pesky fleas from making a comeback involves regular cleaning and maintenance. Here’s what you can do to keep your home flea-free.
Check for Signs of Returning Infestations
Regular monitoring can help prevent future infestations. Look for flea dirt resembling tiny black specks or emerging cocoons around the house.
Observing pets scratching more than usual can also suggest flea bites. Acting quickly is important because catching the problem early can save a lot of effort.
Groom Your Pets Regularly
Regular grooming keeps pets clean and healthy. Brushing your pets with a flea comb can help remove stray pests before spreading.
Frequent baths with flea shampoos work wonders in controlling these pesky invaders. In conjunction, trimming your pet’s fur can reduce the hiding spots for fleas.
Use Flea Collars or Spot Treatments on Pets
Flea collars release active ingredients that can repel and get rid of fleas over time. These collars serve as a reliable option because they offer continuous protection.
Spot treatments work similarly, administering a topical solution to your pet’s skin that wards off fleas. Both methods offer affordable solutions for long-term flea control.
Wash Soft Furnishings
Soft furnishings like pet bedding, curtains, and throw pillows can serve as flea hosts. Washing with hot water once a week can disrupt their habitat, preventing reproduction.
Using a steam cleaner can also help to sanitize carpets and upholstery, reaching the deeper layers where fleas might hide.
Apply Cedar Oil to Carpets
Since cedar oil has proven insect-repelling qualities, it is a natural remedy many homeowners favor. To apply, mix the essential oil with water in a spray bottle or use pre-made solutions available in stores. Spraying a thin layer over your carpets weekly can create a less inviting environment for fleas.
Use Flea Control Powders on Carpets
Flea control powders offer a simple DIY solution to keeping carpets free from pests. These powders contain ingredients that disrupt flea life cycles.
When sprinkled onto the carpet, they must be left for 4-8 hours before thoroughly vacuuming. This step helps kill adult fleas, larvae, pupae, and hatching eggs.
Schedule an Expert Flea Treatment to Get Rid of Infestations
When DIY attempts bring little relief to ongoing flea infestations, consider calling professional pest control services. They can offer targeted flea bombs or foggers that go beyond DIY methods. They have access to specialized equipment not available to the general public.
Need help with fleas or other common pests like cockroaches, bed bugs, or termites? Schedule a free estimate today.
