Cleaning Your House After Fleas

Cleaning the house is a critical step in eradicating a flea infestation because fleas can hide and lay eggs in numerous places throughout your living space. Flea eggs, larvae, and pupae can embed themselves in your carpets, furniture, bedding, and even in cracks within your floorboards, allowing the flea lifecycle to continue unabated. 

Simply treating your pet will not address the thousands of potential eggs and larvae scattered throughout your home. A thorough cleaning ensures the destruction of these hidden pests at all life stages. This prevents re-infestation and protects both your pet and family from the discomfort and potential health risks associated with fleas, such as dermatitis and tapeworms. A clean environment can help make flea treatments more effective by eliminating places where these parasites can seek refuge and multiply. 

Key areas to focus on: 

Understanding the flea lifecycle is essential for effective cleaning and preventing re-infestation. Fleas go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Female fleas will lay eggs on your pet, which then fall off into the environment, embedding themselves in carpeting, bedding, and other surfaces. These eggs hatch into larvae, which feed on organic matter and eventually spin cocoons, becoming pupae. Pupae can remain dormant for weeks, resistant to many treatments. When conditions are right, the pupae emerge as adult fleas, ready to infest your pet all over again. 

Cleaning your home thoroughly disrupts this lifecycle, targeting fleas at every stage. Paying attention to pet areas and under furniture helps eliminate hiding places, ensuring that all life stages are eradicated. By breaking the flea lifecycle will stop the infestation in its tracks.

To successfully eradicate a flea infestation from your home, it is crucial to follow a thorough approach. Below, we’ve outlined the essential steps needed to ensure that every nook and cranny of your living space is treated. 

Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and strong suction capabilities is vital for effectively removing fleas from your house. Begin by vacuuming all carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture where fleas and their eggs can reside. Pay special attention to corners, beneath furniture, and where pets frequently spend time. It's essential to vacuum daily during an active infestation and at least twice a week thereafter to maintain control.  

Consider using a vacuum with a beater bar for carpets, as this helps dislodge eggs and larvae rather than just brushing over them. You should always empty the vacuum canister or dispose of the bag immediately to prevent re-infestation. 

To effectively remove fleas from the house, it's imperative to wash all bedding and soft furnishings in hot, soapy water. This includes not only human bedding but also pet bedding, throw blankets, cushion covers, and any other washable fabric where fleas might reside. Pay special attention to areas where your dog frequently rests, such as their bed and the couch. The high temperature and detergent work together to kill fleas at all life stages. Washing all of these things at least once a week ensures that any new fleas brought into the home are promptly eradicated, further preventing re-infestation. 

For items that cannot be washed like large rugs, consider using a steam cleaner to kill fleas and their eggs. The high temperature steam works wonders in helping to nip an infestation in the bud.  

Household flea sprays like the Guardian Home Flea Spray are an important tool in eradicating fleas from the house. These sprays contain insecticides designed to kill adult fleas on contact, as well as insect growth regulators (IGRs) that prevent the development of flea eggs, larvae, and pupae. When using flea sprays, it’s important to treat all potential hiding spots, including carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, and pet bedding. 

Where to spray flea spray in the house is a vital part of getting it right the first time around and freeing your furry friend from getting itchy all over again. Pay special attention to crevices and corners where fleas can nest. You may need to treat a room at a time and make sure your fur baby isn’t allowed access to it while it does its job.  

Regular application can help break the flea life cycle and reduce the population over time. To be as thorough as you can and avoid having to repeat this cycle, use flea sprays with other control methods so you can be sure it's doing its job. 

 

If you want to effectively rid your home of fleas, don’t forget to clean hard floors and surfaces as well. Begin by sweeping or vacuuming the floors to remove debris and flea eggs. The you can go in and use a mop and a suitable floor cleaner to wash the floors, paying special attention to corners, baseboards, and under furniture where fleas may hide. You can use pet friendly cleaning products to effectively remove and kill any fleas on your floors.  

Steam cleaning can also come in handy with hard surfaces to blitz fleas and their eggs with high temperatures. Wiping down surfaces like skirting boards, window sills, and countertops with mild detergent can further reduce the flea population, ensuring a nice and clean environment. 

Including your pet's toys and blankets in a hot wash is essential for effective flea control. The high temperature of the wash cycle can kill any existing fleas, eggs, and larvae, ensuring these items are thoroughly disinfected. For best results, wash pet bedding, plush toys, and blankets at least once a week using hot water and a pet safe detergent. Regular washing not only removes fleas but also prevents reinfestation if any new fleas manage to hatch.  

Drying these items on a high heat setting can further eliminate any residual fleas or eggs, creating a healthier environment for your pet.  

For hard toys that can’t go through the wash like plastic toys, you can soak them in boiling water in the sink to make sure nothing survives on them. Let them cool and dry before returning them to your furry friend.  

If your flea problem persists despite thorough cleaning, you may need to consider professional pest control. Pest control experts have access to stronger and more effective treatments that can eliminate fleas from your home.  

Once you’ve done the hard work and rid the house of fleas, keeping it clean and pest-free is your next challenge. Regular washing of pet bedding, toys, and any fabrics your pets frequently contact is imperative. Use hot water and a pet safe detergent to kill any eggs or larvae that may linger. In addition to indoor cleanliness, keep your garden trim and tidy, as overgrown grass and shrubbery can harbour fleas. 

Regular mowing and removal of leaf litter will minimise outdoor flea habitats. Preventative treatments for your pets are also essential. Administer flea control treatments like topical solutions, oral medications, or flea collars to keep them protected. Consistent application of these treatments will prevent reinfestation and ensure your pets remain protected. Spot-on and oral treatments will usually need to be reapplied every month. 

Cleaning your home thoroughly after a flea infestation is crucial to ensure these pesky critters are entirely eradicated. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can make your home a flea-free zone once again. Visit Jollyes for all your flea treatment needs and more.