Fleas in carpets, beds, indoor upholstery, and any other part of your home are not only annoying but also dangerous to your health and that of your pets.
Dealing with these insects can be tough since they are tiny and difficult to spot.
First things first, you can’t be looking for how to get rid of fleas in carpet and bed if you can’t tell whether your carpet and bed are actually infested by fleas.
Identifying fleas positively is the first step to finding a lasting solution to flea infestation.
The most common signs of fleas’ infestation include itching and scratching from flea bites.
For dogs, fleas can trigger the growth of warts or excessive itching and scratching resulting in scabs on dogs’ skin.
Generally, eliminating fleas requires more than simple carpet treatment.
However, thorough carpet cleaning is a good place to begin.
Other than cleaning, here are steps and subsequent tips on how to get rid of fleas in carpets.
How To Get Rid Of Fleas In Carpet And Bed Through Cleaning
Cleaning is probably the first thing that will come to your mind when it comes to removing fleas from your carpet.
Most people prefer vacuuming the carpet, furniture, and house thoroughly.
It’s more preferable to use a nozzle attachment to a vacuum cleaner.
The process requires cautious cleaning, starting from one end of the room to the other, and vacuuming in strips.
Pay close attention to the corners of rooms and baseboards.
Fleas like hiding in dark and humid areas, which include the corners and under the furniture.
Since pets are good harbors of fleas, also focus on the areas where your pet spends a lot of time, such as their crate or cage.
If you are dealing with a heavy infestation, vacuum your carpet and entire house for up to two weeks.
One mistake that most pet owners make is keeping the vacuum cleaner bag.
You should dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag immediately after the cleaning process.
Once you take the bag out of the vacuum cleaner, put it inside a plastic bag, tie the bag tightly and dispose of it outside your house.
Discarding will prevent any escaping fleas from getting back into the house and onto the carpet.
Similarly, if your cleaner uses a canister instead of a bag, detach the canister, empty the debris on a plastic bag, and dispose of accordingly.
If vacuum cleaning fails, opt for steam cleaning.
Steam clean your carpets and furniture thoroughly.
But if you don’t have a steam cleaner, you can rent one at a small fee.
If you are new to the equipment, ensure that you follow the outlined instructions or hire a team of steam cleaning professionals.
Steam cleaning is highly effective as the high temperatures kill both the adult fleas and eggs, hence preventing further multiplication.
How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Natural and Chemical Treatments
Natural and chemical treatments are good alternative methods of getting rid of fleas in carpets and beds.
When using these formulations, be on the lookout for the safety of these chemicals.
Some of the natural and chemical methods include:
Insecticides
If you’d like to use this formulation, begin by applying pet-safe insecticide on the carpet.
Also known as indoor insecticides, spray the solution on your carpet and wait for it to dry before vacuuming.
You should then vacuum the carpet every other day for two weeks.
Spraying insecticides on the carpet is very effective in killing adult fleas.
However, it has little effect on the eggs, which is why you should vacuum to eliminate recurrence.
You should wait for some weeks before applying another insecticide treatment.
When using insecticides, don’t allow your pet to access the treated area before it is safe.
Some insecticides are poisonous to pets, so check the manufacturer’s instructions before using them.
Salt or Borax
An effective natural way to get rid of fleas is using salt or borax.
Sprinkle some salt on the carpet, focusing on the areas that pets like spending time in, doorways, around the furniture, and around baseboards.
Ensure that the salt settles into the carpet fibers for maximum effectiveness.
If you use borax, let the borax powder stay in the carpet overnight before vacuuming.
For salt, vacuum after 24 to 48 hours.
Vinegar Spray
Vinegar sprays are similarly effective in getting rid of fleas in carpets.
To make the spray solution, mix one-part of water with one part of vinegar in a spray bottle.
Mix the solution well by shaking it thoroughly.
Apart from spraying on the carpet, focus on areas in your home that pets like spending time in, around the baseboards, under the furniture, and near entryways.
Vinegar aids in killing adult flies, and they don’t like the smell as well.
Lemon Spray
Lemon is considered the best solution in treating wasp stings, but it can also be used as a natural remedy for fleas.
To make the spray, cut the lemon into slices and add approximately two cups of water.
Heat the mixture of water and lemon until the water boils up.
You should then leave the solution to rest overnight, remove the lemon slices, and pour the resulting lemon water into a spray bottle.
Spray the solution on your carpet, focusing on specific areas, such as where your pets spend much time around the baseboards and furniture.
Just like vinegar, fleas dislike the smell of the solution.
Use a Flea Trap
If you are unsure where fleas are in your carpet, you can corral them to a single area using a flea trap.
To make the trap, put some water into a bowl, add some drops of dish soap and stir thoroughly.
Place the resulting mixture on the bowl next to a wall and place a lighting lamp next to it.
At night, the fleas will hop towards the lamp and land in the solution.
The soap and water solution will then prevent them from leaving the bowl.
When using flea traps, ensure that you cordon off the room from pets.
You can cover the bowl to prevent interference by the pet but leave enough space for fleas. Also, try using a bright nightlight.
How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth refers to any microscopic remains of diatoms or fossilized algae.
It is a fine powder that is non-toxic to humans and pets but a great natural method of getting rids of fleas by dehydrating them.
Follow the following procedure to use Diatomaceous earth:
- Purchase food-grade Diatomaceous earth. Ensure that you use food-grade powder since they are not harmful even if someone accidentally ingests them.
- Vacuum the carpet – vacuum your carpet using a nozzle attachment. Pay extra attention to pet-friendly areas, doorways, and along baseboards.
- Spread the diatomaceous earth over the carpet – after vacuuming the carpet, spread the powder, concentrating the above-mentioned areas. To get rid of fleas on your carpet, you should also get rid of fleas on other areas of the house. Include your pet’s beddings, bike cart, crate, and even toys. For pet’s bedding, don’t allow the pet to use the bedding for two days. Vacuum or wash the bedding afterward.
- Bathe your pet – without doubt, some of the diatomaceous earth powder might have been trapped in your pet’s fur. Therefore, you should consider giving your pet a thorough bath using a handheld shower head. Use a moisturizing or soap-free pet shampoo. As mentioned, diatomaceous earth is dehydrating. This may leave the pet’s skin very dry, which you can solve by using soap-free or moisturizing shampoo. Use a flea comb to remove any fleas, eggs or growing larva.
- Vacuum your carpet – vacuum your carpet five days after spreading the diatomaceous earth powder.
- Dispose of the vacuum bag accordingly – as mentioned before, don’t throw the vacuum cleaner bag in your home bin. Put the bag inside a plastic bag and dispose of it accordingly. Do the same for canister vacuum cleaners.
Preventing Further Fleas Infestations
Even after a thorough cleaning, fleas might re-infest your carpet for various reasons.
To prevent further infestations and ascertain complete elimination, observe the following:
- Check your pets for fleas – pets are probably the common source of fleas in your carpet. Therefore, to prevent fleas from getting into your carpet, check your pet frequently to see if he/she has fleas. Observe for signs such as constant scratching or any scabs. You can as well use a flea collar for dogs.
- Regularly shower your pet – giving your frequent pet baths will drown the fleas and kill the larva. Use special soaps that can kill fleas.
- Add garlic or brewer’s yeast in dog food – using a small amount of brewer’s yeast or garlic to your dog’s food is a good way to manage fleas. Be cautious though as garlic is toxic to cats.
- Manage with essential oils – you can manage flea infestation by using a solution of essential oils. To make the solution, mix water and a few drops of essential oil in a spray bottle. Mix the solution and mist your carpet regularly. Some flea-repelling essential oils include lavender, bergamot, citronella, sage, rosemary, sweet orange, and cedarwood. However, avoid using these solutions around cats as they can be very sensitive.
Final Thoughts
Fleas can cause major discomfort in your home and become notoriously stubborn to eradicate, especially if they become established for some time.
If you have been looking for tips on how to get rid of fleas in carpets, this guide has hopefully given you several effective alternatives.
If you still find it difficult to execute these solutions on your own, you can employ the services of a professional pest controller.
Experts will put every method into practice, ensuring that they leave your home flea-free.
However, be wary of harsh chemicals that could cause more damage than good to your family and pets.
