How to get rid of fleas in carpet is a more commonly asked than you think. Did you know that if you tracked one adult flea into your home, you could deal with 20,000 fleas in 60 days? That’s why removing these critters is frustrating when they get on your carpet.
Fleas love warm, dark places; they lay eggs that fall into carpets, wood planks, pet bedding, and grass. Getting rid of fleas in carpet can test your will and patience. This is because fleas burrow themselves in the fibers making it super hard to get the very last flea.
Don’t lose your mind yet. We’ve researched the best method to rid you of these jumpy pests once and for all. It combines your vacuum cleaner, a couple of household products, and lots of will, patience, and determination. So, buckle up!
What Are Some of The Reasons Why I Have Fleas in My Carpet
Fleas are tiny pests that latch onto warm-blooded animals. They are usually looking for a blood meal, so even indoor pets are at risk of infestation. Pets or human beings can track the fleas into the house. Once inside, the female fleas can lay up to 50 eggs daily. Since the eggs are not sticky, they will fall onto the carpet, where they will hatch in 12 days. The fleas can burrow into the carpet fibers, but they will go back and forth between their host and the carpet.
How Long Can Fleas Live in Carpet?
Fleas can live up to a year in your carpet if there’s a host. However, fleas will live for only two weeks without a blood meal. Nonetheless, they are aggressive feeders, so they can also jump onto humans.
Will Fleas Go Away on Their Own?
It is improbable that fleas can go away on their own. They hatch quickly, meaning they will stay as long as they have a host. Therefore, treating fleas as soon as you find them is best.
Can Fleas Live in Carpet Without A Host?
Adult fleas can live for up to 14 days without attaching to a host. This means without a host, the fleas will die. But they have two weeks to find a host and start to reproduce. Although adult fleas will die quickly without a host, eggs, larvae, and pupa can survive much longer.
Larvae can stay for 24 days before transforming into a pupa in warm weather and up to 200 days in cold weather. Furthermore, the pupa can live in their cocoon for a year, so they don’t require a host for a long time. They only hatch into adult fleas when they sense a host nearby.
How to Get Rid of Fleas in Carpet
If you have fleas in your carpet, you may have a full-blown infestation on your hands. It’s best to treat the flea environment to prevent flea infestation from persisting. To this end, treating pets and other areas where fleas like to hide is essential.
Here’s How To Remove Fleas From Your Carpet.
Tools Required
- Vacuum cleaner
- Carpet cleaner
- Steam cleaner
Supplies
- Vacuum bags for vacuums that use bags
- Hot water
- Dish soap
- Diatomaceous earth
- Flea powder
- Seal-able garbage bags
Step 1 – Find Flea Hiding Spots
The first step in getting rid of fleas in carpet is finding their hiding location. If you can see fleas jumping around your carpet, those are likely the spots where your pets like to relax.
While fleas can infest all carpeting in your home, they could be coming from your pet’s favorite spaces and places people like to frequent. These include the pet’s bedding, bedding, couches, and cracks.
Before anything, wash all your pets’ bedding in detergent and hot water. Also, wash your bedding in the washer with hot water and dry them in the dryer. Then, place them in clean plastic bags, preferably in a room where you’ve not spotted any fleas.
Step 2 – Use a Powerful Vacuum
Use a vacuum with a nozzle attachment and start vacuuming from one end of the room. Vacuum the carpet in strips until you’ve covered the entire carpet. In addition, use a crevice tool to clean the baseboards, cracks, and hidden carpet under and between furniture. Furthermore, don’t forget to vacuum behind the couch, rugs, pet furniture, pet bedding, and anything pet-related on the floor.
Once you’re done, empty the bag immediately. For bag vacuums, remove the bag outside, seal it and throw it in an outdoor trash can. If you have a bagless vacuum, step outside and empty the contents into a seal-able bag. Again, put the bag in an outside garbage can. Then, wash the trash container with hot, soapy water.
Step 3 – Use a Steam Cleaner
A steam cleaner uses hot water, and fleas cannot survive in a temperature upwards of 95°F. Steam clean your carpet since the steam will kill fleas in every development stage, from the eggs, larvae, and adult fleas. In addition, steam clean the cushions, fabric, and mattresses.
Step 4 – Use Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth contains diatoms or microscopic fossilized algae. It is a fine powder that’s very effective at killing fleas. The diatoms attach to the flea’s body and cause dehydration, killing it.
Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic around pets and humans. However, it can irritate the eyes and throat. Hence, it’s best to wear gloves and a dust mask when handling it.
Sprinkle the diatomaceous earth on the carpet and let it sit for four to 48 hours. Then vacuum the carpet and follow with proper vacuum bag disposal.
Step 5 – Shampoo Your Carpet
If your carpet is due for washing, now is an excellent time to clean it. Use a carpet cleaner or rent one to wash the carpet. The hot water will do a good job of removing dirt and any fleas still hiding on the rug.
You may also like: Vacuuming Tips and Tricks to make Cleaning Easy
Other Remedies for Fleas in Carpet
Carpet Flea Treatment
Spraying a carpet flea treatment is efficient in getting rid of fleas in carpet. This treatment can get into the fibers where stubborn fleas burrow and become difficult to remove.
Salt or Borax
Borax is an effective method of getting rid of fleas in carpet. Sprinkle lots of it in the carpet and use a brush to work it into the fibers. If you’re using salt, blend it until it’s a fine powder and sprinkle it on and around the carpet. Then, vacuum it up but go slow to get the eggs too. Repeat this method in two weeks, and the fleas and eggs should be gone.
Make a Flea Trap
Place a bowl with soapy water on the carpet and leave it at night. Also, leave a light source next to it, like a small torch. The light will attract the fleas into the bowl, but the soap traps them and prevents them from jumping. Pour the water out the next morning. You can repeat this method every couple of days.
Hire Pest Control Professionals
If you’ve tried these DIY methods but you’re barely making a dent in the number of fleas you see bouncing on your carpet, it’s time for the professionals. Pest control companies have access to products that can get down to the problem. Thus, if all else fails, you’ll want to hire these guys to do the job for you. Pest control companies can charge anywhere from $75 to $400 depending on the severity of the infestation.
How Can You Tell If Fleas Are in Your Carpet?
You can tell there are fleas in your carpet if your pet keeps scratching whenever they lie on the carpet. You can also inspect the carpet to see if you can find small, black-pepper-like specks. These are flea feces. Sprinkle some water onto the specks; if they turn out red, you can confirm you have fleas in your carpet.
How Often Should You Vacuum When You Have Fleas?
It helps to vacuum every day for three to nine weeks to eliminate fleas in carpet. You can use this method alongside other flea treatments like borax, baking soda, and salt. It can take five months to eradicate fleas since they can spin cocoons for pupa fleas, where they can live until they find a host.
Is Vacuuming Enough to Get Rid of Fleas?
Vacuuming is often enough since it can trigger pre-emerged adults to get out of their cocoons. Again, it can get the eggs, larvae, pupa, and adults. As long as you’re consistent, you can remove every last hopper from your carpet and house.
Can Fleas Escape A Vacuum Cleaner?
It’s improbable for fleas to leave a vacuum cleaner. Any surviving fleas will have undergone considerable trauma from the cleaning process. However, any eggs and larvae that survive can emerge if you don’t empty the trash in an outside garbage can.
Does Vacuuming Pick Up Flea Eggs?
Vacuuming picks up eggs, which is why it’s one of the most effective methods of removing fleas from carpets. A vacuum can pick up to 90% of eggs. Since larvae feed on eggs and dried blood, any remaining larvae will starve quickly. 83% of immature fleas within homes live in the carpet, so it’s best to vacuum frequently to remove the eggs.
Does Vacuuming Make Fleas Worse?
Vacuuming does not increase a flea infestation. It decreases the number of fleas by killing fleas in all development stages. Scientists have found that vacuuming has 96% success on adult fleas and 100% success on younger fleas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What kills fleas in a house?
A vacuum is the number one flea-killer in the house. Insecticides containing insect growth regulators (ICR) are the other most-effective flea killer. The ICR prevents flea reproduction, so any remaining fleas after vacuuming won’t have a colony to create.
What do fleas hate the most?
Fleas hate the sun and natural scents. To this end, you can use essential oils as an excellent flea prevention remedy. Scents from peppermint, citronella, eucalyptus, rosemary, and tea tree can repel fleas naturally. If your pets don’t mind a little essential oil, you can apply a diluted solution of essential oil on your pet’s coat. However, it’s important to check that the essential oil is safe to use on your four-legged friend.
Can fleas live in human hair?
Fleas cannot live in human hair. While fleas love to burrow in the fur and hair of animals, humans do not have nearly enough hair to provide a good breeding spot. So, even though they will bite, it’s unlikely they intend to stay.
Will fleas live in your bed?
Yes, fleas like warm places, and your bed is perfect for breeding. Still, it will take a while before they can start living in your bed. Most times where fleas are found to infest bedding are when the pets sleep in the homeowner’s bed, and the bedding is rarely changed.
How long do fleas last in a house?
Fleas can last in a house as long as there’s a host. Eradicating them may take months, depending on the availability of hosts, reproduction, and their life cycle. When a flea has a host, it can live for 100 days. Within this time, it can lay more than 1000 eggs which can hatch every two weeks, and the cycle continues.
If you start a flea eradication plan, you will need to be vigorous in interrupting this cycle and starving the fleas, so they don’t reproduce. Typically, if no more fleas are breeding, removing them could take three months.
How to Get Rid of Fleas in Carpet- In Conclusion
Removing fleas from the carpet can be a pain, and they can be a persistent menace that will leave you frustrated. However, by consistently applying the methods outlined here, you can return to enjoying a carpet free from fleas. Remember to prevent a flea infestation by treating the host and removing fleas from their hiding locations. With proper measures, you’ll no longer be asking how to get rid of fleas in carpet.
Good luck!
