Break up the party in your carpet for good
Did you just see something tiny hop across your carpet? If your furry friend brought in some uninvited guests, you should learn how to get rid of fleas in your carpet immediately.
The good news is that there are several different ways to kill fleas in your carpet and ensure that they don't invite themselves back into your home to avoid future flea infestations. Learn how to get rid of fleas in carpet fast with these various methods.
If your flea problem doesn't resolve itself after implementing DIY removal methods, it's time to call in a professional exterminator. Don't hesitate to take pest control action to prevent the infestation from growing.
Before you begin any type of extermination treatment for fleas, you need to ensure that you remove your pets and their accessories from the area. Cleaning your bedding and the pet’s bed is an essential part of getting rid of fleas. You will need to wash bedding and beds in hot, soapy water. You will also need to discuss a flea treatment option for your pet with your veterinarian. Otherwise, the fleas can return and cause another infestation.
Treating fleas can be hazardous and can cause harm to you and your pets if done incorrectly. You should consider hiring a professional flea exterminator near you to tackle the task if you aren’t sure which method is safest and most effective for your home.
The first and most crucial step in killing fleas in your carpet is pinpointing their exact location. While fleas can spread in the carpeting throughout your home, the most popular hiding spots are usually places where pets love to relax because fleas need a host to survive. This includes couches, blankets, and bedding.
So if fleas are bouncing around the carpet, they are most likely coming from one of these hot spots. Therefore, it's essential to wash all your pet's bedding in steaming hot water and detergent and toss it in the dryer on the highest heat setting.
Additionally, it's important to treat your pet by taking them to the veterinarian. If none of these treatments work, it’s time to call an exterminator.
The good news is that you can remove fleas with a vacuum cleaner, which is something you probably already have in the cleaning closet. Vacuuming sucks away fleas, along with eggs, larvae, and pupae. It also removes flea blood and feces, which can serve as a food source.
Vacuum the carpet several times, and don't forget to use the attachments to get into corners and crevices along the baseboards. Also, move furniture around so you can vacuum the carpet that's usually under the furniture.
Emptying the vacuum correctly is just as important as vacuuming. You want to empty the vacuum after cleaning immediately to avoid a reinfestation.
Put on protective gloves.
If your vacuum has a bag, step outside, remove the bag, and place it in something that can be sealed, like a container or another type of bag.
Put it in your outside garbage can.
If your vacuum is bagless, step outside and empty the container into a bag or container that you can seal and place it in the garbage can.
Immediately wash the container with hot water and soap or bleach.
Steam cleaning your carpet is also another effective option for killing fleas. The steam will kill fleas no matter their development stage, as they can't survive anything hotter than 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
The combination of heat and soap works not only for killing fleas in carpets but also for other home areas, including hardwood floors, countertops, furniture, and upholstery.
If you have a carpet cleaner or know where to rent one, another option for killing fleas in carpet is good shampooing. This is another deadly combination of hot water and soap that fleas can’t survive. So if your carpet is due for a cleaning and you have a flea issue, this can be a win-win method.
The type of powder will determine how you apply it and treat fleas. Remember to always read the manufacturer’s directions before using, and always take caution and remove pets from the area. Here is a breakdown for each type of powder:
Diatomaceous earth is an abrasive powder made up of tiny organisms called diatoms. Once the diatomaceous earth attaches to the flea’s body, it absorbs all moisture causing the flea to dry up and die.
Sprinkling food-grade diatomaceous earth on your carpet is a highly effective way of killing fleas. It can take as little as four hours to kill fleas, but it's best to let it sit for 48 hours to guarantee effectiveness. While diatomaceous earth is exceptionally effective against adult fleas, it does not kill eggs. You can repeat this process once a week for a few weeks to ensure all viable eggs are hatched.
While diatomaceous earth is generally safe to use you should still wear gloves and a mask while handling this product to avoid any possible irritation to your skin or lungs. You’ll want to keep humans and pets out during use. You should always talk to a pest control pro about safety concerns.
Put pets in a safe place, and pick up dishes, toys, and other items.
Put on a pair of gloves and a mask.
Sprinkle the powder over your carpet to create a thin, even coating.
Take a broom and work it into the carpet to get deep in the fibers.
Leave the powder for at least 1–2 days.
Vacuum the carpet thoroughly to remove the powder and dead fleas.
The insecticidal chemicals in flea powder kill larvae and adult fleas when they come in contact with it. You should minimize your pet’s or kid’s exposure to flea powders, even if it’s labeled as safe for pets. Flea powder is left on the carpet for a period before being vacuumed up, meaning your furry friends can potentially get it on their paws or fur and ingest it during grooming, which could be harmful. It's always best to remove pets, toys, and dishes and wear protective gear when dealing with any type of flea powder.
Put pets in a safe place, and pick up dishes, toys, and other items.
Put on a pair of gloves and mask if needed.
Sprinkle an even layer over your carpet.
Use a broom and brush the flea powder into the carpet.
Leave the flea powder in the carpet for at least one hour (up to 24 hours if possible).
Gentle vacuum the carpet.
Repeat the process every two weeks until all the fleas are gone.
This chemical dries out fleas and larvae. You should handle it while wearing a mask and goggles because it can cause some irritation to your lungs and eyes. You need to ensure your children or pets do not ingest the powder as well. Remember to pick up pet items like water dishes and toys to ensure you don’t accidentally sprinkle it on anything.
Put pets in a safe place, and pick up dishes, toys, and other items.
Vacuum the carpet.
Put on gloves, a mask, and goggles.
Sprinkle boric acid evenly across your carpet.
Use a broom to work in the boric acid.
Let the carpet sit for at least one hour.
Vacuum the carpet.
Repeat once a day if you have a major infestation, or every other day until the fleas are gone.
Using flea spray treatments on carpets and furniture can ensure these pests are completely gone. However, you should perform a spot test first, and always ensure pets are not exposed to the spray. Always read the manufacturer's label before using a flea spray product, and wear personal protective equipment. Apply the spray directly to fibers affected by the fleas, including carpets and upholstered furniture.
Infestations are often indicated by your pets or via some simple tests. Here are some tell-tale signs of a flea infestation:
Bites or welts: Check yourself and your pets for marks.
Itchy pets: An excessively scratching dog could mean fleas, especially if it’s not their usual behavior.
Bald spots on pets: A cat or dog losing patches of hair might spell an infestation.
Pet has pale gums: Fleas feed on blood, which, though rare, can manifest in your dog losing blood in their gums.
White sock test: Put on white socks (preferably knee-high), walk around the house, and check for specks.
Tape trap: Place upward-facing tape near a suspected infestation and check to see if you caught any fleas.
Now you know how to kill fleas on carpet on your own. But if it seems like the flea infestation might be out of your control, or you’ve tried several DIY methods and can’t seem to kick these pests out of your home for good, the next step is to call in a professional pest control technician.
Pest control costs vary from $75 to $400 on average, but it all depends on the severity of the infestation. These techs have access to high-grade products to win the battle against fleas, so if you’ve tried everything, hiring a local exterminator can be the answer to finally kicking out your uninvited guests and restoring peace of mind.
On average, fleas can leave for about 2 to 3 months in your carpet. However, if they have access to a host for feeding, they can return to the cozy carpet and live much longer. That’s why it’s essential to remove fleas from your carpet quickly before they take up permanent residence.
It’s highly unlikely that fleas will pack up and leave your home on their own. Fleas reproduce frequently and by the dozens, so an infestation can grow and spread rapidly, increasing the need for professional extermination. That’s why it’s important to address a flea issue in your home as soon as you identify it. Hire a professional flea exterminator to clear your home of these tiny pests.
While we can’t guarantee that the removal methods described above will work overnight, they will help eradicate the infestation as quickly as possible. For the most immediate results, consider hiring a flea exterminator that can use high-grade products and removal equipment to wipe out small and large groups of fleas.
Fleas thrive during the warmer months, starting in March and running through November. However, the prevalence of these pests depends on the climate in your state. That’s why it’s important to stay vigilant for fleas on your pets and property during spring, summer, and fall. Be sure to apply flea prevention sprays and medications to their coats as directed by a veterinarian.
