How to Kill and Get Rid of Fleas in Carpet

Flea infestations are common during summer months, when temperatures are optimal for the flea eggs to hatch. Unfortunately, fleas often find their way into homes hidden in the coats of pets or on the clothing or bodies of humans. Once inside, fleas multiply quickly, infesting carpets. It's relatively simple to get rid of and kill fleas in carpet.

Things You'll Need

• vacuum
• borax (boric acid)
• broom

Instructions

1. Vacuum all of the carpeted areas in the house. Do this slowly and carefully, making each pass with the vacuum slow.

2. Remove the vacuum bag and dispose of it outdoors immediately. Vacuuming does not kill the fleas, and they can escape from the bag. If you have a bagless vacuum, empty the canister outdoors as soon as you've finished vacuuming the house.

3. Sprinkle Borax or another brand of boric acid liberally over all carpet in the house. Borax will kill fleas by causing them to dehydrate.

4. Work the Borax into the carpet by using a broom in back-and-forth motions, as if sweeping with more pressure than usual. Allow the Borax to remain in the carpet for 24 hours.

5. Vacuum the carpets in the home again. This will get rid of all of the fleas and the now-dehydrated flea eggs that were in the carpet. Again, dispose of the vacuum bag or empty the canister immediately, just in case there are a couple of fleas still alive in the vacuum.

Tips & Warnings

• Although Borax poses no real threat to healthy individuals, those with asthma or other respiratory conditions should be out of the room when the Borax is spread around, or wear a filtering mask.