How to Get Fleas Out of a House

Veterinary-prescribed flea and tick preventatives help keep fleas at bay.

The tiny flea is capable of invading homes and yards in vast numbers. Living on the blood of pets and at times humans, fleas are a formidable opponent. A broad-spectrum approach is necessary when attempting to eradicate fleas. It is essential to systematically remove fleas from pets, your yard and your home. You must interrupt the life cycle of the flea to avoid reinfestation by eradicating adult fleas, eggs and larvae.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum
• Laundry detergent
• Washing machine
• Clothes dryer
• Flea killer
• Face mask
• Rubber gloves

Instructions

Prepare to Clean

1. Clear any stored items or clutter from floors, closets and under furnishings. Include pet bedding, stuffed toys, clothes and linens in order to allow you access to the entire floor and all the furniture in your home.

2. Use your favorite laundry detergent to wash pet and human bedding, throw blankets, throw rugs and pillows. Use hot water if possible, and dry the items thoroughly on high heat in the dryer.

3. Remove pet bowls, accessible pet food, human food and plants. Remove caged pets in the home, such as birds and small-companion pets. Cover fish and reptile tanks that cannot be moved.

4. Vacuum your home completely and thoroughly, including floors, carpets, furniture, mattresses and draperies.

5. Empty your vacuum bag or the contents of a bagless vacuum into a secure outdoor trash can that sits away from any areas frequented by your pets.

Apply Flea Killer

1. Don a paper respiratory mask and rubber gloves.

2. Apply a flea killer containing permethrin in conjunction with methoprene or pyriproxyfen according to directions, treating every room in your home. Base the amount of product used on the square footage of your home.

3. Allow the product to dry completely before returning to normal use of your home.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove pets from your home prior to tackling the fleas.

• Clean and treat your yard and any outside pet housing the same day you treat your home.

• Have the pets bathed with appropriate flea shampoos so they are flea free when they return to your home.

• Be thorough when cleaning and treating your home. Any adult fleas left alive can reproduce quickly enough to reinfest your home.

• Use caution when choosing and using flea products in your home, yard and around your pets. Some flea treatments contain chemicals known to be harmful if not used according to manufacturer directions.

References

• University of Kentucky College of Agriculture; "Ridding Your Home of Fleas"; Mike Potter, extension entomologist
• University of Florida IFAS Extension; "Fleas: What They Are, What to Do"; D.L. Richman and P.G. Koehler