How to Get Rid of Fleas from your House | 9 Potent Remedies

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If there’s one type of pest that steals the show when it comes to being the most annoying, fleas are the ones. They carry diseases, and generally being a nuisance. The worst thing about fleas is that they are hard to get rid of. They are small and fast, meaning that they have the advantage of escaping from the humans pretty easily and pretty quickly too.

Not only are they found migrating in and out of the house, but they are also often found on your pets, trying to cohabit on their fur or skin. One of the most common signs of a flea infestation inside or outside your house is feeling itchiness on the skin, followed by irritation and skin redness.

Fleas thrive in warmer climates, which means that the best way to kick them out of the house is by making the surroundings inhabitable for them. This article will highlight how to get rid of fleas and everything you need to do to ensure they don’t return.

Also read: How to Get Rid of Cluster Flies? | 5 Effective Ways

List of Ways to Get Rid of Fleas

It does matter whether the flea infestation is indoors or outdoors; you need to be mindful of the same without any questions. Typically, around 5% of the fleas you see are hatched, and adult fleas; the rest 95% are often in their larval stages.

9 out of 10 times, it is your pet that works like a carrier for the fleas and brings them inside your home. So, whenever you are on a walk outside and come in, you must check your pet’s fur for fleas and get rid of them outside before stepping in.

1. Start with General Vacuuming

There’s no alternative to cleaning around your house. Fleas might not come in abundance inside your home, but the worst thing with them is that they hatch eggs very quickly. This means that you could have one or two fleas enter your home, but they can reproduce within a few days.

So, when vacuuming, make sure you cover the entire house from the top to the bottom. Clean around the house, the upholstery, and clean the cracks and crevices in your house.

Also, if possible, use a one-time usage filter bag for the vacuuming. This way, you can collect all the dirt and the flea eggs in one bag and dispose of it without repeating the cycle.

2. Use a Steam Cleaner

If general vacuuming isn’t working out for you, the next best option would be to opt for steam cleaning. The hot temperature from the steamer kills the fleas instantly and prevents the growth of the fleas in the larval stages.

The combination of the heat from the steam cleaner with the disinfectant property of the soap will ensure to keep the house clean and get rid of the fleas in no time at all.

Also, when steam cleaning, you want to excessively focus on the spots that your pet frequents. These are the areas that have more risks of having fleas lying around. So, pay attention accordingly.

3. Opt for Chemical Repellents

If the basic cleaning methods don’t work out for you, the best alternative would be using chemical repellents. There are several amazing options available in the market that you can use to kill these pests almost instantly.

Try to look for pesticides that contain permethrin. This is an adulticide and helps kill the fleas almost instantly. Also, it is quite toxic, so make sure that you don’t spray it around the pets and kids. Don’t allow them to linger nearby until the spray has completely dried down.

4. Mow your Lawn

Keeping your lawn and your backyard clean eliminates 90% of the growing pests. If you are one of those people that rarely pay attention to their garden and likes to leave it be, you are risking bringing fleas inside your home. This is especially important if you have pets who like to spend their time outdoors.

So, to prevent those risks, mow your lawn from time to time. Pull out the unwanted weeds and just keep the garden clean in general. While you are at it, clean out the dried leaves, fallen fruits, and twigs from the garden too. 

The more you maintain your garden, the less are the risks of having pests like fleas lurking around.

5. Try Cedar Chips

Cedar Chips
Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/leelefever/13574701983

Cedar has a very strong and unique smell to it. While we humans love the woody and musky smell, pests despise the smell. So, the best way to get rid of fleas would be by sprinkling the perimeter of your home and lawn with cedar chips.

They are readily available in the market and have a distinct smell to them that will keep the fleas out of your sight and your home. The essential oil from cedar seeps out the smell and keeps the pests out of the scene.

6. Groom & Clean your Pets

As we have mentioned time and time, the most common carriers of fleas into the house are your pets. Since they have chunks of fur on their body, the fleas find it easier to latch onto them and feed off of them from time to time.

So, if you have pets, you must groom them frequently. Also, practice hygiene when you come back to the house from the outside. Check their fur for the presence of the fleas and handpick them out of the fur in case there are any.

Also, if the fleas are excessive in number, bath them with some medicated shampoo that can kill the fleas instantly. Once done, you can comb the entire fur coat of the pet with a flea comb to get rid of any remnant ones in their body.

7. Try Rosemary

Rosemary
Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/rosemary-set-collection-natural-1661525/

Like cedar, even rosemary has a very strong and potent smell to it that the fleas don’t like. If you have some rosemary lying around in the house, boil it with some water to make a concentrate. Cool it down, and then transfer it to a spray bottle.

Spritz this solution all around the house and the garden in good quantities. Once done, you can repeat this a few times in a week till you are sure that you have gotten rid of them all.

8. Dish Soap Solution

Dish Soap
Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dish-soap.jpg

This is an OG method that many people use to catch pests and fleas around the house and the outdoors. It is an easy way out and works like a charm every time. The high viscosity of the soap water solution entraps the fleas that try to get into the solution, preventing them from getting out.

The best way to get rid of the infestation is by placing a bowl of water and dish soap solution in the room where the infestation is at its peak. Make sure you change the water every day and clear out the fleas that have gotten inside the plate.

Ideally, you should do this during the night because they are the most active throughout the day.

9. Try Lemon Spray

Lemon
Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/citrus-food-fresh-fruit-green-2272/

Lemon is an effective and potent remedy for several pests, including fleas. If you are struggling with the rising infestation, we’d recommend that you make a solution with water and lemon juice and spray it around the infested area. For prevention, you can also spray it on the entrance and the perimeter of the house.

The strong smell and the acidic properties of the lemon will take down the fleas without you having to worry about the same at all.

Fleas can be a nuisance if you don’t handle them. If you were looking for how to get rid of fleas, we hope this article was helpful enough. Just ensure that you check on the pets and clean them regularly if you don’t want to deal with fleas in the house or on their fur. Make sure to also seek professional help if the infestation has gone out of hand.

Also read: How to Get Rid Of House Flies | Do Your Own Pest Control

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Do Fleas Hate the Most?

Fleas have a heightened sense of smell. This means that they don’t appreciate strong smells like essential oils, cedarwood, and mint. If you are struggling with a flea infestation, try getting rid of them with this smell.

Can Fleas Live in the Bed?

Fleas can infest any part of your home, including the mattresses, cushions, and even the bed. So, it is a given that you need to deep vacuum the entire house if you want to get rid of them for good.

What Can Kill Fleas Instantly?

Pesticides are the most potent remedy, especially if you want instant results. Look for the options with permethrin in them.

By James Edwards

James Edwards is a writer & editor with almost 15 years of experience from Murphys, California. He earned his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University.

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