If you have pets at home, you know that fleas are the most annoying parasite that can infest not only the fur but also our homes. They can jump everywhere and once you have them, they are super hard to catch and get rid of. They feed on the blood of our pets and can become a serious problem if you have carpets on the floor. There are different methods of how to get rid of fleas on carpets. These methods include a deep cleaning of the carpet and the use of natural and chemical treatments. It’s up to you to decide which method to choose depending on the difficulty of infestation and available resources. In this post, I will try to describe all these methods in detail so you can finally say goodbye to the annoying parasites.
Before you proceed with any cleaning methods to get rid of the fleas, it’s good to start with your pet, to make sure that infestation will not reappear in a short time. Put a visit to a veterinary doctor and treat your pet for fleas. After that wait for around a week and proceed with the fleas removal in your home.
How to Get Rid of Fleas in the Carpet through Cleaning
Before you jump in and make use of the hard artillery, it’s a good idea to start with a deep vacuuming of the carpet. This is the most logical initial step, it will not take much of your time and chances are that you will remove the majority of the fleas this way.
Vacuuming
As a first cleaning step, you have to vacuum the whole carpet a few times. Pay more attention to the corners and areas where your pets like to spend most of the time. Make sure that when you finish the vacuuming, you throw away the vacuum cleaner bag, or clean it thoroughly. The fact is, fleas are so small that they can end up infesting your vacuum cleaner. If you throw out the bag, make sure you do it outside of the house and put it in a sealed plastic bag. Don’t give the fleas any chance to escape.
Vacuuming instructions for fleas removal:
1) You have to vacuum the carpet at maximum power, use the clean filters and an empty vacuum bag.
2) Carry on the procedure for at least 15-20 minutes, until the air coming out of the vacuum cleaner becomes hot.
3) Create a strong pressure on the nozzle, don’t just push the vacuum cleaner towards the carpet.
4) Maintain a sequence i.e. start from one end of the room, and slowly, strip by strip, go through every square foot.
5) Vacuum under the furniture. This is especially important because fleas like to hide in dark and hard-to-reach places. To get to them, use a narrow nozzle over the tube of the vacuum cleaner.
6) Although we’re mainly talking about getting rid of fleas in the carpet, you should also vacuum the pillows, curtains, soft toys, rugs, and other decorative items with a pile. The seams and the base of upholstered furniture or other interior items must be vacuumed thoroughly because fleas jump from the floor to a high height (up to a meter). If they are not vacuumed, the fleas will return to their favorite place.
7) The procedure should be repeated at least 2 times, in the morning and in the evening.
8) Continue vacuuming the carpet every day for 2 weeks. Carry on even if it looks like the fleas have already been removed from the carpet.
Vacuum following all the instructions, and you will be able to suck up all the fleas in different development stages – eggs and adults.
When you’re done with cleaning the carpet, clean the upholstered furniture as well. It’s absolutely necessary in order to get rid of fleas on furniture. Fleas like to sit in those soft comfy areas, so make sure you treat all the textured surfaces in the room.
Steam Cleaning to Remove Fleas
If you have a steam cleaner it is even a better solution. Steam cleaning with high temperatures will definitely kill all the fleas. In case you don’t have a steam cleaner available at home, you can always borrow it from your friend for this special procedure or even rent it from the local store. Steam cleaner is always a good investment, so consider spending your budget on this machine. It will save you a lot of time and energy. There are so many uses for the steam cleaner, it takes our daily cleaning tasks to a whole new level.
Now that you have done the cleaning vacuum cleaning, and still notice some common signs of flea presence, it’s time to move to the cleaning solutions that help to get rid of fleas in the carpet.
What Kills Fleas in Carpet Naturally?
Baking Soda and Salt
Baking soda is one of my favorite home remedies for carpet cleaning. It helps to get rid of the nasty carpet smell and it’s effective in battle with fleas. How does this solution work? Can you really get rid of fleas in carpet with baking soda?
Salt and baking soda act as a dehydration solution and this helps to kill adult fleas.
Once you have finished vacuuming, prepare a cleaning powder. Mix the baking soda with ground salt in equal parts 1 to 1. Pour this mixture on the carpet and give it a good rub. You should leave it on the carpet for around 12 hours. After this time has passed, vacuum the carpet thoroughly to remove all the remains of the powder.
The same as with the usual vacuuming, throw away the collected contents in a trash can outside of the house.
Vinegar
Vinegar is my other favorite cleaning solution that helps to kill adult fleas. Yes, fleas hate the smell of the vinegar. To prepare the solution, you will have to mix white vinegar with water into equal parts 1 to 1. Take a spray bottle and pour the liquid inside. Shake it well to mix up the ingredients. Spray this solution on the carpet and make sure that you don’t miss a square inch. Pay special attention to the areas of the carpet where your pet likes to spend most of the time. Newly cleaned carpet will smell funky but this vinegar odor will fade away in around a day.
Lemon Spray
To prepare this spray, you will need 3 large lemons, a pot, and 2 cups of water. First of all, cut the lemons into small pieces. Put a pot with water on the stove and add lemons to the water. Take the pot off the burner once the water starts boiling. Leave the lemons in the water overnight. The next morning, you can already use this mixture for spraying on the carpet. Make sure you don’t miss any areas. How does this solution work? The fleas don’t like the smell of lemon!
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
Make sure that you use only the food diatomaceous earth because it won’t do any harm if ingested. How does this solution work? Fleas have exoskeletons that are actually part of their bodies. When they come in contact with diatomaceous earth, it damages their exoskeletons and absorbs water from these insects until they completely dry up. This solution acts very fast. Adult fleas will start dying just in a few hours after you apply the earth to the carpet. What’s more, it is not toxic for humans and pets.
Make sure that the diatomaceous earth is dry. It will not work if you mix it with water or if you use it in a humid environment.
To use the diatomaceous earth, follow the next procedure:
- Put on the face mask and rubber gloves for personal protection during the cleaning.
- Apply a good layer of the diatomaceous earth on the carpet and upholstered furniture.
- Leave it in for around three days. This time will be enough for the solution to kill all the fleas.
- Vacuum all the areas where you have applied the solution to remove all the particles. After that, do a steam cleaning of these areas. Don’t let your pet come into contact with the diatomaceous earth when it lies in the carpet.
- Once you have removed all the diatomaceous earth, throw it away in a sealed plastic bag.
Recommended Product: Organic Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth Powder – Safe For Children & Pets
Diatomaceous earth is a 100% organic product, and it’s been certified by the Institute of organic minerals. This powder is great for killing the fleas in the carpet. You can use it in homes with pets and kids. It is food-grade diatomaceous earth, so you can even use it as a food supplement and mix it with juice and water. It improves the quality of skins, nails, and hair.
More than 18,000 people left positive reviews for this product on Amazon and no surprise that the general rating is excellent.
It’s a great stain remover. Did you know that diatomaceous earth can absorb fluid up to 2 times its weight? It can be used for the removal of oil spills, and grease stains.
This product is mined from one of the purest diatomaceous earth deposits in the USA. It is also packed in accordance with all the FDA requirements. This product has also been certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute, which approved it for use in organic production. Much recommended!
Flea Trap
That’s another technical method to win the war against fleas. To create a flea trap, you have to take a bowl with water and add 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Mix it well in the water. The bowl will act as a flea magnet. Once they jump into the water they will not be able to get out. To make this method even more effective, turn on the lamp and put it beside the bowl. This solution is most effective during the night. Every night you have to change the bottle with water and after a few days, the number of adult fleas will greatly decrease.
Chemical Insecticide to Get Rid of Fleas in the Carpet
Just like other pests, fleas can be treated not only with natural but with fast and effective chemical methods. Well, I always advise using only the non-toxic do-it-yourself home remedies listed above, you may need to use commercial insecticide if the problem is serious and other methods didn’t help.
When choosing the solution to treat your carpet make sure that it is pet safe and you read all the instructions listed on the label. To use this solution, spray it on the carpet and wait until it dries up completely. After that vacuum the carpet thoroughly. Important – do not allow your pet into that area before that. Make sure the insecticide faded away and it is safe to walk into this room. The label instructions should say how long you have to wait before entering the room.
Recommended Product: Adams Flea and Tick Home Spray
This top-rated flea spray effectively kills fleas, bed bugs, mosquitoes, and other unpleasant pests. One application is enough to keep your carpets free from fleas for up to 7 months. Moreover, it has a very fast action. It starts killing the fleas in just 5 minutes after the application. To use this spray, you have to mist it lightly on the carpets, rugs, furniture, and curtains. It doesn’t leave any stains, so it’s safe to use on any type of material. The improved formula has a decreased smell.
Many reviewers said that this spray has helped them to get rid of the fleas when nothing else worked. That’s pretty impressive.
Important: do not spray it directly on pets. Read the label carefully to see how much time you have to wait before re-entering the room after spray use. Don’t let your pets smell in the fumes.
For better results, get a Flea and Tick Cleansing Shampoo for your pet. Consult with a vet first.
What Are the Dangers of Having Fleas In the Carpet?
Fleas are a parasite that lives on animals, but deep carpet fibers are an excellent ground for their development. One flea lays as many as 50 eggs daily, and soon your carpet will have a whole colony of these small pests. There are many dangers of having fleas on your carpet. First of all, they bit. They bite painfully, and these bites cause strong skin irritation in pets and humans. Secondly, they can infest your pets again if you didn’t destroy all the larvae and adult fleas. The symptoms also include skin irritation similar to the carpet beetle rash. Treating your pet won’t be enough, because these pests will feed on you instead.
Another unpleasant side effect of having fleas in the carpet is that some people may develop an allergic reaction to their bites. In severe cases, they may even cause anaphylaxis. This is a life-threatening condition that is accompanied by shortness of breath, swelling on the face and throat and a strong rash.
How Do Fleas Get into Your Carpet?
Your pet. If you have a dog or a cat at home most probably you have the fleas that were brought by them into the house. This can happen during walks and interactions with other animals because fleas can jump from one animal to another. After your dog or cat brought the fleas to the house the fleas start spreading on them. Can you imagine an adult flea can lay from 30 to 50 eggs per day! Imagine how many you will help within a month. After around two weeks these eggs hatch. Having your floor covered in the carpet only helps the process. These fleas hatch faster, it may take them just a week to become an adult insect.
Outdoor shoes and clothes. You can bring the flea eggs with dirt on the soles of your shoes or on your clothes (it is easier than you think).
Neighbors. If they have fleas or bed bugs, then they can easily crawl to your home.
Basement. A basement or attic inhabited by rats that carry rat fleas.
How to Prevent Fleas from Reappearing on the Carpet?
Now that you know how the fleas come into your house and how to get rid of them you have to plan measures for preventing them from reappearing. Because without these measures your cleaning will be in vain, as the new fleas will quickly grow in numbers. There are different methods for prevention of the fleas infestation. These are the most effective.
Avoid the Shag Rugs
Shag rugs may be beautiful, but they are not one of the pet-friendly rugs. Since they have a high pile, it will be extremely difficult to clean and disinfect them if your pet has fleas. If you have animals at home, buying low-piled and cut-pile rugs is the best decision.
Protect Your Animal
That’s a must since fleas are a great danger to your pet’s comfort. Imagine if someone is biting you 24/7, and all you can do is scratch all the time. Out of love for our little furry friends, visit a vet, and consult on the methods to prevent fleas, and treat the existing fleas infestation. There are a few ways to protect your pet from fleas, some are more effective than others.
Medication against Fleas
There are pet collars, although they are not great for the long-haired and large dogs, and are quite toxic. The drops also help some dogs but can be dangerous for others. Another protection method is pills that your dogs should take orally.
Only a vet can decide which method you should use, don’t attempt to self-medicate your pets.
Brushing the Pet
What you can do yourself, is check your pets for fleas regularly. If you notice these nasty insects on the dog or cat, brush it well, and give it a good bath. If you notice that your pet is constantly scratching, that’s a sign that she or he has fleas.
As long as you protect the pets from fleas, it will be much easier to get rid of the insects that already contaminate your house. Your cleaning methods will be effective given that you waited around a week after treating the pet.
Plants
There are many plants that naturally repel fleas. When choosing such plans you should check if they are safe to use around pets. Some plants can be toxic for furry friends. Plants from the list below can be grown in houses with pets, and are safe to use in the house. Moreover, they have a nice smell. While we enjoy this smell, it keeps away the fleas.
- Mint
- Basil
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
- Catnip
- Marigold
- Rue
- Chrysanthemum
- Lemon Balm
- Sage
- Oregano
- Lemongrass
- Fleawort
For the better effect, you can place these plants near the home entrance, so the fleas will not enter inside.
Regular Cleaning
Clean the house more often, vacuum carpets, floors, furniture, and keep the porch clean.
Do not walk in dirty shoes around the house. Wash shoes from previous seasons and do not store them in a dirty state.
Conclusion
Now you know how to get rid of fleas in carpet. By following all the cleaning suggestions described above you will easily overcome the flea problem in your carpet. The best and safest method is always the natural one, so I usually recommend starting with them. If all of these methods didn’t help, consider hiring a professional cleaning company. Deal with the fleas as you have noticed it, as you have more chances to win this time battle. I hope that you found this post helpful and your pet will be thankful for your actions.