Get Rid of Fleas in Carpets

Fleas can be a hassle to get rid of, and sometimes, it may feel as though the invasion will keep coming and never end. This article will show you a few ways to get fleas out of your carpet. It will also give you a few tips on how to prevent the fleas from coming back in.

Steps

Getting Rid of Fleas Through Cleaning

  1. Vacuum your carpet thoroughly. Use the nozzle attachment instead of just pushing the vacuum cleaner. Start at one end of the room, and vacuum in strips until you have covered the entire carpet. Pay special attention to the corners of the room and baseboards. Fleas like to hide in dark and humid areas, so vacuum underneath furniture well.
    • Be sure to focus on areas that your pet likes to spend time in, as well as around baseboards, near entryways, and under furniture.
    • For very heavy infestations, continue vacuuming every day for 10 to 14 days.[1]
  2. Vacuum any upholstered furniture in the room. Make sure to get the base and the underside. Fleas often jump onto the furniture, and they could re-infest your carpet if not removed.
  3. Throw away the vacuum cleaner bag. Don't throw it away inside your house. Instead, take the bag out of the vacuum cleaner, put it in a plastic bag, tie the bag up, and throw it away outside your house. This will prevent any remaining fleas from getting back inside your home and back onto your carpet.[2]
    • If your vacuum cleaner uses a canister instead of a bag, take out the canister and empty the debris into a plastic bag. Tie the plastic bag up tightly and throw it away outside.
  4. Consider steam cleaning your carpets and furniture. If you do not own a steam cleaner, rent one from a home improvement or grocery store. Follow the instructions that come with the equipment carefully. You may also consider hiring a steam cleaning company to clean for you. The high temperature exerted from the steam cleaner will kill both adults and eggs.
  5. Clean your pet's bedding. Wash them in a sanitary cycle in your washing machine. Also, use the hottest dryer setting available. Wash these daily until the flea infestation is gone.

Using Chemical, Natural, and Other Treatments

  1. Apply a pet-safe, indoor insecticide to your carpet. Spray an indoor insecticide on your carpet. Wait until it dries before vacuuming. Vacuum every few days for up to two weeks. The insecticides kill adult fleas, but not the eggs—vacuuming will help manage the infestation. Wait a few weeks before applying another treatment.[1]
    • If you are using an insecticide, do not allow your pet into the treated area before it is safe to do so. Insecticides are poisonous, and you could end up with some very tragic results. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions on the label. Some insecticides require you to wait several hours before entering the treated area.[3]
  2. Sprinkle some salt or borax all over the carpet. Focus on areas that your pet likes to spend time in, as well as near doorways, around baseboards, and under furniture. Spread the borax or salt over the carpet, making sure that it settles into the fibers. If you are using borax, let the powder sit in the carpet overnight before vacuuming it up the next day. If you are using salt, wait for 24 to 48 hours before vacuuming. Do not let your pet enter the treated area until you have vacuumed the salt or borax up.[4]
    • If you are using borax, make sure that your pets and children do not wander into the treated areas.
    • If you are using salt, make sure that it is very fine-grained.
  3. Try using a vinegar-based spray. Pour one part vinegar and one part water into a spray bottle. Close the spray bottle and shake it to mix everything up. You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Spray your carpet with the vinegar-water. Be sure to focus on areas that your pet likes to spend time in, as well as around baseboards, near entryways, and under furniture.[5]
    • Fleas dislike the smell of vinegar. The vinegar may also aid in killing the adult fleas.
  4. Consider using a lemon spray. Cut one to three lemons into thin slices. Pour 2 cups (473.176 milliliters) of water into a pot. Place the lemon slices into the pot and boil them. Once the water begins to boil, take the pot off the burner and turn the stove off. Let the lemons sit in the water overnight. The next day, take the lemon slices out and pour the lemon water into a spray bottle. Spray your carpet with this solution, focusing on areas that your pet likes to spend time in, as well as around baseboards, near entryways, and under furniture.
    • Fleas dislike the smell of vinegar, so you may see some results by spraying your carpet with this solution.[5]
  5. Make a flea trap. If you do not know where the fleas are in your carpet, you can corral them into a single area by using a flea trap. Fill a small bowl with water. Add a few drops of dish soap and stir to combine everything. Place the bowl on the floor, close to a wall, and put a lamp next to it. At night, turn the lamp on. The fleas will hop towards the light and land in the water. The soap in the water will prevent them from hopping back out. The next morning, turn the lamp off and pour the water out.[6]
    • If you have pets, be sure to block the room off. If this is not possible, try to put something over the bowl so that the pet cannot get to it—but leave enough space for the fleas.
    • You can also try using a bright nightlight instead.
  6. Call an extermination company as a last resort. These companies will treat your house for fleas and commit to taking care of the problem.

Using Diatomaceous Earth to Get Rid of Fleas

  1. Purchase some food grade diatomaceous earth. Make sure that you use food grade diatomaceous earth and not the sort you would use in your swimming pool. Food grade diatomaceous earth is not harmful if accidentally ingested.
  2. Vacuum your carpet. Using a nozzle attachment, vacuum your entire carpet, especially the areas that your pet likes to spend time in, as well as near doorways and along the baseboards.
  3. Sprinkle the diatomaceous earth over your carpet. Focus on areas that your pet likes to spend time in, as well as around baseboards, near entry ways, and under furniture. Diatomaceous earth is made from tiny, fossilized algae and will actually cut the fleas up.
  4. Consider sprinkling diatomaceous earth on your pet's bedding. If you want to get rid of fleas from your carpet, you will also have to get rid of fleas from other areas as well. This includes your pet's bedding. Simply sprinkle the diatomaceous earth on your pet's bedding and set it aside for two to three days. Do not let your pet sleep on the bedding. After two to three days have passed, vacuum the bedding and, if possible, wash it in the washing machine using a hot cycle.
  5. Consider giving your pet a bath. If you sprinkled diatomaceous earth over areas that your pet likes to spend time in, some of that dust may have gotten on his or her fur. In this case, you will need to give your pet a bath. Keep in mind that dogs are usually much easier to bathe than cats.
    • Consider using a soap-free or a moisturizing pet shampoo during the bath. Diatomaceous earth can make the skin very dry; you can solve this by using a soap-free or moisturizing pet shampoo when bathing your pet. Be sure to use a flea comb in order to catch any fleas, larva, or eggs.[7]
  6. Vacuum your carpet. After four to five days, vacuum your carpet. Be sure to get the areas that your pet likes to spend time in, as well as around the baseboards and doorways, and under furniture.
  7. Throw away the vacuum cleaner bag. Do not throw the bag away inside your house. Take it out of the vacuum cleaner, put it in a plastic bag, tie the bag up, and throw the bag away outside your house. This will prevent any remaining fleas from getting back into your carpet.
    • If your vacuum cleaner uses a canister instead of a bag, take out the canister and empty the debris into a plastic bag. Tie the plastic bag up tightly and throw it away outside.

Preventing Further Infestations

  1. Check your pet for fleas. The fleas are most likely in your carpet because they came from your pet. In order to prevent the fleas from getting into your carpet, you will need to check your pet to see if he or she has fleas. If your pet is constantly scratching him or herself, he or she probably has fleas.
  2. Brush your pet regularly. Purchase a flea comb from a pet store and brush your pet with it. The flea comb has small, tight bristles that will catch the tiny pests in your pet's fur. It will also remove any loose fur, thus preventing shedding.
    • Consider keeping a small bowl filled with water and a few drops of dish soap. You can dip the comb into the soapy water to drown the fleas and get them off the comb while you are brushing your pet's fur.[6]
  3. Give your pet a bath. The water will drown the fleas, and the soap will kill any larva. Consider using a special soap for killing off fleas. Keep in mind, however, that this may not work very well if you have a cat. Most cats hate water and will become aggressive if forced into water. If you wish to give your cat a bath, make sure that you are wearing thick gloves and long sleeves to protect your skin.
  4. Consider giving your pet some flea medication. Take your pet to a vet and ask what sort of flea medication would be the best for your pet. Your vet will then prescribe or recommend a medication type (cat or dog) and a dosage. If you wish to prescribe the medication yourself, make sure that you read the label—it will tell you whether it is for a cat or a dog, what age range it is for, and what weight it is for. If you do not do this, you will risk overdosing your pet and get tragic results.
    • Depending on the type, flea medication can be given orally or topically. If it is given topically, it is usually applied on the base of your pet's neck, right between the shoulder blades. Refer to the instructions on the label to find out how you should give the medication to your pet.
    • Watch your pet for any signs of discomfort or allergic reactions. Sometimes, a cat or dog may be allergic to flea medication.
    • Never give dog flea medication to a cat and vice versa. Always use the recommended dosage, and never give more.
  5. Consider getting a flea collar. Flea collars contain chemicals that ward off fleas. They are especially helpful if you have a pet that goes outside. If you can keep fleas off your pet, you can keep fleas off your carpet. Put the collar on your pet and tighten it until you can still slip your finger beneath the collar. Cut off any excess collar with a pair of scissors.
  6. Avoid using garlic or brewer's yeast. Adding a small amount of garlic or brewer's yeast to your dog's food is a common remedy for repelling fleas (and thus keeping them off your carpet), but studies have shown that adding garlic or brewer's yeast to your dog's food has little to no effect.[8]
    • Never give garlic to your cat. The garlic remedy is intended for dogs only. Garlic is extremely toxic to cats.
  7. Manage fleas with essential oils. You can make your own flea-repelling spray for your carpet by pouring some water into a spray bottle and adding a few drops of essential oil. Shake the bottle to mix everything together, and then mist your carpet with this solution. This flea-repellant is safe to use around dogs and children, but not safe to use around cats.
    • Here is a list of flea-repelling essential oils that are safe to use around dogs: bergamot, cedar wood, citronella, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, sage, and sweet orange.[9]
    • Do not use this spray around cats. Cats are extremely sensitive to essential oils.
  8. Keep fleas at bay with plants. There are certain plants whose smell deters fleas. These plants do not kill fleas, but they discourage them from entering your home. Consider purchasing a flea-repelling plant and keeping it inside your home. Here is a list of plants that repel fleas:[10]
    • Catnip discourages fleas, but it is a nice treat for your cat!
    • Chamomile not only smells and looks lovely, but you can also use the flowers to brew tea.
    • Lavender keeps fleas at bay while filling your home with a pleasant fragrance. It also produces appealing purple-grey flowers.
    • Lemongrass can be used not only to deter fleas but also for cooking.
    • Mint is not only great for repelling fleas, but also for cooking! You can use it to season food, or flavor drinks.
    • Rosemary is a popular herb. You can use it not only to keep fleas away but also to season your food.
    • Sage is another herb used both for cooking and keeping fleas away.



Tips

  • If you live in a studio apartment where everything is in one space and are planning on using diatomaceous earth, salt, borax, or insecticides, then consider treating only half of your apartment the first day, and the other half the next. This will allow both you and your pet to move around.

Warnings

  • Do not allow small pets on the carpet for a few days after sprinkling or spraying a carpet treatment.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 University for California, How to Manage Pests
  2. ↑ Clemson University, Flea COntrol
  3. ↑ PetMD, 10 Ways to Stop Fleas from Biting Your Dog
  4. ↑ Flea Guide, Homemade Flea Killer
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Flea Guide, Homemade Flea Spray
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Apartment Therapy, A Few Simple and (Mostly) Chemical-Free Tips for Getting Rid of Fleas
  7. ↑ Diatomaceous Earth.com, Natural Flea Control for Cats
  8. ↑ Vet Street, Will Garlic Keep Fleas Away?
  9. ↑ The Hippie Homemaker, DIY Natural Flea and Tick Spray
  10. ↑ Canidae, Garden Plants that Help Fight Fleas Naturally
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