The Best Method of Killing Fleas

The best method for effectively killing and eliminating fleas from your pet's life and your home includes a working knowledge of the flea life cycle. Armed with this information, your eradication efforts can be more precise and less irritating. Successfully eliminating fleas requires some planning, commitment and perseverance.

  1. Bathe Your Pet

    • Fleas cannot swim. Your first step in getting rid of fleas is to give pup or kitty a bath. You'll want to be sure to soak your pet around the neck first, as fleas run toward the head as soon as they sense anything aquatic near their host environment. Don't use shampoos intended for humans. There are many pet shampoos with flea control properties to select from. This, however, is only the first step in ridding yourself and your pet of fleas, since it will only kill adult fleas.

    Vacuum Your House

    • The rest of your flea problem--fleas that haven't yet hatched--is in your carpet, under your sofa and basically anywhere else in the house that your pet has access to. A thorough vacuum cleaning of the entire house using special attachments for accessing hard-to-reach areas is needed. The heat and vibration of your vacuum cleaner will stimulate the fleas to leave their hard-encasing cocoon, making them more vulnerable to your efforts in the next step. Before moving on, be sure to seal up the vacuum bag and dispose of it outside of the house.

    Apply Insecticide

    • If you have a flea infestation in your house, you will have to use an insecticide to eliminate the problem. Make sure your selection contains an insect growth regulator (IGR) compound, which disrupts the development of flea eggs and larva so they do not mature to adults. Even if your pet doesn't go outside, use the same insecticide on your yard and any garden areas.

    Plan to Clean Again

    • Unfortunately, you will most likely need to repeat these steps over the course of the next month or so because of the life cycle of the flea. Since the eggs and the cocoon are so hardy, there is a definite possibility that the first insecticide application won't kill all the fleas. However, after a few months or so, you can trust that there won't be any more adults to lay eggs and the problem will subside.

    Use the Washing Machine

    • Wash your pet's bedding as well as your own, causing any fleas to drown in the washing machine. Wash any soft toys that might harbor eggs. You might even consider washing any clothes your pet came in contact with.

    Monitor Your Pet

    • Regular brushing is the best way to detect any further fleas on your pet. Get a flea comb and dab some petroleum jelly on it; the fleas will stick to the comb.