Can Washing Kill Flea Larvae?

Fleas are a pest that can plague pets and pet owners alike. Living off animal hosts, adult fleas are small insects characterized by hide legs that allow them to hop. Fleas are located in moist, shady soil, on domestic and wild animals and in carpets. While adult fleas are visible, the microscopic larvae remain hidden and continue to produce newly hatched fleas until completed eradicated.

  1. Finding Larvae

    • In order to wash areas infested with larvae, it is important to be able to find them. Flea larvae are produced when the eggs laid on the animal host are hatched. Larvae fall from the host for the final stages of development and settle into clothing, blankets, rugs and floors. Unlike adult fleas, larvae are unable to jump or move more than 1 inch from the immediate area in which they fell. Instead, larvae feeds on particles of dried blood shed from the animal while scratching or grooming itself. To find the larvae, simply concentrate on areas where the infested animal sleeps or spends a lot of time.

    Laundry

    • Diligence is important to removing developing flea larvae from the home. A key factor in the battle against flea larvae is washing exposed bedding or clothing on a regular basis. Hot water and laundry soap can remove all forms of flea life, from egg to larvae to adult. Laundering pet bedding is especially important in removal since that will be where the larvae are most concentrated. When collecting laundry, be sure to roll clothing and bedding to avoid flea eggs from falling onto the floor or mattress.

    Floors

    • While vacuuming plays a major role in larvae removal, additional washing measures can be taken to help ensure success. Vinyl floors may be vacuumed but should be washed with a soapy solution afterward to help remove any larvae or eggs. Carpets and rugs benefit from steam cleaning, which due to the high temperature of the water used, is efficient at killing larvae, fleas and eggs.

    Animals

    • Though larvae develop without an animal host, the larval stage of the flea̵7;s development would not be possible without the maturation of the eggs. Washing the hosts will not remove existing larvae, but it will prevent future generations. To prevent against more larvae, the animals is washed with hot water and a mild shampoo. The water and soap will help remove the eggs and fleas from the animal̵7;s fur. It can also be used when combing the animal, with the comb rinsed in a cup of water to remove the fleas and eggs from the teeth.