How to Kill Carpet Fleas With Boric Acid

Fleas are the bane of a house pet's existence, and they become a common enemy once they find their way into your home. Boric acid, a white, odorless powder mined from the Mojave Desert in California and a proven long-term treatment in eliminating fleas and a host of other insects, is the main ingredient in many household insecticides. While boric acid is cheap and effective, it is not as effective against adult fleas as it is against their larvae. You may not see the adult fleas gone for two to six weeks, although the larvae will die off quickly.

Things You'll Need

  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Boric acid or borax
  • Broom
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clear away everything around the areas that require treatment such as shoes, clothing and toys. Vacuum the area thoroughly before applying the boric acid to enable the chemical to work more efficiently. Vacuum the walls. Move furniture out of the way and remove all furniture cushions.

    • 2

      Sprinkle the boric acid powder lightly over all carpeted areas, including closet floors and under furniture. Your pet's favorite resting place is probably where the fleas are most concentrated.

    • 3

      Use a push broom to slowly brush the boric acid powder into the carpets. Brush in one direction to evenly spread out or distribute the powder and then continue to sweep with a slow back-and-forth motion to work powder deeper into the carpets. Keep doing this until the powder is no longer visible on the carpet surface.

    • 4

      Wait 24 to 38 hours following application to resume normal vacuuming. Remove and discard all vacuum bags immediately after vacuuming. While the boric acid may remain active for up to a year and flea larvae are killed right away, adult fleas continue to live, so frequent vacuuming is required to remove them.