How to Kill Fleas in Vacuum Cleaner Bags

Fleas are more than just annoying critters that jump and bite. They can cause serious skin diseases in a pet if they are not treated. Treating for fleas in the home can be labor intensive and should be all encompassing. Not only should the animal be treated, but the carpets and fabric furnishings as well. Ninety percent of new flea infestations come from flea eggs that drop deep into carpeting and any place that your pet may lie or sleep, according to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. Neglecting to treat the environment means that the flea cycle will only continue. Fleas can be vacuumed from the carpeting and furniture, but if the vacuum bag is not treated, fleas will continue to thrive and may re-infest the home.

Things You'll Need

  • Flea collar
  • Flea powder
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a cut-up flea collar to kill fleas in vacuum cleaner bags. Take a new flea collar from its package and cut it into pieces. Drop the pieces into a vacuum cleaner bag and attach the bag to the vacuum cleaner.

    • 2

      Sprinkle flea-killing powder onto the floor or carpet and then use the vacuum to clean it up. Do this as either an alternative to using a cut-up flea collar or in addition to using one. The powder will mingle with the fleas in the vacuum cleaner bag to kill any fleas that you vacuum from the furniture or carpeting.

    • 3

      Vacuum the carpets thoroughly in each room of the house. Use the vacuum cleaner to also remove fleas from fabric furnishings. Remove the vacuum cleaner bag after using the vacuum to remove fleas from the carpets and furniture.

    • 4

      Seal the removed vacuum cleaner bag in a plastic garbage bag. The flea collar pieces and flea killing powder, will kill any remaining live fleas and prevent them from reproducing in the bag.

    • 5

      Discard the vacuum bag in an outdoor garbage can. Doing so will assure that any remaining live fleas will not escape the vacuum cleaner bag and re-infest the home or your pet.

    • 6

      Place a new, cut-up flea collar and/or flea killing powder into a new vacuum cleaner bag. This assures that any live fleas left behind from the old bag will be eradicated.