Flea Treatments for the House

Fleas may be the only bothersome part of owning a cat or dog. They make your pets itch and can infest your home if you're not careful. Take preventative measures to keep the fleas from making your house a home. If they have already settled in, use a combination of methods to kick them out for good.

  1. Taking Preventative Measures

    • Vacuum your carpets daily to help rid them of flea eggs, larvae, pupa and adults. The fleas can hatch, develop and leave the vacuum cleaner bag to re-infest your home. So put a flea collar in the vacuum cleaner bag to kill the fleas when they arrive or put the bag in a sealed plastic container in the freezer until the next time you vacuum. Change the bag frequently. Outside, plant two or three garlic bushes or rosemary, both of which repel fleas, on all sides of your house to discourage fleas from entering.

    Killing Fleas in Your Home

    • Ten percent of the fleas are on your pet. The rest are in your home in carpeting, bedding and places your dog spends much of his or her time. If you ignore the problem, it will only get worse. Remove the infested pets from the house and wash bedding, rugs and throws in the washing machine. Simple soap and water will kill eggs, larvae, pupae and adults. Vacuum your pet's bed (if she has one) and wash it if possible. Then vacuum everything: carpets, upholstered furniture, mattresses, pillows, hard floors, and anywhere dust collects. This will get rid of flea eggs but not larvae. Don't forget to seal the vacuum bag and put it in the freezer. Larvae will be killed by the steam when you have your carpets professionally steam cleaned or by the insecticidal carpet shampoo you can use. A pest control professional can also use infrared heat to kill fleas at all stages.

    Killing Flea on Your Pets

    • Before bringing your pets back into your home, give them thorough baths, leaving the suds on their coat for a few minutes to help drown the fleas. The smart ones will race to your pet's head where it is (usually) dry, so carefully concentrate your efforts there toward the end. Use tearless shampoo; flea shampoo is an option but not necessary to kill the critters. Then ask your vet about a pill your pets can take once a month (or other products) to kill remaining fleas and prevent others from climbing aboard.