Hub Cloud Do you suspect that you might have a flea problem in your home? Perhaps your pets recently tracked them in and you managed to clean them thoroughly enough but you are worried that you may still have an infestation. Whatever the case, you are likely looking for a fast, effective, and affordable solution.
In this article, we’re going to look at how long fleas can live in your house and whether or not they will go away on their own. And of course, we will tell you precisely how to kill the fleas in your home and restore everything to normality once again.
Let’s get straight into it!
How can you tell if there are fleas in your home?
The first and most obvious sign of fleas in your home is if you have pets and they are teeming with them. If your cat or dog is showing intense bouts of itching then it’s a fairly clear sign that they have fleas – and if they are infested, your home may well be as well.
If you don’t have pets and suspect you may have an infestation, however, don’t panic, there are still a few ways of telling. For example:
- The famous white sock test: a really effective way of testing for fleas in your home is the ‘white sock test’. What you need to do is put on some high-length white socks. Pull them as far up your legs as possible (to prevent biting) and then roll around on your carpet and the other suspected infected areas. Doing so will give any potential fleas a stir and they will attempt to jump on you. After a while, you can inspect your fresh white socks for fleas. Upon close inspection, they should be very easy to spot.
If you have tried this and no fleas appear on your socks, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there are no fleas – it could be a case of rolling around in the wrong areas. Another way to check for fleas is:
- Look for flea dirt: flea dirt is a red/brown dust that is left behind by the fleas. This is their faeces which is obviously a nasty health hazard that you would rather do without in your home. Look around on your carpets and sheets and if you spot any reddish and brown dust, it could be a sign of having fleas.
- Check for eggs: flea eggs are tiny and very difficult to spot, but if you do have an infestation and you check carefully enough in your carpets and furniture, you should be able to find something.
How long do fleas live in your house?
Even without a host like a cat or a dog, fleas can survive anywhere for a few days upwards of several weeks – however, if they are able to lay eggs the infestation will last even longer. Particularly if the female fleas find a source of blood to feed on, they can each lay up to 27 eggs per day, thus making the infestation even larger!
Will fleas go away on their own?
Without a host, fleas will eventually die out from starvation. However, when your carpet and furniture are infested, it will be easy for them to get their source of food, lay more eggs, and perpetuate the infestation even further.
And if you have pets, fleas can easily live up to 12 months or more feasting on them.
It may be tempting to try and save money and hope that the flea infestation in your home will die out, however, we strongly advise that you take action as quickly as possible.
How do I kill fleas in my house?
Whether you have pets or not, there are several things that you can do to ensure that a flea infestation is eradicated. If you would prefer to try some pest control for fleas before calling the professionals, give these a try:
- Use a strong hoover: using a powerful vacuum cleaner you can go over all floors, upholstery, mattresses, and furniture. All cracks and tight spaces are excellent hiding spots and are likely to house eggs and larvae. If you do have a vacuum bag, make sure you dispose of it properly after use without coming into contact with it.
- Do a deep steam clean: there’s no way that a flea infestation will be able to survive the combination of intense hot water and soap. Go over your carpets, furniture, upholstery, pet beds, and mattresses. Be thorough and pay close attention to any areas where your pets will have likely been/spend a lot of time.
- Clear and wash all bedding: strip off every sheet on your beds, all pillowcases and duvets, and throw them into a deep hot wash with detergent. Make sure you throw your pet beds into the wash as well! Following that, tumble dry everything at the highest possible setting for good measure.
Feeling overwhelmed and starting to panic?
If you feel itchy, uncomfortable, and overwhelmed, the best course of action is to call the professionals and have your home thoroughly treated for flea infestations. Rather than trying to wait them out or adopt home remedies, sometimes you are simply far better off calling in the experts. We recommend reaching out to a local pest control company like SWAT Pest Control in Brisbane.
We hope that you’ve found this article insightful and wish you the best of luck with eradicating those pesky fleas once and for all!
