How to Get Rid of Fleas on Carpets

Fleas can be difficult to get rid of and sometimes make you feel like they’re constantly coming in and never stopping. This article will show you several ways to get rid of fleas on carpets. In addition, there are a few tips on how to prevent fleas from returning.

Table of Contents

Get rid of fleas by cleaning

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Vacuum the carpet thoroughly. Use the nozzle instead of just pushing the vacuum around. Starting at the end of the room, push the vacuum cleaner in a straight line until the entire carpet is vacuumed. Pay special attention to room corners and baseboards. Fleas like to hide in dark and damp places, so you need to vacuum even underneath furniture.

Focus on pet-friendly areas, around baseboards, near entrances, and under furniture.
If the flea infestation is severe, you will need to continue vacuuming daily for 10-14 days. ^{[1] X Trusted Source University of California Integrated Pest Management Program Go to source}

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Vacuum upholstered furniture in the house. Be sure to vacuum both under the feet and under the furniture. Fleas often “jump” onto furniture and can reappear on carpets if they are not removed.

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Discard the vacuum cleaner’s trash bag. Do not leave it in the house. Instead, you should take the bag out of the machine, put it in a plastic bag, tie it up and throw it out. This will help prevent any surviving fleas from returning to your home and taking up residence on the carpet. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If the vacuum cleaner has a carrying case instead of a bag, you will need to remove the container and empty the dirt into a plastic bag. Tie the bag tightly and throw it out.

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Consider steam cleaning carpets and furniture. If you don’t have a steam cleaner, you can rent one at a hardware store or home repair shop. Carefully follow the instructions that came with the device. You can also hire a company that specializes in house cleaning to do steam cleaning. The high heat from the steam cleaner will kill both adult fleas and their eggs.

Kevin Carrillo

MMPC, Pest Control Specialist

Kevin Carrillo is a pest control specialist and senior project manager at MMPC, a certified minority-owned pest control and services business based in New York. MMPC is certified to a set of industry-leading standards, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and the New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC’s work has been featured on CNN, NPR and ABC News channels.

Kevin Carrillo
MMPC, Pest Control Specialist

Experts agree: steam cleaning is one of the most unprofessional yet effective ways to get rid of carpet fleas. It’s a good idea to test steam on an inconspicuous area of the carpet first to see if the carpet is discolored.

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Clean pet bedding. Put your pet’s mattress in the washing machine and run it on the tub cleaning mode. In addition, you should also keep the dryer on the hottest temperature possible. Do this every day until the fleas are gone.

Using chemicals, natural ingredients and other methods

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Treat carpets with a household and pet-safe insecticide. Spray an indoor insecticide on the carpet. Wait for the medicine to dry and then vacuum. Vacuum every few days for 2 weeks. Insecticides will kill adult fleas but not eggs, so you’ll need to use a vacuum to keep them under control. Wait a few weeks and then spray the insecticide again. ^{[3] X Trusted Source University of California Integrated Pest Management Program Go to source}

If you use insecticides, do not let your pet enter the area where the insecticide is being sprayed unless it is safe. Insecticides are very toxic and can be dangerous. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions on the product packaging. Some insecticide products require you to wait a few hours before entering the area where the spray was applied. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Sprinkle some salt or borax all over the carpet. Focus on areas that pets like to be in, near entrances, around baseboards, and under furniture. Sprinkle borax or salt on the carpet and make sure the salt/solder sticks to the fabric. If using borax, you need to leave the powder on the carpet overnight and then vacuum the next day. If using salt, you need to wait 24-48 hours before vacuuming. Do not allow pets into the treated area before using a vacuum cleaner to remove salt/borax. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If using borax powder, you need to make sure that small children and pets are not allowed near the area being treated.
If using salt, make sure the salt is very fine grained.

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Try a vinegar solution spray. Pour a 1:4 ratio of vinegar and water into a spray bottle. Close the lid of the jar and shake until the mixture is evenly mixed. You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Spray a vinegar-water solution on the carpet. Be sure to spray heavily in areas where pets like to be, around baseboards, near entrances, and under furniture. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Fleas don’t like the smell of vinegar. Vinegar also helps kill adult fleas.

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Consider sprinkling with lemon juice. Cut 1-3 lemons into thin slices. Pour 2 cups (480 ml) of water into the pot. Add lemon slices and bring to a boil. After the water starts to boil, lower the pot and turn off the stove. Let the lemon soak in the water overnight. The next day, take out the lemon slices and pour the lemon juice into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the carpet, focusing on areas where pets like to be, around baseboards, near entrances, and under furniture.

Fleas don’t like the smell of lemons, so you’ll see results when you spray the lemon juice solution on your carpet. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Make a flea trap. If you don’t know where the fleas are hiding on the carpet, you can use a trap to trap them in one spot. Pour water into a small bowl. Add a few drops of dish soap and mix well. Place the bowl on the floor, near the wall, and then place a table lamp next to it. Turn on the lights at night. Fleas will jump towards the light and land in the water. The soap in the water will prevent them from jumping out. The next morning, turn off the lights and pour out the water. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

If you have pets, remember not to let them in the room. If you can’t close the room door, put something over the bowl so pets can’t reach it (remember to leave room for the fleas to jump in).
You can also try using a night light instead of a desk lamp.

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Call the pest control company as a last resort. These companies will help get rid of fleas in your home and are committed to taking care of the problem.

Use diatomaceous earth to get rid of fleas

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Buy some food grade diatomaceous earth. Make sure it’s food grade, not pool type. Food grade diatomaceous earth is not harmful if accidentally swallowed.

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Vacuum the carpet. Use the nozzle to vacuum the entire carpet, especially where pets like to stay, near entrances and along baseboards.

Prevent fleas from multiplying later

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Check your pet for fleas. Fleas are present on carpets because they fall from pets. To prevent fleas from reappearing on your carpet, you need to check your pet for fleas. Pets constantly scratching can be caused by fleas.

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Regularly brush your pet’s coat. Buy a flea comb at a pet supply store to brush their fur. Flea combs have small, tight bristles that can “grab” tiny fleas on pet fur. Flea combs also help remove loose hairs, preventing fur from falling all over the house.

Prepare a small bowl of water and a few drops of dish soap. You can dip the comb in soapy water to drown and shake the fleas out of the comb while brushing your pet’s coat. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Bathing for pets. The water will drown the fleas, and the soap will kill their larvae. Consider using a special flea soap. However, you need to keep in mind that this may not work for cats. Most cats hate water and become aggressive if forced to soak in water. If you want to bathe your cat, make sure to wear thick gloves and long pants to protect the skin.

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Consider using a flea repellent to treat pets. Take your pet to the vet and ask what flea medicine is best. Your doctor will prescribe or recommend the type of medication (for your dog or cat) and the dose. If you want to buy medicine yourself, you need to read the label carefully. The label will tell you whether the medicine is for dogs or cats, what age the pet should be used for, and how much it weighs. If you’re not careful, you run the risk of overdosing on your pet and leading to a tragic outcome.

Flea killers can be taken orally or applied topically, depending on the type. If topical, the medication is usually applied to the bottom of the pet’s neck, right between the shoulder blades. Read the directions on the label carefully for how to give the medicine to your pet.
Check your pet for signs of discomfort or an allergic reaction. Sometimes dogs or cats can be allergic to flea medications.
Absolutely do not give cats flea medicine and vice versa. Always take the recommended dose and do not take more.

Advice

If you live in a one-room apartment and want to use diatomaceous earth, salt, borax or insecticide, you should treat 1/2 of the apartment the first day and the other 1/2 the next day. . This allows both you and your pet to move around.

Warning

Do not allow small pets to lie on the carpet for a few days after spraying or spraying the flea treatment on the carpet.

Steps