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Fleas in the house

The fleas you see on a pet are a small part of the problem. The rest are in the carpet and the bedding, waiting to hatch.

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The short version

Where they live: On pets, and in carpets, bedding and furniture the pets use.
Start with: The vet for the pet, the vacuum for the house.
Call a company when: Fleas return after the pet and the house have both been treated.

What you can do

Ask your veterinarian which flea product suits your pet.
Vacuum floors, rugs and furniture well and often.
Wash pet bedding and your own with soap and hot water.
Keep at it for several weeks, not days.

Time to call

Fleas are back two weeks after treatment.
There are bites but no pet in the house.
Rooms the pet never enters have fleas.
Someone in the house reacts badly to bites.

What the CDC says

Where they hide"Fleas can live in carpets, bedding, and other surfaces in the home that pets frequent," the CDC notes.
All yearFleas prefer warm, humid months, but with an animal to feed on they "can survive year-round."
The petThe CDC advises treating pets year-round "to kill adult fleas and prevent new ones from hatching."
The house"Sweep or vacuum well and often," and clean bedding frequently, pet bedding most of all.

What a pest control company will do

Inspect to confirm fleas and find where they are concentrated.
Ask about pets and whether they are being treated.
Treat floors, furniture and pet areas, often with a product that stops eggs developing.
Schedule a follow-up, since eggs laid before treatment keep hatching.

No pets and still fleas? Wildlife under the house or in the attic is a common source. That changes the job from spraying to finding the animal.

Related guides

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: fleas

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