Fleas are nasty little creatures that can cause your dog a lot of discomfort. In fact, the flea infestation can even lead to other diseases and allergies if it’s not treated properly.
That’s why it’s important to know how to get rid of fleas in the bed so that you can prevent your dog from getting sick.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Fleas can be a common problem in bedding, especially for households with pets. |
| Identifying a flea infestation early on is important to prevent further spreading. |
| Cleaning your bedding and surrounding furniture with hot water and vacuuming can help remove adult fleas, larvae, and eggs. |
| Treating your pets with flea preventative medication is key to eliminating and preventing future infestations. |
| It’s important to be vigilant about flea prevention to avoid a recurring infestation. |
Deep Clean Your Home
To get rid of fleas in the bed, you’ll need to clean every surface in your home. Take everything off of the floors and clean under the furniture with a vacuum cleaner. Make sure you are vacuuming in corners and along edges where fleas tend to hide.
If possible, remove all clutter from your home—including boxes and bags that have been sitting around for months or even years. Fleas love places where it’s hard for them to be seen (like under piles of clothes), so getting rid of all this clutter will help prevent new infestations from happening again.
Once you’ve cleaned up as much as possible (and maybe even organized some), make sure that when it comes time for sleep at night, no one sleeps on their mattress or blankets unless they’re freshly washed in hot water with detergent containing enzymes designed specifically for killing pests like flea eggs and larvae.
| Action Items | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Clean all bedding and linens in hot water | Kills fleas, larvae, and eggs |
| Vacuum all carpeted areas, rugs, and furniture | Removes adult fleas, larvae, and eggs |
| Mop hard floors with hot, soapy water | Eliminates fleas and eggs |
| Use flea spray or powder on furniture, rugs, and floors | Kills adult fleas, larvae, and eggs |
| Treat your pets with flea medication | Eliminates and prevents fleas |
| Remove clutter from floors and outdoor areas | Reduces hiding places for fleas |
If anyone does decide to use an old set of sheets during this process, make sure those ones are thrown away after each wash because they’ll probably still contain some parasites that could reinfest other areas if left lying around outside long enough– especially since some species can live up until three months without food!
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Wash Bedding
If you have fleas in your bed, it’s important to wash your sheets and blankets. To get rid of fleas, wash the bedding in hot water on a normal cycle (not a sanitary or extra-hot cycle). Dry the bedding on high heat and ideally use an electric dryer. If you can’t wash your sheets, use a hot dryer on them instead.
This will kill adult fleas that were jumping onto you from the mattress as well as eggs and larvae hidden inside the fabric.
If you can’t wash your own sheets, go ahead and vacuum them; just make sure not to put any food or trash into the bagless vacuum cleaner before vacuuming because this can attract more fleas into it!
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Vacuum Floors And Upholstery
The first step in getting rid of fleas is to vacuum the floors and upholstery. Vacuum carpets, rugs, and upholstery thoroughly. Don’t forget to clean pet bedding, including dog beds and cat litter boxes. Use a crevice tool to vacuum under furniture including mattresses and couches.
Use A Steamer On The Mattress
Use a steamer to kill fleas. Which steamers work best? You can use an electric carpet cleaner, or a handheld steamer that is specifically designed for killing fleas and ticks on your bedding.
Use the proper precautions when using these devices! Make sure you unplug them from the wall before operating them.
The steam can be very hot, so keep children away from the area being treated. Also, don’t touch any metal parts of the machine while it’s plugged in or running—they will get hot!
After you have finished steaming all of your furniture and mattresses with this method (and any other areas where you’ve seen signs of ticks), vacuum everything thoroughly afterward as well as cleaning all surfaces with soap and water this will help ensure complete elimination of any remaining pests.
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Treat Your Pet’s Bedding
One of the best ways to deal with fleas in your bed is to treat your pet’s bedding. Wash any blankets or pillows that you use for your dog or cat and throw out those that are stained or have been soiled by an animal.
You can also purchase a flea spray for pets, which is usually effective at killing fleas on mattresses, couches and other furniture where your furry friend sleeps.
When it comes to cats and dogs, there are several options:
- Use a flea collar on your pet; this will help prevent them from getting re-infested after they’ve been treated with one of the above methods
- Treat their bedding with a product like Frontline Plus
| Action Items | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Wash all bedding in hot water | Kills fleas, larvae, and eggs |
| Dry bedding on high heat | Eliminates remaining fleas, larvae, and eggs |
| Use flea spray or powder on bed and surrounding area | Kills adult fleas, larvae, and eggs |
| Treat your pet with flea medication | Eliminates and prevents fleas |
Use A Flea Spray On The Mattress
You can also use a flea spray in the bed. Spray your mattress and let it dry, being careful not to get any on your pets or yourself. You can even spray the pets themselves, but make sure they aren’t touching while you do so!
Strip And Drench Your Bed
- Remove the sheets and pillowcases from your bed and wash them in hot water.
- Drench the washing machine with hot water, then wash your sheets and pillowcases through two or three cycles to kill any fleas that may have been clinging to them during your first attempt at stripping them (and their eggs).
- Dry thoroughly in the dryer before putting on new sheets and pillowcases—no one wants damp bedding!
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Vacuum Again
Vacuum again to remove dead fleas, eggs and larvae. You will need to use a vacuum with a beater bar to get into crevices and cracks where the fleas might hide.
A vacuum with HEPA filter is ideal for this purpose because it will trap all of the debris before releasing it back into the air that you breathe. Clean your vacuum thoroughly after you are finished vacuuming so that no stray fleas can be reintroduced into your home!
Discard The Vacuum Bag Or Empty The Canister Wand
Once you have found a safe place to discard the vacuum bag or emptied the canister wand, take it outside. Don’t throw away anything with fleas in it! Take your trash to the dumpster, as they may be able to help you.
DO NOT put the vacuum bag directly into a trash can—you will end up spreading fleas around instead of killing them. DO NOT empty the canister wand into a garbage can—you will spread fleas around instead of killing them.
DO NOT flush any part of your vacuum cleaner down a toilet; this will back up sewage lines and could cause serious damage to whoever has to fix it later on down the line!
DO NOT dispose of used items by putting them in a compost pile (even if they look like food scraps). The heat from decomposition kills all living things—including fleas!
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Check Your Yard And Garden For Fleas
If you want to make sure your home is flea-free, it’s a good idea to take a look at your yard and garden. Fleas are known to hide in the grasses of yards and gardens, so if you leave them unchecked they can reinfest your home.
If you have a lawn that’s full of weeds and tall grasses, consider hiring someone with herbicide sprayer experience to come over and spray down all of those areas for you.
You should also ask them about using granular insecticides as well—they’re cheap, effective, don’t use chemicals that kill bees or other helpful insects (like wasps), and last for months after being applied!
If this seems like too much work or expense for you then consider hiring an exterminator instead; these professionals have access to professional equipment designed specifically for getting rid of flea infestations in yards/gardens without damaging any other ecosystems around there!
| Action Items | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Keep grass and shrubs trimmed short | Reduces flea habitat |
| Remove debris like leaves and grass clippings | Eliminates hiding places for fleas |
| Use cedar chips or diatomaceous earth in outdoor areas | Natural flea repellent |
| Treat your yard with flea spray or powder | Kills fleas and larvae before they enter your home |
| Regularly check your pet for fleas after outdoor play | Early detection and prevention of flea infestations |
Conclusion
Now that you know how to get rid of fleas in the bed, you can get back to enjoying your home. The mattress is important because it’s where we spend so much time resting and sleeping.
If you have pets at home, they may be carrying some fleas on their fur or even inside their bodies. It’s best to treat them before any infestation occurs!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources related to getting rid of fleas in your bed:
Terminix – What to Do if You Find Fleas in Your Bed: This article from Terminix provides a step-by-step guide for getting rid of fleas in your bed, as well as tips for preventing future infestations.
Orkin – How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your Bed: Orkin offers advice on how to identify and treat a flea infestation in your bed, along with tips for reducing the risk of future flea problems.
Country Living – How to Get Rid of Fleas: Top Tips to Keep Your Home Free from the Bloodsucking Pests: This article provides practical tips for getting rid of fleas in your home, including advice on how to clean your bedding and furnishings to prevent further infestations.
FAQs
How do I know if I have fleas in my bed?
You may have fleas in your bed if you wake up with bites on your body, especially on your ankles or legs. You may also notice small, reddish-brown insects on your sheets or mattress.
How do fleas get into my bed?
Fleas can enter your bed in a number of ways, including hitching a ride on your pets, clothing, or bags. They can also enter your home through infested outdoor areas, such as your yard or patio.
Can I get sick from fleas in my bed?
While fleas themselves do not typically spread disease to humans, their bites can cause itching and discomfort, and some people may develop an allergic reaction.
How do I get rid of fleas in my bed?
To get rid of fleas in your bed, you should wash all bedding and linens in hot water, vacuum the mattress and surrounding area, and use flea sprays or powders to treat the mattress and box spring. It’s also important to treat your pets and your home to prevent future infestations.
How can I prevent fleas in my bed?
To prevent fleas in your bed, you should regularly vacuum your home, wash your pets’ bedding and toys, and keep your yard free of debris that may attract fleas. You can also use flea preventative treatments on your pets to reduce the risk of transmission.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
