The Best Ways to Get Rid of Fleas in the Home
- Keeping your pets well-groomed is the first step in the battle against fleas in your home. On a daily basis, brush your pets with a flea comb. Use a layer of petroleum on the prongs of the comb to trap the fleas. Drop any fleas you find into a cup of soapy water. The soap breaks the water tension and the water drowns the fleas. Bathe your pets using a flea shampoo once every two to three weeks to kill and repel fleas. Once a month, apply a topical flea treatment. Available at your local pet store or vet's office, these topical treatments kill fleas on the pets.
- After your pet is treated, turn your attention to your home. Start by vacuuming all carpet and upholstered furniture, using a crevice attachment for the cracks of furniture and along baseboards. Move furniture, as well, to vacuum underneath. For an added boost, sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the carpet to kill the fleas. Diatomaceous earth is the ground-up fossils of marine animals, available at pet stores. Follow up the vacuuming with steam cleaning. Fill the water receptacle with hot water if your steamer does not heat the water.
- To kill fleas on linens and pet beds, wash non-dry-clean-only items in the washing machine on the hot setting. Then dry on high heat. Use your regular laundry detergent. Alternatively, add vinegar to the wash to repel fleas. Fleas dislike the smell of vinegar.
- Water traps allow you to catch and drown fleas with little effort on your part. Fill a baking dish with an inch of soapy water. Or, instead of soapy water, add an inch of white distilled vinegar. Place the dish in the middle of a carpeted room. Place two or three floater candles or tea lights in the liquid and light them. Turn off all lights in the room, and leave the trap overnight. Attracted by the light of the candles, fleas will jump to reach the light and land in the liquid, drowning.