Fleas are wingless, parasitic pests that depend on hosts' blood, usually pets, for survival. They are tiny and can inflict painful bites and transmit diseases such as the plague, flea-borne typhus, cat scratch disease, tapeworms, and more. Some diseases can be especially dangerous to people with weak immune systems, children, and the elderly. Unfortunately, getting rid of fleas is very difficult to do on your own. Infestations can be difficult to notice in the early stages, and fleas are becoming increasingly resistant to the various treatments available.

If you believe that fleas have started to multiply in your home, now is the time to learn why you do not need pets to have fleas. Get educated on various home remedies for residential flea infestations, and discover everything you need to know about flea eggs. Suppose you are struggling with a flea infestation. In that case, HomeShield Pest Control provides pest control in San Diego County to help you eliminate these dangerous invaders with safe and effective treatments that can prevent your flea problem from returning.

If you spot fleas in your home, reach out to a pest control professional as soon as possible before they can reproduce and lead to a full-blown problem throughout your home.

I Have No Pets, So Why Do I Have Fleas In My Home?

While it might seem unfair that you are dealing with fleas when you do not have pets in your home, there are many reasons why fleas might have invaded, including;

  • You recently moved into a flea-infested home: If you just moved onto the property, fleas may have already been there even if the place was empty for a long time, as fleas can survive for over half a year without a blood meal. These fleas will not need pets to start thriving, as they will pick a human host when nothing else is available.
  • You brought flea-ridden furniture into your home: If you did not have fleas until you got a used couch, it might be the culprit. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to detect the presence of fleas in used furniture. You might also bring fleas in through infested clothing, bedding, and even books. It is a good idea to hold off on bringing in used items while dealing with a flea problem and to only purchase items you can reasonably ensure will be safe in the future.
  • You are dealing with a different pest infestation: While fleas commonly come in through infected pets, they can also use mice and rats to get in. In this case, it is imperative that you treat every infestation that you have, as treating only one will allow the other one to multiply and cause many issues, including spreading diseases throughout your household.

It does not matter if you have pets or not; you can still be the target of fleas. While fleas are pretty difficult to eliminate on your own, you can still significantly impact stopping them. Read on to learn about various home remedies for residential flea infestation.

flea in a rug

Home Remedies For Residential Flea Infestations

Do-it-yourself (DIY) home remedies for fleas are often ineffective, but this does not mean that you should feel powerless when faced with an infestation. Many remedies can help keep a flea problem at bay when coupled with professional flea control services from a reputable pest control company. Here is a list of effective home remedies that you can use right away:

  • Vacuuming: Fleas are no match for a strong vacuum cleaner. Because fleas can often hide in carpets and rugs where babies and children spend a considerable amount of time, it is a good idea to vacuum your home regularly. Vacuuming can address every stage of the flea life cycle but should be done daily or at least every other day for maximum effectiveness. While you will undoubtedly remember to vacuum rugs, you might also want to take care of curtains. After vacuuming, it is best to get rid of the vacuum cleaner bags in the event that fleas survive the process.
  • Plants that repel fleas: While this might have mixed results, it does not hurt to try adding plants that repel fleas from your home. Some of the best ones are catnip (which is also great if you have a cat), citronella (which might help deter mosquitoes), eucalyptus, fleawort, and lavender. It is important to remember that plants alone won’t keep fleas away, and infestations need appropriate professional treatments and products for your unique situation and needs.
  • Washing bedding: Fleas can hide in bedding, but luckily, they likely will not survive the washing machine’s hot water, followed by the dryer’s high heat. Washing your bedding every week makes sense when there is no flea infestation, but when dealing with these biting insects, it is best to do it every few days.
  • Steam cleaning: Fleas are sensitive to heat, so steam cleaning can help eliminate a flea problem. Steam cleaning is quite effective at removing flea dirt and dead fleas and has some effect on fully grown fleas, although commercial steam cleaners like the ones used by professionals will yield much better results. If you opt to steam clean as part of your efforts to eradicate fleas, try to do it at least three times a week.

Using home remedies to eliminate fleas can quickly become an all-consuming full-time job. When it comes to getting rid of these pesky bugs, it might be best to get help from a team of licensed technicians who can help you eliminate them with guaranteed results every time. If you have a flea problem in your home, it is vital that you learn everything there is about flea eggs.

Flea Eggs: Everything You Need To Know

When it comes to eliminating fleas, learning about their life cycle can be very helpful because exterminating only adult fleas will not take care of an infestation if flea eggs remain. While you can spot fleas relatively quickly if you know what to look for and are pretty resilient, flea eggs have a soft, off-white shell and are so small that you might never notice them. If you see dark specks on furniture or pet fur, you might think that those are flea eggs when they are, in fact, flea dirt, the remnants of flea activity composed in part of dry and digested blood. One way to eliminate flea dirt and eggs is to vacuum your house and wash your bedding and curtains regularly. Be aware that flea eggs could potentially survive in vacuum cleaner bags, making it a necessity to throw them out correctly as soon as it is convenient.

Eliminating flea eggs should be an essential part of the extermination process and must be done using the home remedies described above and professional treatments. Read on to find out the best way to get rid of fleas in your house.

Complete Flea Control Services For Residential Spaces

Complete flea control services for residential spaces are the best way to get rid of fleas safely and for good. Our technicians provide top-rated pest control in San Diego County to help you eliminate these biting insects as quickly as possible while keeping your household safe. To do so, we use green pesticide solutions proven to work and provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Because we are locally owned and operated, we understand the unique issues affecting homeowners in San Diego County and have successfully treated thousands of homes. When it comes to fleas, we know how to exterminate them at every stage of their life cycle, from egg to larva and from pupa to adult. We also have state-of-the-art equipment to complement commercial products with natural flea treatments and techniques you can use between home visits. And best of all, our methods are often effective on other types of pests, reducing the risk of different infestations.

Fleas are parasitic pests that can transmit dangerous diseases, including flea-borne typhus and the plague, and cause multiple issues for your pets. At HomeShield Pest Control, we protect what matters most to you. From your home to your business, we have the expertise you need to eliminate fleas safely and for good. During your initial visit with our licensed technicians, you will quickly see why our customers love us and leave glowing reviews online. Now is the time to eliminate fleas from your home and keep them from returning for good.