Get Rid of Fleas in Carpet
Fleas are most commonly a problem in the warmer weather months. However, they can stick around all year long if you don’t get an infestation under control.
You’re more likely to experience fleas in the home if you have a pet. Have you experienced quick bites on your feet or legs but didn’t see anything there? Are your pets scratching like crazy?
You might have an infestation of fleas in your home. If you have carpet, they can hide out here. Let’s look at ways that you can get rid of fleas in carpet.
Why Are Fleas in Your Home?
Fleas are a true annoyance when it comes to pests. They bite, they jump and they reproduce at a rapid rate. Your pet can easily pick up fleas when they go outside.
Fleas can even jump through the screen of your window if you have a pet that’s sitting nearby inside the home.
If your pet hasn’t been recently treated with a flea product, the flea will immediately begin to feed off the animal and lay eggs. If your pet isn’t treated along with your carpets, fleas can actually cause your pet to become severely anemic to a life threatening degree.
The Baking Soda and Salt Method
The long fibers of your carpet make for the perfect flea hideout. You have two common ingredients in your home that you can use to kill them and their eggs. Sprinkling baking soda and salt on your carpet and leaving it for a little while can drastically reduce the prevalence of fleas.
Make sure to move your furniture and get under there as well. If you really want to get the products deep into carpet, use a broom to work it down in there. Applying anything to carpeted areas can simply flush the fleas into a safe corner. The best of this treatment option is that it’s affordable and safe for kids and pets.
Essential Oils
There are a few essential oils that are safe for your family and pets, but they’ll kill and repel fleas. Cedar oil and peppermint are two commonly used oils for flea treatment. They should be safe on your carpet, but always test a spot before using a homemade spray on your entire rug.
Vacuuming and Disposal
After you’ve left the baking soda and salt on your carpet, you’ll want to vacuum everything really well. Use a vacuum that you can trust to contain the fleas and eggs inside of the bag or canister.
Go slowly over each spot until you don’t see any baking soda or salt coming up. You’ll be picking up fleas in the bag, so take the vacuum outside to remove the bag or dump the canister.
Whichever method you choose to remove fleas and flea eggs in your carpet should be repeated at least once per week, if not more. Don’t get discouraged by the process. Fleas can lay up to 40 eggs per day. If those eggs survive and hatch, you’ll have an ongoing cycle of fleas for a little bit.
For severe infestations, you could be dealing with residual fleas for up to three months. Get into a routine of treating your carpet every few days. Eventually, the fleas will disappear. You can take appropriate steps to prevent a flea infestation again in the future.
