Pest Problems

Sleep Tight, Don’t Let the Fleas Bite: Tips to Get Rid of Fleas in Bed

Fantastic Team
Published: May 03/2019
Last update: Jun 08/2023
10min read
Views: 389

Fleas are the living nightmare of every pet owner. A flea infestation is a scary experience both for your pet companion and family. These bloodsuckers basically have superpowers. They can jump really high, are extremely fast, and on top of all that – their legs are so strong, that once the bug attaches to its victim, it becomes downright impossible to remove.

In this helpful guide, the Fantastic Sevices team will explain how to get rid of fleas in the house.

So, if:

You’re looking for home remedies to get rid of fleas
Want to sell your home and need to take care of an infestation

We are here to answer all of your questions.

How can you get fleas in bed?

Fleas are usually carried home by an unsuspecting human or pet. This pest is a hitchhiker and when not using you, or your pet, as hosts, it can also enter your home through old furniture that you’ve bought. It’s even possible for fleas to enter your home through cracks on the floor, although that is relatively rare.

Once in the confines of your house, the fleas will feed and reproduce. The eggs laid on your dog will fall off into the carpets, soft furnishings and bedding. Larvae will hatch from the eggs, mature, and then lay eggs of their own.

Most common signs of a flea infestation

Flea bites marks

The first thing you should look out for if you suspect that you have fleas in your bed is bite marks on your skin. And just to be clear, fleas won’t attack you unless they have to. If their initial food source, which is your pet, is gone or the bugs have left it for some reason, the closest thing to dinner would be you. Flea bite marks have a very distinguished look, a lot different from mosquito or bed bug ones, for example.

The typical bite is small in size and has a reddish circle around it. You can also find pimples scattered on your legs and feet. Note that a flea bite can cause swelling and a rash. There are even cases in which people develop serious allergic reactions. If you discover bite marks on your skin, make sure to check your pet’s coat for the jumping vermin.

Pets showing signs of irritation

Generally, a healthy cat or dog rarely starts scratching its skin for no reason. As soon as your pet shows any signs of irritation, quickly examine its fur for the bloodsucking pest. The first areas you should check are the head, neck, and chest.

Sometimes, if the infestation is more serious, you may notice bald patches on your pet’s body from all the scratching and biting. Keep in mind that your cat or dog can also develop an allergic reaction. When fleas bite, they leave their saliva behind, which can cause rashes and red spots.

Fleas hiding in the linen and covers

If you spot real-life fleas in the linen or on the mattress, congratulations, there’s a high probability that you have an infestation at your hands. This sort of pest is really small, we are talking about only 1.5 to 3.2 millimetres and to make things even worse – fleas are amazing at hiding. This means that you’ll have the chance to see them only if the infestation has gotten out of control.

Dark spots on the linen

Another thing to look out for is reddish-brown spots on your bed that could also be visible around your pet’s sleeping area. Yup, these specs are exactly what you think – faeces. Bear in mind that those small spots highly resemble dirt.

Here is how to figure out if you’ve found dirt or actual bug excrement:

Gather a few of the specs
Place them on a white paper towel
Add a few drops of water and wait for the spots to dissolve a bit
If the specs turn a reddish-brown colour, they are definitely flea droppings

You noticed sure signs of an infestation?

Benefit from a professional flea removal service.

A flea infestation is no laughing matter. They may cause your pet to become anaemic if left in his fur too long. Fleas also can cause allergic reactions and carry diseases, the most famous of which is the Bubonic plague. Even though this pandemic hasn’t shown its face for millennia, we should always strive to get rid of all kinds of bugs from our houses.

How to get rid of the fleas in bed

Now that we’ve covered the signs of an infestation, it’s time to talk about how to get rid of those fleas in your bed. Below we have listed a few easy methods that you can try yourself.

1. Carefully gather and wash all linen, covers and pillows

This may sound like a lot of work but it could help kill the fleas hiding within the linen. With a little bit of luck, you may be able to catch them while they are few in number and prevent a more serious infestation.

For this method to work, you need to set your washing machine on a hot cycle and you can also run everything through the dryer later.

2. Vacuum the mattress and carpets

Vacuuming the infested areas can also prove helpful. You won’t just get rid of insects and their eggs, but also dried blood and faeces that serve as additional food sources for fleas.

Make sure to thoroughly vacuum the mattress and its seams, upholstered headboard (if you have one), the carpets in the bedroom and other areas you think there could be fleas, curtains, any upholstered furniture. Don’t forget to also vacuum around your pets’ sleeping area.

Make sure to empty the vacuum cleaner outside and in a garbage bag, so the fleas don’t come back into the house. After you’re done with the initial cleaning, vacuum the previously infested areas at least once a week. In case the flea attack is more serious, steam clean before vacuuming.

You should know, that your problem likely won’t be over with only one vacuum sweep. Depending on when you’ve found the fleas, you might already have an infestation. Each vacuum cleaning removes the top layer of mature pests. There’s plenty more in hiding.

Keep in mind that chances are vacuuming alone may not be enough. The fleas are tiny and hide in all dark areas of your home; in that time, they reproduce constantly. It usually takes around 3 to 4 months for fleas to go through their natural life cycle. Vacuuming will take care of the mature fleas, but not their offspring which are in hiding.

3. Wash your pet’s bedding too

Once you’ve vacuumed your pet’s sleeping place, gather the bedding and wash it with hot water and a bit of detergent. The main goal here is to drown any remaining fleas.

It’s a good idea to do this every week as a prevention method. If your pet likes to sleep with your kid or in your bed, repeat the process, but this time with sheets. If your infestation is severe and you see fleas jumping all around, destroy the bedding altogether.

4. Check your pet and use the comb-cleaning method

If you found fleas taking walks on your pet’s back, buy a flea comb to remove them. The task may seem easy enough, but it has its specifics.

Here is how to use flea combs:

First, you need to prepare a mixture of water and liquid dish soap. Place it close by, as you’ll need to dip the flea comb in it fast.
The areas you should begin with are your pet’s head and around its ears. Comb those and after you are done, check the tail and under its legs for more fleas.
The next step is to raise the fur by combing it backwards.
At this point, you’ll see the fleas trying to escape. Move fast and catch the bugs with the tool. Dip the comb into the solution you made to kill the pest.
Dry out the comb with a towel and continue with the process until you’ve removed all of the bugs.

Calm down your pet while you comb it by giving it treats. It will make the whole process a bit less stressful for the animal.

5. Try a flea spray

Invest in a quality flea spray. You can use it on carpets, furniture, fabric materials, and even on your furry friend (only if the label says so, of course). There are natural ingredient options on the market that you can try out.

6. Buy a fogger

A near-professional solution is to get yourself a fogger to demolish the fleas. You can find the product in spray form or you can buy the so-called flea bomb. When working with either of the two options, make sure to hide all of your dishes, cover your food, disable the fire alarm, and close all of your doors and windows. You must leave your home for a couple of hours after you’ve applied this type of treatment, too. Don’t forget to take your pets with you.

However, while DIY methods can deal with smaller infestations, you may need professional help when it comes to the larger ones.

7. Hire a professional pest controller

In summary, this is a nasty and hard pest to deal with it, but now you know how to get rid of fleas in the house. If you don’t fancy the idea of testing potential bug poop and disposing of insect corpses, why not get a trained professional to take care of the situation? With that being said, Fantastic Services is here to save the day!

We offer expert solutions for any type of pest out there, including fleas. The sort of treatment we use for flea cases is called fumigation and depending on the level of infestation, you can book from one to three visits. If you’re not sure about the scale of the invasion, the pest control technician can determine that on-site and recommend you a number of treatments.

At the end of the service, you will also be advised how you can prevent the infestation from happening again. Don’t wait any longer and make your home a pest-free place once more with the help of Fantastic Services.

You noticed sure signs of a flea infestation?

Benefit from a professional flea removal service.

How long does it take to get rid of fleas in bed?

The process of doing this requires patience on your part. Infestations can take up to four months to eliminate since fleas take this long to complete their life cycle. Female fleas can lay up to 50 eggs a day, which hatch into flea larvae that burrow into linen, carpets, sofas, your pet’s bedding, and anywhere else in your home.

After spinning cocoons around themselves, the larvae hatch into new fleas that bite your pet and start the cycle over again. After spinning cocoons around themselves, the larvae hatch into new fleas that bite your pet and start the cycle over again. You must treat your house and your pet if you want to get rid of a flea infestation for good.

How can you prevent a new flea infestation?

Keep your house clean – Besides regularly vacuuming around the house, you should wash on high-temperature bedding or fabrics where your dog has been. Hoover, the sofa, paying particular attention to all the cracks and crevices. When you are done hoovering, empty the vacuum cleaner bag! Fleas are likely to present wherever your dog has spent a longer period. It can even be your car.
Don’t let fleas take over your garden – Your wonderful green area can become a breeding ground for fleas brought into your yard by wild animals and your dog. The best way to ensure your garden is free of unwanted guests is to enlist the help of trained fleas pest control specialists. You should treat your house, yard, and pet at the same time. Combining methods works best for eradicating fleas and preventing them from coming back.
Give your pet more frequent baths – Yes, we know that many animals dread the idea of being washed, but it’s still better than being munched on by fleas day and night. When you’re done cleaning the animal’s bedding, give your pet a nice warm bath. This way you’ll drown the pest lurking in its fur. Of course, only use soap that is safe for your pet.

Takeaways

Fleas are really tiny and hard to spot. If you see them freely jumping on your bed, it means that you have a bigger problem at your hands than you suspected.
Note that this type of pest can cause allergic reactions. This goes both for you and your pet companion.
Be extra careful when disposing of the bag of your vacuum cleaner after you’ve cleaned the bugs from your bed. You don’t want to invite the creatures back inside the property.
The best way to get rid of a flea infestation in your house is to hire a professional pest control technician. Experts know exactly how to kill both fleas and their eggs for good.

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