Getting Rid of Fleas: Does Vacuuming Work?

If your pet has fleas, you've probably focused your initial efforts on providing relief for the animal. But, after the pet is comfortable, how do you get rid of fleas in your home? The first instinct for many is to vacuum. This method of flea control is a great start, but will not fully eliminate fleas from your pet's environment.

The Flea Cycle
Flea eggs, larvae and adult fleas live in carpet, rugs, bedding, pillows and other soft, woven fabrics in the home. Initial vacuuming removes live fleas, but not eggs and larvae securely attached to fibers. Since the lifecycle of a flea lasts approximately three weeks, you need to persistently work to break the reproduction cycle. A female flea can lay 150 to 300 eggs per week, according to the Placerville Veterinary Clinic in California. Daily vacuuming will partially strip your home of fleas as they multiply .

How to Vacuum
Use a bagless vacuum for best results. Thoroughly vacuum all exposed floors, then move furniture to access hard to reach areas. Don't forget to vacuum hard floors and area rugs. Use the vacuum attachments to clean couches, fabric chairs and soft window treatments.

After cleaning, take the vacuum's waste receptacle outside and empty it into a garbage bag. Place the bag directly into a covered waste receptacle. Emptying the contents into a compost pile or the yard waste pile will allow the pests to infest your yard.

Other Flea Elimination Methods
Since you can't cleanse every inch of carpet, flooring and rugs in your home, implement several additional methods of flea control to get rid of fleas. As soon as you notice fleas in the home, use a chemical fogger to treat your home. Since a flea fogger disperses airborne pesticides, remove all people, pets and plants from the home when using the fogger. After the chemical flea treatment, wipe down all surfaces with a non-toxic cleanser. Make sure to extensively clean the kitchen and any areas where you prepare food.

Wash all fabric items including comforters, blankets, pillows, plush toys and curtains. Use a hot water wash cycle and a hot heat drying cycle to remove fleas, eggs and larvae.

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Sources and Suggested Further Reading:
Placerville Veterinary Clinic: Flea Life Cycle
Personal experience