London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Sep 12, 2025

How to get rid of fleas – for a happier home and healthier pets

How to get rid of fleas – for a happier home and healthier pets

It's flea season! Follow our step-by-step guide on how to get rid of fleas in the house

As Britain braces itself for freezing temperatures millions of households are set to crank up the heating, and for longer periods of time. But in doing so are inadvertently providing fleas with the optimum conditions needed to multiply. Yuk. Want to know how to get rid of fleas? If the answer is yes, then read on.

From natural ways to remove fleas to getting rid of fleas from your home and pets, we’ll tell you how to get rid of these dreaded pests for your house with our step-by-step guide.

How to get rid of fleas




Did you know that fleas can multiply by 800 million in just a matter of days? Fleas live on their host, but eggs can be left on carpets, bedding and even you. Yes, you heard that right!

Warm environments lead to flea infestations, which is why you often see outbreaks at this time of year. Flea pupae – the cocoons in which fleas encase themselves in – can lie dormant in homes for months. They start hatching as temperatures indoors rise, with central heating being a catalyst. The warmer the home, the faster flea eggs develop into adults.

Dr. Karlien Heyrman, from Pets at Home, explains, ‘If left untreated, long term flea infestations can cause real suffering for pets – including dogs, cats and even small furries. Repeated bites can be uncomfortable and itchy for the pet, sometimes resulting in hair loss or a secondary skin infection. Fleas can and may also bite humans in the most serious of cases. Regular, preventative treatment is a sensible precaution for all pet owners.’ Enough said.

The first step after discovering you have a flea infestation is to clean everything that comes into contact with the host. This advice guide will walk you through the process of ridding yourselves and your home from these pesky blood-suckers.

1. Quarantine infested pets




Keep infected pets away from others and out of key living spaces to prevent the fleas from spreading.

2. Clean, clean, clean


Only adult fleas live on your pet but the eggs are in the environment. This is why, if your pets have fleas you must treat and clean your house as well.

Collect all bedding, throws, rugs and clothing and wash them in soapy water – washing liquid will do. The soapy water is known to kill the eggs, larvae, pupae and adults.

Vacuum everything. That includes all the carpets, furniture, cracks in the floor if you have wooden flooring, behind doors, mattresses and anywhere else that collects dust. Best practise is to throw away the dustbag or empty the canister after each clean.

The remaining flea larvae can be dealt with by having the carpets steam-cleaned. You could also shampoo your carpet with insecticidal shampoo or have a pest control expert professionally apply an infrared heat treatment to the carpet, which kills all stages of fleas. However, this type of treatment is costly.

Wash down your pets usual resting zones with plenty of soap and water to drown any existing fleas that might be awaiting their return. Check the label of your pet bedding and wash regularly at the temperature shown.

3. Check that you haven’t been infected


Fleas attack humans, too. If you suspect that you might be a victim of an infestation, it is best to take precautionary measures. Bathe one or two times daily with soap.

Comb your hair with a specially designed flea comb designed to drag fleas out from hiding. A lice comb may be sufficient if the flea population in your home is relatively small.

Anything you touch is a vector for fleas. Wash it thoroughly.

4. Make sure pets are thoroughly treated for fleas




You need to make sure that you have effectively removed all fleas from your host.

Wash your pet with soapy water (this might prove a little difficult for cats). Wash the neck first. This way, fleas don’t jump up to the head during the bath. Keep lathering your pet for up to 15 minutes to ensure that all the fleas have been killed. Rinse your pet under lukewarm water for several minutes, making sure to cleanse all the soap from its skin.

Comb your pet daily with a flea comb and dispose of any fleas you find in soapy water. Alternatively, you can use a lint roller to pat your animal down. This method works best on short haired animals.

Please note: You may want to take your pet to the vet before giving the animal a bath or using an insecticide shampoo to ensure the pet’s safety. Some pet supply stores will bathe your animal for a small fee.

Take caution when applying flea treatment to yourself and your pet. Only use treatments for the animal they are meant for. Cats and dogs may require different treatments.

How to prevent fleas




Prevention is always better than cure, so here are a few tips to control any future infestations.

5. Take further precautions


Restrict pets to areas that are easily cleaned or changeable.

Fleas love carpet fibres so be sure to vacuum as often as you can. Dispose of vacuum bags immediately after use.
Lay towels anywhere that your pet is likely to sit, and wash them all every week until the fleas are gone, and every so often after that.

Comb your pets daily with a flea comb and record you find so you can identify any surges in the flea population. Use soapy water to kill them.

Natural ways to remove fleas




Spread salt over the surface of your carpet. The salt crystal will attaches itself to the flea, drying it out. After 2-3 days, vacuum the salted area very thoroughly, making sure to pick all the salt and flea carcasses from the carpet. Repeat the process.

Make your own herbal flea bath. Take two cups fresh rosemary leaves and add them to two pints of water. Boil for approximately thirty minutes. Strain the liquid, discard the leaves and mix it with up to a gallon of warm water. Pour this over your pet. Do not rinse off, but allow your pet to air dry or dab them lightly with a towel or tissue paper.

Tips and warnings


Always check with your vet for potential allergens. Please do not use tea tree oil, cedar oil and citrus oil on cats. It could be potentially fatal.

When using any chemicals, follow the instructions carefully.

Make sure you wash your hands before and after eating and using chemicals, especially children.

We hope this how to get rid of fleas article will help to control your flea infestation.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
Elon Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire Under Ambitious Tesla Pay Plan
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
Burning the Minister’s House Helped Protesters to Win Justice: Prabowo Fires Finance Minister in Wake of Indonesia Protests
Brazil Braces for Fallout from Bolsonaro Trial by corrupted judge
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
Nearly 40 Years Later: Nike Changes the Legendary Slogan Just Do It
Generations Born After 1939 Unlikely to Reach Age One Hundred, New Study Finds
End to a four-year manhunt in New Zealand: the father who abducted his children to the forests was killed, the three siblings were found
Germany Suspends Debt Rules, Funnels €500 Billion Toward Military and Proxy War Strategy
EU Prepares for War
BMW Eyes Growth in China with New All‑Electric Neue Klasse Lineup
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
US Justice Department Launches Criminal Mortgage-Fraud Probe into Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
Escalating Drug Trafficking and Violence in Latin America: A Growing Crisis
US and Taiwanese Defence Officials Held Secret Talks in Alaska
Report: Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission in North Korea Ordered by Trump in 2019 Ended in Failure
×