Skip to Content

How to Get Rid of Fleas in the Carpet?

Dog laying down on gray carpet

There are many ways to get rid of fleas like vacuuming, using flea traps, flea sprays, and much more. There may be times when getting rid of fleas will be a hassle, and there will be other times when it will seem like the infestation will never end. Keep reading to know more about how you can get rid of fleas in the carpet.

When to Spray for Fleas in the Carpet?

Carpets are safe havens for fleas. When you notice your pets have fleas, you instantly use the anti-fleas spray in your home, especially for fleas on the carpet.

It’s possible that your pets, especially dogs and cats, are scratching themselves continuously or spending a lot of time outside because they have fleas. If you notice a salt-and-pepper pattern on their carpets or Bedding, it likely contains flea eggs and digested blood from adult fleas. This is the right time to take precautionary measures to kill the fleas.

Examine them for evidence of bites, such as scabs, which are common owing to hairless skin; if these wounds continue to bleed, this could suggest an infestation with other parasites, such as ticks. Check for adult fleas and microscopic black dandruff-like specks known as “flea dirt” crawling about on your pet.

Ways to Find Fleas in The Carpets

Woman looking into white carpet with magnifying glass

If your pet has had a flea infestation for a few weeks, the females have certainly had enough blood to breed. This means that your carpets (assuming you let your pet on them) are likely home to eggs (or other juvenile stages) that can grow into adults. This can lead to a seemingly never-ending war in which another generation appears just when you believe you’ve won.

However, unless there are apparent symptoms (they are leaping on you, you are receiving bite marks, etc.), I urge that you establish their presence before wasting time and money trying to fix the problem. To do so, simply follow these simple steps.

White Socks – Put on white socks and vigorously scrub the carpet with a kitchen broom. Fleas that may be hiding in the fibers will be disturbed by this movement, and once they jump on your socks, they should be visible on your white socks.

Homemade Flea Trap – If that doesn’t help you find anything in the carpet, the next step is to create a homemade flea trap to attract them. A tea light (ideally battery powered), a dish of water, and some dish soaps are all required (click here to read my full guide). If the trap doesn’t catch anything (you can set one up in each room), this very much verifies that your carpets are free of adult fleas. However, there is a chance that eggs, larvae, and pupa exist, and finding them can be difficult due to their small size.

What if you don’t have carpet, but you still have fleas? Check out our post “How to Get Rid of Fleas without Carpet” to learn more.

Where to Spray for Fleas in the Carpet?

Person using a sprayer on a rug hung up outdoors

If your carpet is not vacuumed or treated with flea control, fleas can stay on it and lay their eggs. They often hatch within a few days of being laid. These cunning tiny organisms can live on your carpet for up to three months. However, if they have a host to feed on, they may be able to stay for a long time. So, ensure to get rid of the fleas as soon as possible!

There can be several ways to spray for fleas on the carpet. Bright Side has disclosed some super cool life hacks for fleas. Keep on reading for an interesting and beneficial piece of knowledge.

Door Entrance – The door entrance is the most vulnerable spot. Just like other living beings, they also use door entrances for locomotion. Spray your hallway, bedrooms, backyard doors entrance as well as the main entrance door.

Spray the Bedding – when it is confirmed that you have fleas, then try to spray your Bedding and your pets’ Bedding. Change the bed sheets regularly and wash them in hot water.

Spray Under the Furniture – they usually hide under the bulky furniture to save their lives. You need to be very careful while spraying. Try not to leave any hidden place.

How to Get Rid of Fleas in the Carpet?

Close up of flea on fabric

Fleas are little parasitic bugs, measuring about a quarter of an inch long on average. They can leap because of their large hind legs. They are used in textiles and carpets because they reproduce fast. Due to their rapid growth and the potential for allergic responses or skin irritation, fleas must be treated as soon as possible.

It’s very uncommon for these little pests to swiftly migrate from one kind of living object to another, whether it be a pet, carpet, piece of furniture, or even a living person. In addition to being unpleasant, flea bites may transmit diseases like murine typhus. Antibiotics may cure this illness’s symptoms, including headache, fever, and even bodily pains.

Guidebook to Getting Rid of Fleas in Your Carpet

How to manual on wood floor

It’s a good thing that there are flea cures available to assist you to keep fleas at bay. The following are some ways to get rid of fleas in the carpet.

Vacuum Your Carpet Thoroughly The carpet can also be steam cleaned. Take the vacuum outside after vacuuming and seal the dirt in a bag before discarding it. Fleas can still be adhered to the vacuum cleaner’s interior and spread to pets, people, and carpets!

Wash – All Bedding and linens must be washed for at least 20 minutes in hot water (120 degrees Fahrenheit). Fleas, eggs, larvae, pupae, and any flea filth left on them will all be killed.

Using a Professional-Grade Flea Spray A flea fogger is best practice; spray the carpets (follow instructions on the bottle). If you have pets, check sure it’s chemical-free and pet-friendly.

 Allow Fleas to Die on Their Own – Fleas on carpet can be killed with a non-toxic flea spray or a flea fogger, but it will take some time for them to die completely. Allow up to an hour for best results, then clean your carpets to remove fleas and flea eggs.

Reapply Flea Powder – If fleas reappear, reapply flea powder for carpets or sprinkle diatomaceous earth on the area and vacuum with a fleabag attachment to collect fleas that are still moving.

How to Get Fleas Out of Carpet Without Vacuum?

Shop vac on concrete with a brick wall in the background

The good news is that some great natural treatments are very DIY-friendly if you are ready to roll up your sleeves a little. They’re also quite affordable, safe to use around your pets and family, and frequently already have them in the cabinet.

Diatomaceous Earth

bag of diatomaceous earth spilling out of a white sack onto brown paper

This is one of the most popular and effective DIY approaches. It works by slicing into the flea’s exoskeleton, causing damage and moisture loss, leading to their death. Please use food-grade DE instead of the pool-grade equivalent, as the latter contains components that are not suitable for indoor use.

Baking Soda

Wooden bowl of baking soda

I like this choice for killing fleas because it is frequently found in the kitchen. A single box (weighing around 2.2 pounds) can easily cover a 15 by 15-foot room (or about 4m x 4m for our non-US friends), plus it is incredibly cheap and readily accessible at most grocery stores. It works by dehydrating fleas (and other stages); for more information, see my instructions here.

Borax Powder

Box of Borax laundry detergent booster

This is an excellent alternative for DIY flea control and is often used to erase persistent stains on fabrics. You can use roughly the same amount as baking soda, and it’s also quite cheap. Please don’t mix this up with boric acid, which I don’t advocate using because it risks young children. Instead, I recommend that you use borax powder.

Salt

Salt shaker fallen over onto a wooden table

The grains of salt have an abrasive crystalline structure that can damage the exoskeleton of fleas when they come into touch with them. Salt is also a fantastic dehydrator, which adds to its potency. You will notice a difference if you apply a thin layer of salt to your carpets.

Trap for Fleas

Silver bowl full of water

This is a simple flea trap that you can make yourself. It’s as simple as filling a bowl with water. Mix the solution with a few drops of dishwashing soap. Then, place the bowl on the carpet and a light source nearby, such as a lamp or a rechargeable light. At night, turn it on. The light will entice the fleas to come out. They’ll hop up to it and land in the bowl. The dishwashing soap is essential because it prevents the wingless critters from escaping.

Natural Flea Spray

Person spraying the contents of a small bottle onto their opposite hand

An herbal flea spray is a simple approach to getting rid of fleas. It’s not difficult to make.

  • Simply combine 4 liters vinegar, 2 liters water, 500 ml lemon juice, and 250 ml witch hazel in a large mixing bowl.
  • Mix it thoroughly and fill a spray bottle halfway with the mixture.
  • Spray the mixture on your carpets, furnishings, and bedding.
  • It can also be used in cracks, windowsills, and other holes. This spray will repel fleas away from your house.

How to Make the Best Carpet Powder for Fleas?

The following is a recipe to make an effective carpet powder for fleas.

Purchase the Ingredients

Cashier, smiling and scanning products

Purchase table salt, baking soda, and diatomaceous earth from a nearby retailer (or online). Make sure you have roughly 2 pounds per room because we’re mixing them in equal parts. If you have three carpeted rooms, you’ll need 9 pounds in total or 3 pounds of each product. These items are inexpensive (except for DE), and you may already have them.

Spread the Powder

Bottles of baby powder spilled over onto a table.

To spread the powder throughout the rooms, build a handmade shaker by punching small holes in a large plastic tub (ice cream containers work well, just make sure you fasten the lid with some tape). I suggest producing enough for one room at a time, then repeating the process for the others. Leave it down for roughly two weeks and sweep the area each morning.

Vacuum the Powder Away

Person vacuuming powder off of a carpet

After the two weeks are up, suck it all up with a bag-based vacuum cleaner and dispose of it safely in the trash bin. If you have a major flea infestation, continue the method until all fleas, including their eggs/larvae/pupa, are dead. However, in my experience, if I leave it alone and follow these exact instructions, I rarely have to do it again.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Please note: We are not veterinarians and you use our advice at your own discretion. We always recommend that you consult your veterinarian whenever you have health-related conditions your furbaby is facing. With that in mind, as pet parents ourselves, we wish nothing but the best for your pet and their healthy and happy lives.