Top 5 Ways to Get Rid of Pesky Fleas in West Palm Beach
March 14, 2023
Fleas are tiny reddish-brown wingless blood-sucking insects with hard shells around their bodies. These small insects are about 1/8 of an inch long and are difficult to spot.
While fleas are uncomfortable, they aren't dangerous to humans. However, fleas reproduce quickly. It doesn't take long for an infestation to begin.
The most common fleas in Florida are cat fleas and dog fleas. Despite their names, these fleas host many different types of warm-blooded animals including livestock.
Fleas are especially common in West Palm Beach. This is because it's warm year-round and fleas are resilient. Even in the harshest and coldest winters, they lay dormant until it's warm enough to latch onto a new host.
Have you spotted fleas in your home or on your pet? Follow along to discover 5 ways to get rid of fleas in West Palm Beach.
What Do Fleas Look Like?
Adult fleas are almost invisible to the naked eye. However, if you ever catch one jumping around, you'll notice they have tiny red-brown bodies. They are dark oval-shaped insects, more commonly found on household pets.
Fleas have long legs, which help them leap incredible heights. They can easily jump up to 8 inches vertically or about 150 times their own height.
Before adult fleas mature, they are larvae. Flea larvae hatch from eggs dropped by adult female fleas. They only take 2 to 5 days to hatch. Flea larvae are 2-5 mm long. They are white worm-looking insects that feed on flea dirt before moving onto the pupal stage.
How to Get Rid of Fleas in West Palm Beach
Fleas aren't fun to have in your home. While they aren't extremely dangerous, they can cause discomfort. It's never easy watching your furry friends scratch and suffer. Sometimes, flea bites cause allergic reactions that develop into skin infections.
1. Wash Fabric with Hot Water to Get Rid of Fleas Quickly
Although fleas latch onto a host animal, they are tiny enough to remain hidden in plain sight. Fleas hide in fabrics, laying eggs in blankets, couches, dog beds, and clothes.
If you want to get rid of a flea infestation in your home, you might need to complete more than one of these methods at the same time. Fleas are pesky and hard to completely kill because of their life cycles.
Once you spot a flea, take all the fabric you have and wash it with hot water. The hot water kills any fleas and their eggs almost instantly.
If the infestation is tough, you might need to wash your items more than once.
It's important you wash everything with fabric. This includes couch covers, blankets, pillows, and pet beds.
2. Vacuum Away Fleas Daily
Along with washing all of your furniture, bedding, and clothing, it's also vital you vacuum daily. If you are serious about tackling your flea infestation problem, it's good to vacuum multiple times a day.
When you vacuum, consider using a filter and a removable bag. If you forget to throw away the contents of the vacuum after using it for the fleas, they can jump out, continuing the cycle.
If you're having trouble vacuuming, it helps to sprinkle baking soda onto your carpet and floor before vacuuming.
3. Treat the Source of the Flea Infestation
Even if you use the techniques above, there's still a chance fleas and their eggs remain in your home. To combat this, you can treat the source first.
Although not as common, you can have a flea infestation in West Palm Beach without pets. These tiny insects can hitch a ride on your shoes, shirt, or pants.
If you have pets, like dogs or cats, it's a good idea to check their fur. In just about any grocery store or pet store, they sell flea combs. Gently comb through your pet's fur.
If they are affected by fleas, they'll likely start automatically scratching themselves. Cats are mainly attacked by fleas close to their face and neck. Fleas, however, make their home in a dog's tail and along its spine.
While there are over-the-counter flea treatments, consider taking your pet to see the vet. They can diagnose and treat fleas with strong prescriptions.
Treating your pets also involves prevention. It's not always 100% possible to prevent flea infestations. These small parasites leap quickly onto the fur. Sometimes, it just takes one trip outside and through the grass, for a dog to bring fleas to your home.
Thankfully, vets have preventative medications that kill and repel fleas.
4. DIY Sprays and Powders for Flea Control
Not everyone likes using over-the-counter flea medications or house treatments. The ingredients are harsh and can cause allergic reactions.
Instead of running to the store and buying expensive sprays, you can create your own sprays and mixtures. For example, some experts highly suggest mixing half vinegar with half water in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture throughout your home and on your pet.
Fleas, like other insects, don't like the smell or acidity of the vinegar. However, the smell is strong.
Other than vinegar, you can also mix dish soap and water in a large bowl. Fleas are attracted to light. You can create a simple and inexpensive flea trap in the affected area.
With a nightlight or flashlight, shine light onto a bowl of water and soap. The soap is slippery and thick enough to trap fleas that jump into the water. This works best at night with the lights off.
5. Use a Steam Cleaner to Flea-Proof Your Home Completely
While vacuums are helpful, steam cleaners use hot water and cleaning products to kill and dispose of fleas, their eggs, and flea dirt.
These machines are available for rent in some retail stores and are easy to use.
It's important to remove dander and flea dirt from your home since this is what flea larvae eat. Eliminating their food source can decrease the infestation.
Flea dirt is actually flea fecal matter. It's the digested blood that adult fleas drop.
How Do You Know if You Have a Flea Infestation?
Before you can get rid of fleas in West Palm Beach, you need to know that you have a flea infestation. Although fleas aren't deadly, they multiply quickly. One adult flea, for example, can lay 20 to 30 eggs a day, or 4 to 8 eggs after they eat.
The most common signs you have a flea infestation in your home are:
Your dog or cat is scratching and biting excessively.
You notice small red bumps and bite marks on your legs and arms.
If you wipe away dirt and see red streaks.
There are small white or creamy oval-shaped objects on your furniture (these are likely eggs!)
Your pet is losing fur.
Your dog or cat has red bumps throughout their bodies.
You spot a flea hopping around your home.
Native Pest Management’s West Palm Beach, FL Flea Control
It's frustrating dealing with fleas, especially because they are a year-round problem in West Palm Beach. Thankfully, you don't have to battle it out alone.
If you aren't sure what to do, or you've tried to get rid of fleas to no avail, consider calling a professional flea exterminator.
Native Pest Management has the right tools and treatments to prevent and get rid of fleas in West Palm Beach. We also have pet-friendly and eco-friendly treatment options.
To give you peace of mind, we also have over 2,000 glowing reviews on Google, Yelp, Nextdoor, Facebook, and Angie’s List.
We offer personalized plans, starting with a free quote.
