Do Home Flea Treatments Work?

Fleas are tiny parasites that can jump very high and often infest pets and humans. Do Home Flea Treatments Work? You can use a variety of treatments to get rid of them.

Most home flea treatments work to kill fleas and eggs. Some treatments, however, are more effective than others. It is critical to understand the various types of flea treatments and how they work to choose the best treatment.

How Do I Get Rid of Fleas?

They can live on the bodies of mammals and infest many areas of a house, making them difficult to get rid of. But you’ll need to use multiple methods to be effective. Some common methods include

  • Using a flea bomb or fogger
  • Apply an insecticide directly to your pet’s skin
  • Using a topical treatment
  • You can also wash your pet’s bedding and vacuum regularly to help remove any eggs or larvae.

Fleas emerge as adults after reaching maturity. Adult fleas can lay eggs and reproduce, leading to a new infestation. It’s important to use a product that will kill the flea’s life stages to prevent this from happening.

dog scratching itself due to  fleas

Dealing With a Flea Infestation

These pests can be difficult to get rid of, as they have a life cycle that includes four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The eggs are laid on the host’s skin and can hatch in as little as 12 hours. There are various ways to treat a flea infestation, including using home remedies or hiring a professional exterminator.

Once the eggs hatch, the fleas will feed on blood until adulthood. This process can take anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks, so it is important to address the infestation as soon as possible.

When an infestation is discovered, it’s important to take immediate action. Fleas will not only bite and irritate your pet, but during this time, they’ll spread the infestation flea dirt to other areas of your home by moving through air vents or crawling through cracks or crevices. 

Do Home Flea Treatments Work?

Flea home remedies

Some people find them helpful in preventing fleas, while others find them more helpful in killing fleas. Therefore, it is essential to find the one that will work best for you and your situation.

Dish soap

Dish soap is a household item that you can use to trap fleas. The dish soap has a high viscosity, which means it will stick to the fleas and trap them. You can use this method to help control an infestation in your home.

This trap should be conducted at night when the fleas are more active. The dish soap will drown the fleas and break the surface tension of the water, making it difficult for them to escape.

Herbal flea spray

One popular option is to use a herbal flea spray. This type of flea spray contains all-natural ingredients, making it safe to use around pets and children.

When it comes to using a flea spray, it is important to apply it heavily to reach all the areas where fleas may be hiding. This includes spraying carpets, furniture, pet bedding, window sills, and floors.

Baking soda

It helps to remove fleas from the fibers of carpets and furniture. It is also effective in controlling flea infestations when used with other methods.

Baking soda is a great way to get rid of fleas in your home. Sprinkle it on carpets and furniture, let it sit for a few hours, and then vacuum it up. The baking soda will kill fleas and eggs, and it will also help deodorize your home.

Salt

Salt is a natural flea home remedy when used with vacuuming. The salt will help eliminate adult fleas, while the vacuum will remove any eggs or larvae. Salt can be harmful to pets if ingested, so use caution when applying it.

One popular natural remedy for fleas is to sprinkle salt all over your carpets in each room. Leave it to rest for 1-2 days, then vacuum your home throughout, emptying the contents in an outside trash can.

Lemon spray

The citric acid in lemons kills fleas and their eggs. You can make your lemon spray or buy one online. Be sure to spray the areas where fleas are most likely to live, such as carpets, furniture, and bedding.

There are many different home flea treatments, but the citrus spray is one of the most popular. Take a slice of lemon and add it to water that has been boiled. Let the steep mixture overnight and then spray it on the affected areas. The remedy will prevent fleas from returning for up to 7 days.

Diatomaceous earth

It is non-toxic to humans and can be used to treat fleas. DE is effective because it punctures the flea’s exoskeleton, leading to dehydration and death.

Flea infestations can be a major problem, especially if they’re not addressed promptly. Diatomaceous earth is one such treatment; it’s a powder that you sprinkle over areas where you think there are high levels of flea activity.

Then, you apply thin layers and leave them for two days before vacuuming promptly. Afterward, you’ll need to follow up with appropriate flea prevention methods.

Do Home Flea Treatments Work?

Many people try to treat the issue with home flea treatments, but some of them may not be as effective as you’d hope. Cat flea and dog flea may cause many issues in the animals.

Flea crawling on the human body

This is mainly because most home remedies for fleas only affect the adults of the species, leaving the larvae and eggs behind. While some treatments can effectively eliminate all life stages of fleas, they are often more expensive and require more effort than using a store-bought treatment.

Although using a home flea treatment does not kill the eggs, it creates a new population of fleas that can quickly infest your home when the eggs hatch. 

How long does it take to eliminate them?

It takes a while for fleas to die after treatment. Fleas are difficult to eliminate, so it’s important to be patient and continue with the treatment plan until all the fleas are gone.

Generally speaking, there are three ways to get rid of fleas: prompt cleaning, topical medications, and environmental treatments.

Prompt cleaning and using topical flea medications can get rid of a majority of them within a day or two. However, it may take several days for all the fleas present in an area to be eliminated.

Fleas lay eggs very quickly, so it is important to be persistent if you want to get rid of them. The eggs will hatch and create new fleas in about seven days. To ensure that all the fleas are gone, you will need to treat your home for at least two weeks.

Why is there a need to get rid of fleas quickly?

Fleas can not only cause a great deal of discomfort, but they can also spread diseases and parasites.

Fleas and flea eggs can make your pets very uncomfortable, and if left untreated, the fleas will multiply rapidly. In addition, the fleas might also bite you and other members of your family, which could lead to health problems.

Fleas are a common problem in both pets and humans. Animal fleas can cause skin irritation, hair loss, and even anemia. In addition, fleas can also spread tapeworms, ticks, and other parasites by taking care of the flea problem as soon as possible.

A Flea with its eggs

Not only do they lay eggs in your pet’s fur, which will hatch and create more fleas, but the larvae can also pass on tapeworms to you when your pet grooms itself. This is why it is important to get rid of fleas as quickly as possible.

Two types of tapeworms commonly infect humans: platyhelminths and helminths. Platyhelminths are a flatworm, while helminths are a type of roundworm.

Not only do they spread both types of tapeworms to people through their bites, but cats may also spread them to humans through their droppings. It is important to get rid of fleas quickly and effectively for these reasons.

You can get rid of fleas quickly by using a safe, effective flea product, vacuuming frequently, laundering bedding in hot water and drying it completely, washing your hands often, and avoiding contact with infected animals.

Final Thoughts

You can use a store-bought flea treatment or take a more natural approach and dust your home with a topical powder. This powder will kill the fleas on contact and help prevent them from coming back.

Home treatments can be less expensive and more convenient, but they may not always be effective. Vacuuming and doing laundry at high heat are two of the most common methods for removing eggs and larvae from home.

In conclusion, it is important to treat your yard with an insecticide or topical ointment to kill adult fleas and prevent future infestations. 

About the author

A biotechnologist by profession and a passionate pest researcher. I have been one of those people who used to run away from cockroaches and rats due to their pesky features, but then we all get that turn in life when we have to face something.