How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your Home

Fleas in your home can be distressing. Follow these steps to get rid of them.

Finding fleas in your house can cause a sense of panic. After all, fleas can impact the health and well-being of pets as well as cause you to feel uncomfortable in your own abode. Don't freak out. With the right approach and some diligence, you can get rid of these irritating pests and reclaim your space.

Follow the steps below to get rid of fleas in your home. Be thorough and don't skip any steps—that's the key to getting rid of fleas.

Treat Your Pet

In the vast majority of flea infestations, the fleas were inadvertently brought indoors by the family cat or dog through everyday activities such as:

Running around the yard.
Taking their daily walk with you around the neighborhood.
Coming into contact with another animal that has fleas.

If you have multiple pets, you'll need to assume they all have fleas and treat them accordingly. Be sure to discuss all flea treatments and prevention options with your vet before applying or giving anything to your pet.

Kill Fleas in the House

Clean and treat pet bedding. If you have a severe infestation, you may want to consider discarding your pet's bedding, which is likely to contain fleas and flea larvae. Otherwise, treat your pet's bedding with Ortho® Home Defense MAX® Bed Bug, Flea & Tick Killer, following label directions. Once the bedding has been treated and allowed to dry, wash it in hot, soapy water (and make a note to continue to wash it on a regular basis). Old pet toys, particularly plush ones, should be sealed in plastic bags and thrown out.

Vacuum your home. Vacuuming removes fleas as well as flea larvae, eggs, and flea dirt (specks of blood and flea feces), so vacuum your home thoroughly. Be sure to use corner attachments to get into corners and hard-to-reach places, like under your bed. Move the sofa and other upholstered furnishings to vacuum thoroughly beneath them. Vacuum your draperies (this might be the ideal time to wash them), throw pillows, and uncarpeted floors, too. Afterward, place the vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it in your outdoor trash bin immediately. Continue to vacuum daily until all signs of the flea infestation are eliminated.

Kill any remaining fleas. Even though you've treated your pet for fleas and thoroughly cleaned your pet's bedding and toys, it's best to do a thorough inspection of your home. Be sure to treat all areas your pet has access to. Fleas can spread quickly, so early identification and treatment are keys to getting rid of them.

Treat around beds, furniture, and anywhere where pets are kept with Ortho® Home Defense® Dual-Action Bed Bug Killer.
Treat carpeting and floors with Ortho® Home Defense® Bed Bug, Flea & Tick Killer.
Treat hard-to-reach areas where fleas may also be hiding with Ortho® Home Defense® Bed Bug, Flea & Tick Killer Powder. Be sure to follow all label directions.

Kill Fleas in the Yard

After ridding your house of fleas, your pets can bring them back indoors if you don't also treat your yard. Follow these steps to kill fleas in the lawn to make sure the infestation doesn't return.

Kill fleas in the lawn with Ortho® Bugclear™ Lawn Insect Killer. The granules kill fleas by contact and create a 3-month bug barrier for extended protection.
As an added layer of defense, treat doors, windows, and other entry points with Ortho® Home Defense® Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter2. It kills fleas and many other common household insects on contact and creates a barrier to keep them out. On non-porous indoor surfaces, it controls insects for up to 12 months.

As you work to rid your home of fleas, you may need to perform some tasks more than once. For instance, vacuuming daily or every other day for several weeks will help ensure that you capture them all. Using a flea comb on your pet daily or a couple of times a day can also help you more quickly eliminate your flea problem.