It’s hard to believe that something so small (just 1-2 mm in length) can cause so much pain and discomfort. Once fleas begin to take over your home, they’ll reproduce at an exceedingly fast rate. To put the problem into perspective, just a single female flea may lay as many as 5,000 eggs in her lifetime — an army of blood-thirsty parasites that are driven to find a warm-blooded host. In order to protect yourself and your family from these parasites, you must identify the areas inside your home from which they are originating.
Carpet
It should come as no surprising that fleas often reside in the carpet. Here, they are able to travel throughout the home while under a cloak of darkness, without being seen by people or animals. Carpet serves as the perfect hiding spot for fleas, as they can burrow deep into the fibers for protection. It’s also a prime spot for females to lay their eggs, which is why it’s important to treat the carpet in your home.
If fleas are a problem in your home, clean the carpet with a high-powered vacuum cleaner at least twice a week (more frequently for severe infestations).
Rugs
Don’t assume you are safe from fleas just because your home has hardwood or laminate floors, because rugs are equally as problematic as carpet. Go over any and all area rugs inside your home with the vacuum cleaner, immediately emptying its contents and double-bagging them when you are finished.
If there’s a high concentration of fleas embedded in your rugs, sprinkle either diatomaceous earth (DE) or a combination of equal parts baking soda and salt. DE works by cutting through the fleas as they cross it, and the baking soda and salt solution exterminates fleas through dehydration — both are safe and effective methods for exterminating fleas that won’t harm you, your family members, or your pets.
Pet Bedding
Another all-too-common area inside the home for fleas is pet bedding. Assuming you own at least one dog or cat and are currently battling a flea infestation, there’s a good chance that fleas are hiding in your pet’s bedding. Why do fleas love this area? Well, fleas prefer bed bedding for a couple of reasons: it offers an excellent hiding area, and a warm-blooded host comes to it every night. Wash your pet’s bedding with hot water and extra detergent (liquid) to exterminate any fleas hiding here.