Flea Management Guide

Fleas are a problem for you and your furry family members. These pests need a host, and your pets can easily fulfill this need. Once fleas get established in homes, they can be difficult to control because of their ability to multiply quickly and their resistance to pesticides during two stages of their life cycle. We’ve gathered information to help you eliminate a flea infestation in your home. 

Fleas typically make their way into homes on pets. These pests hide in grass and vegetation, waiting for a host to walk by. When one does, they hop onto them. Fleas can also be carried into your home on you, visitors, and your belongings. These pests will stay on their host, feeding on blood, until they fall off or are removed. They will hide in carpet, cracks and crevices, pet bedding, and on furniture. Fleas are most active when it’s warm, but they can survive year-round indoors. Fleas are protected from insecticides as eggs and pupae, so repeated control measures will be necessary to catch the fleas when they progress to other life cycle stages. Preventative and non-insecticide control measures along with the use of pest control products can help to eliminate an infestation. 

To prevent a flea problem, you will want to focus on protecting your pet and flea-proofing your home and yard.

Check for Fleas: When your pets spend time outside or near other animals, you’ll want to check them for fleas. Look for small dark reddish-brown bugs in your pet’s fur, paying special attention to the fur near their neck, ears, and underbelly. You’ll also want to look for flea dirt, which will be tiny, dark specks. Regularly grooming your pet will make it easier to detect these pests.

Protect Your Pets: Talk to your veterinarian about ways you can protect your pets from fleas. They will be able to recommend the products or solution, such as medications, treatments, and flea collars, that will be best for your pets. They can also help you if you are battling an active flea infestation.

Take Care of Your Yard: Outside, fleas spend time in damp, shaded areas including vegetation. Keeping your grass, shrubs, and plants trimmed can help to minimize potential hiding spots. Removing leaves, weeds, grass clippings, and other yard debris can also help to prevent flea activity.

Deter Wildlife: Wildlife can carry fleas into your yard, causing you or your pets to be exposed to them. Removing attractants, such as trash, will help to keep them away. If you don’t have a fence around your yard, consider adding one to keep wildlife out.

Inspect Secondhand Furniture & Clothing: Fleas can hide on furniture, so it’s always best to examine secondhand pieces before bringing them into your home. You’ll also want to wash and dry any used clothing you buy. Use high heat settings to kill fleas. 

In addition to using pest control products and treating your pets, there are other steps you’ll want to take to eliminate a flea infestation.

Wash & Dry Bedding: Washing and drying your pet’s bedding will help to remove fleas. Using a high heat setting will kill any fleas on the bedding. You’ll also want to do the same for your bedding, especially if your pet sleeps with you. Any blankets left on sofas or chairs should also be washed.

Vacuum: Vacuuming is a great way to remove fleas from your home. Fleas and eggs often fall off pets and will hide out in your carpet, rugs, and cracks in your floor. Vacuuming can help to remove fleas during each of their life stages. You can also vacuum upholstered furniture where fleas could be hiding. After vacuuming, empty the contents of the vacuum into a sealed bag and place it in an outdoor trash bin.

Watch for Signs of an Infestation: Keep any eye out for signs of fleas, including:

• Your pet itching or scratching more than usual
• Your pet losing hair or developing red patches
• A cluster of flea bites on your skin that are red and itchy, often appearing near ankles 

After treating your pet and taking steps to remove fleas, you’ll need to treat your home with pest control products. Maggie’s Farm has insecticide sprays and dusts that can help to control fleas.

Plant-Based Insecticide Sprays

Our Bed Bug & Flea Killer, Home Bug Spray, and Ant & Roach Killer are labeled to control fleas. These products are formulated with plant essential oils as the active ingredients. They kill fleas and provide residual repellency protection. The sprays are great for spot treating fleas and treating areas where fleas like to hang out indoors. For an outdoor treatment, our Yard Bug Spray is an effective solution. It will kill and repel fleas, helping to create a protective barrier that will help keep fleas out of your home.

Application Tips

Before any indoor applications, thoroughly vacuum the space to be treated. Shake the product well before use and periodically during use. Spray a small area and let it dry to make sure you’re okay with the scent before treating a larger area. Focus applications on spots where your pets hang out. You can spray near their bed, on carpet, rugs, and upholstered furniture. Avoid over-wetting your carpets and rugs. Spray your furniture where you see fleas instead of the entire surface. Though you can spray near pet hangout spots, you cannot spray your pets directly. Reapplication will be needed to catch fleas that are emerging from the pupa stage to adults.

To help prevent fleas from entering your home, you can spray our Yard Bug Spray around the perimeter of your house. Spray the lower portions of the foundation and the ground around the perimeter about three feet out. Avoid spraying your home’s siding.

Insecticide Dusts

Insecticide dusts provide long-lasting protection against fleas and other pests. Our Bed Bug Killer dust and our Spider & Insect Dust can help with flea problems. Our Spider & Insect Dust is formulated with plant essential oils and will kill and repel fleas. When undisturbed, it will remain effective for up to 6 months. Our Bed Bug Killer dust is a non-repellent, odorless desiccant dust. It will remain effective for up to ten years when left undisturbed.

Application Tips

Our dusts can be applied with the puffer bottle or with a small paintbrush. You only need to apply a light, visible film. Apply the dust to the area under and around pet bedding or rest areas, underneath or behind furniture cushions, and along the edges of carpets. You can also treat kennels and cracks behind molding and baseboards. A paintbrush will make it easier to treat any cracks or crevices where fleas could be hiding. Though the dust can be used near pet resting spots, do not apply it to your pets.

When fleas get established in your home, they won’t be quick to leave. Implementing preventative and non-insecticide control measures and using the right pest control products can help to eliminate a flea infestation.