Treating fleas can be difficult, especially if they’ve made their way into your bed. Here’s how to handle a fleas if you’ve found them in your bed.
Treating a flea infestation is not a quick fix. It will take time to properly rid your home of these jumping, biting insects. When you have fleas in beds or bedding it can be particularly challenging.
How did I get fleas in my bed?
If you have pets and they spend time on your bedding, they are probably the likely culprits. While fleas typically prefer to go after cats, dogs and other furred-or-feathered animals, they will bite people if the host animal is not nearby. Moreover, if family pets have a habit of hanging out on beds or furniture, they are likely to leave fleas behind. According to the Entomology Department at the University of Florida, not everyone reacts to flea bites. The fact sheet also states that fleas must be quite hungry to go after people instead of pets.
I woke up with a bite: Do I have fleas in bed?
Flea bites are often confused with bed bug bites, as both insects leave small, red welts behind. However, there are ways to tell the two apart. One of the simplest detection methods is to watch your pets –if they are also scratching themselves, it’s likely fleas. According to a factsheet on fleas from the Integrated Pest Management department at Michigan State University, there are several other key signs that you have a flea problem.
Knowing how to get rid of fleas in bed
If you have fleas in bed, removing them is a multi-step process. Washing bedding in hot water, vacuuming any area suspected of fleas and treating the pet for fleas are recommended, along with the use of an insect growth regulator. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health suggests combining these methods to properly rid your bed and home from fleas.
"Once the pet has been treated, efforts should then focus on the indoor premises. Particular attention should be paid to areas of the home where the pet sleeps or spends the majority of its time. Blankets or rugs that may be used as pet bedding should be discarded or laundered in hot, soapy water. All carpeted areas and upholstered furniture should be thoroughly vacuumed and the sweeper bag contents discarded. If the flea infestation is light, frequent and thorough vacuuming may eventually eliminate the problem. Moderate to heavy infestations, however, will usually necessitate the application of a residual insecticide to carpets, baseboards, cracks and crevices, and other areas where fleas may be present."
If you are concerned about how to get rid of fleas in beds or elsewhere in your home, call Terminix®. A service technician will thoroughly investigate your home to determine the source of an infestation and the ways to eliminate it.
