How to Get Rid of Flea Eggs & Eliminate a Flea Infestation

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The best way to get rid of fleas on your pets and in your home
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If you start seeing fleas in your home or your cat or dog, you likely have an infestation. Flea eggs are tiny, about .5–1 millimetre (0.020–0.039 in), and are very difficult to find, but with perseverance, you can kick those bugs to the curb. We interviewed Chris Parker, founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, to find out the best ways to kill eggs, adults, and flea larvae, without filling your house with pesticides.

Things You Should Know

  • Flea eggs are .5–1 millimetre (0.020–0.039 in) long, white, shiny, and oval shaped. They look like sand or sugar, and are often accompanied by black flecks of “flea dirt.”
  • To remove flea eggs from your pet, wash them with a flea shampoo , comb them from head to tail with a flea comb , then treat their fur with an growth regulator (IGR) gel .
  • To kill flea eggs in your home, wash all your fabrics and bedding in hot water, vacuum your floors and soft furniture, and spread diatomaceous earth on everything in your house.
Section 1 of 3:

What do flea eggs look like?

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    Flea eggs are white, slightly oblong, and are about 1 ⁄ 2 millimetre (0.020 in) long. [1] They can be mistaken for dandruff or grains of salt, so check potential eggs with a magnifying glass. Hold them to a dark background to make it easier to see.
    • While you may know what they look like, they are very hard to find. If you know your house has an infestation, it’s better to just clean and spread insect growth regulators in areas where eggs might be to get rid of the fleas.
    • Fleas like to lay eggs in out-of-the-way areas, like under furniture, in cracks in the floor, dusty corners, under rugs, between floorboards and tiles, and at the edge of baseboards.
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    Flea eggs and flea “dirt” collect in your pet’s hair when you have an infestation. “Flea dirt” is a name for the flea feces and dried blood that flea larvae feed on. [2] Comb your pet’s fur on their face, neck, armpits, and near their tail. If you see black and white specs, they probably have fleas.
    • If you’re not sure something is flea dirt, dab it with a wet paper towel. If it comes back stained red, it’s flea dirt.

    Tip: Keep pets that have fleas in one room of your home until you can control the problem so the infestation doesn’t spread. Provide them with food and water, and let them outside when they need to relieve themselves.

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Section 2 of 3:

Removing Flea Eggs from Pets

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    Find a flea shampoo that’s formulated for your pet’s breed and then put your pet in the bathtub. Rinse their fur with warm water to remove loose eggs and fleas , then rub the flea shampoo over their entire body. [3] Let the shampoo sit for a minute before rinsing it out.
    • Chris Parker, pest control expert, says that before treating anything else, “have the animals in [your] house treated…[A]s long as they can be a good source for the fleas, you’re gonna have a [hard] time getting rid of them.” [4]
    • You can buy flea shampoo from your veterinarian or pet stores.
    • Be careful not to get the shampoo into your pet’s mouth or eyes since it can cause irritation.
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    Comb your pet from head to tail along the grain of their fur with a flea comb , keeping the comb as close to their skin as possible. Focus on areas where the skin folds, like your pet’s face, ears, neck, and base of the tail. [5]
    • Rinse the comb in hot, soapy water to get rid of any fleas you’ve collected.

    Tip: If you comb your pet inside, be sure to vacuum the area as soon as you’re finished.

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    Find a topical flea medication that’s right for your breed, then follow the instructions on the package. Look for medications with an insect growth regulator (IRG) to target eggs. Insecticides and adulticides only target mature fleas. [6]
    • You can use a flea collar , but some can irritate your pet, and they don’t work as well as topical IGR medications.
    • Speak to your veterinarian about what medication is right for your pet.
    • You can also feed your pet oral medications—just check with your veterinarian first.
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Section 3 of 3:

Killing Flea Eggs in Your Home

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    Parker says you can get rid of flea eggs by “washing everything you can wash in hot water…[including] all your bedding…especially stuff that the dogs or cats are on[,]...like…dog beds, cat beds, [and] dog toys.” [7] As soon as the wash is done, dry the load on the highest heat setting your fabric can take.
    • Things to wash include blankets, bedding, clothing, curtains, pillowcases, cushion covers, rugs, pet toys, and pet bedding.
    • For best results, clean everything multiple times, as flea larvae hatch in waves.
    • Keep your clean clothes and bedding in a separate area of your home that’s away from the fleas and your pet so they don’t get infested again.
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    Run the vacuum over everything you can’t wash—area rugs, carpets, soft furniture—as well as all of your floors. Parker recommends “vacuuming all of your rugs every single day…[especially if there’s] a spot on the rug where the dog likes to hang out.” [8]
    • Go over the same area multiple times and use the hose with a crevice tool attachment to get into corners and tight areas of your carpet and furniture. [9]
    • Anywhere that dust collects is likely to have flea eggs. Vacuum under your rugs and large pieces of furniture. Pay attention to corners, cracks, and the edges of your baseboards.
    • Dispose of the vacuum’s contents or bag in an outdoor garbage can. Fleas can’t escape your vacuum, but they could re-infest your house if they’re thrown away inside.
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    Fill a steamer with water and turn it on to start heating it. It needs to reach 95 °F (35 °C) to kill fleas and eggs. [10] Slowly steam clean the room, starting in the furthest corner and pulling the steamer in straight, overlapping lines.
    • After the carpet dries completely, vacuum it thoroughly to get rid of any dead fleas and eggs.
    • If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, it can be very difficult to get fleas under control by yourself. If you’re not able to vacuum and steam it every day (or if the problem doesn’t get better), consider calling an exterminator. [11]

    Tip: If you don’t have a carpet steamer, you may be able to rent one from big box or hardware stores.

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    Insecticides can harm your pets and only target adult fleas, so use insect growth regulator (IGR) to target eggs and larvae, and spread food grade diatomaceous earth to attack adults. [12] Put diatomaceous earth all over your house—on carpets, furniture, baseboards, bed skirts, etc.
    • If you use a spray, spray your furniture and floors in long, overlapping strips.
    • Essential oils can also deter fleas, but Parker recommends buying “a product like Essentria …[which is] specifically formulated as an insecticide… [but d]o not put it on your animal. Essential oils can be toxic to animals.” [13]
      • Use chemical insecticides if you have wall to wall carpeting. Before using it, contact your veterinarian to see if it’s safe for your pet.
    • Diatomaceous earth can cause respiratory issues if inhaled, so use it with caution if you have asthma.
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    To protect your pet (and therefore your home!) from picking up fleas outside, keep your grass very short and clean up any leaves or debris on your lawn. [14]
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    Fleas can be very difficult to remove from your house, so if the problem hasn’t lessened in a week or two, call in a professional. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, you may want to call one in from the beginning. [17]
    • Flea foggers may seem like a good last resort, but since they cover every surface in pesticides they can be dangerous, especially if you have fish tanks. If you do use a fogger , cover your fish tanks, clean all of your clothing and bedding afterward, and clean all of your kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I get rid of flea eggs in my home?
    Chris Parker
    Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
    Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. With over seven years of experience, Chris specializes in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.
    Chris Parker
    Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
    Expert Answer
    First, you have to have the animals in the house treated. As long as they're a food source for the fleas, you're going to have a hard time getting rid of them. Then, do a very thorough combination of vacuuming and cleaning—vacuum all of your rugs every day and wash everything that you can wash in hot water. That includes your couch cushions, your bedding, dog bed, cat beds, and dog toys.
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      Tips

      • Be diligent while trying to get rid of fleas. Even if it seems that they’re gone for a day or two, they may come back.
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      • If you can’t control a flea infestation on your own, call a professional exterminator to get rid of them for you.
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      Warnings

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      Things You’ll Need

      Removing Flea Eggs From Pets

      Killing Flea Eggs in Your Home

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      References

      1. ↑ https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/occas/dogflea.htm
      2. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/fleas/about/flea-lifecycles.html
      3. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/fleas/section-name/index.html
      4. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
      5. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/fleas/section-name/index.html
      6. ↑ https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/flea-control-in-cats
      7. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
      8. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
      9. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/fleas/section-name/index.html
      1. ↑ https://fleascience.com/flea-encyclopedia/life-cycle-of-fleas/adult-fleas/how-long-do-fleas-live-for/at-what-temperature-do-fleas-die/does-heat-kill-fleas/
      2. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
      3. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
      4. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
      5. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
      6. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
      7. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.
      8. ↑ Chris Parker. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. Expert Interview. 15 January 2021.

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