How To De-Flea Your Apartment With 10 Tools

Fleas are one of the most annoying pests to deal with. They are tiny species that can get around easily because they are agile and somehow acrobatic. Fleas generally favor four-legged hosts over humans. That’s why if your pet has fleas, most likely your apartment, house, yard, and furniture will be the next target. If you are wondering how to de-flea your apartment, here is the most basic step

To eliminate fleas from your apartment, start by using a powerful vacuum on all floors, upholstery, and mattresses. Check also for cracks and other tight spaces, because they are usually a good hiding place for fleas, their eggs, larva, and cocoons.

On average, fleas are 2.5 millimeters long, which makes them visible to the naked eye. They have strong legs allowing them to jump from place to place.

Their life cycle depends on environmental conditions.

For instance, they thrive well in warm climates with a temperature range of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit with 70 percent humidity. In these conditions, they have a life cycle of 18 to 21 days.

Therefore, it is best if you know how to get rid of these tiny pests; otherwise, they will cause more damages.

How To Get Rid Of Fleas In Your Apartment

If you think your pet is a carrier of mature fleas, your home can be the breeding ground.

Moreover, the eggs, larvae, and cocoons can be spread throughout your space. It means that you have to deal with all the problems from all angles to completely eradicate the infestation. To do this, you may treat your pet and the living environment at the same time.

Here’s how you can start eliminating the fleas from your apartment:

Use a Powerful Vacuum

Look for a powerful vacuum and use it on any floor, upholstery, and mattresses.

Check for cracks, dents, and other tight spaces that are usually a good hiding place for fleas and their eggs, larvae, and cocoons. If possible, use a vacuum with a bag that you can dispose of without coming into contact with the contents.

Employ a steam cleaner

The combination of high heat and soap can remedy fleas infestation in all stages of life. Pay attention to any hot spots where your pet usually lies down, such as carpets, upholstery, and pet beddings.

Check for best steam cleaners here.

Wash all bedding

Wash all bedding materials, including your pet’s in hot water, then toss them in the dryer at the highest heat setting. If the infestation is severe, think of replacing the old bedding then buy new ones.

Use chemical treatments

Many people prefer aerosol sprays over foggers because you can direct the spray on the infected area like under the beds or other places where the foggers are not feasible.

When choosing an insecticide, make sure that it contains adulticide like permethrin, which can kill adult fleas and insect growth regulators such as pyriproxyfen or methoprene. It can kill the eggs, larvae, and pupae.

Make sure you do not come in contact with your treated pets and areas until it has dried completely.

Wear gloves when you apply the spray, and only use them when everyone is out of the house.

Check for best flea bombs here.

Non-Toxic Ways To Get Rid Of Fleas In The Apartment

If you opt to choose a non-toxic treatment to get rid of fleas in your apartment, there are a handful of homemade remedies that can help you get rid of fleas.

Use dish soap

You can create a flea trap using dish soap and some water. To do this, all you need to do is fill a plate or bowl with a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Place it in the room of your house that receives the most flea activity.

It acts as a glue, trapping the fleas due to its high viscosity of the solution. You must repeat this method with a fresh bath every day.

Spray herbal flea products

Herbal flea spray is a natural remedy for fleas that is made from non-toxic products, making it suitable to use around pets and children. Here are the best two herbal sprays on Amazon:

• Cosyworld Bed Bug Spray Organic Flea Killer
• EcoGuard Plus All Natural Pest Control

Or you can create your own spray by mixing 4 liters of vinegar, 2 liters of water, 500 l of lemon juice, and 350 ml of witch hazel in a large spray bottle.

But before you apply this solution, you should clean your space properly. Once you are done, apply the natural flea remedy to your home with the use of heavy spray. Focus on the carpets, furniture, window sills, pet bedding, and floors.

Try baking soda

If you are struggling with how to get rid of fleas, then one of the most effective flea control is vacuuming. It helps by getting rid of fleas by getting rid of the fibers of the carpets and furniture. There is a way to increase its effectiveness by using baking soda.

For this flea home remedy, lay down the baking soda along with your carpets and furniture. Take a hard brush and rub it into the fabric. Then, vacuum your home thoroughly and empty the contents of the vacuum into the bag and place it in the outside trash can.

Use lemon spray for mild flea infestation

Lemon can be used in different ways around the house. Aside from being a good way to treat wasp stings, they are a great natural home remedy for fleas.

Using this treatment requires making a citrus spray to use on infected furniture. To make this flea spray, slice a lemon thinly and add it to a pint of water and then bring it to a boil. Allow the citrus solution to sit overnight, then pour into a spray bottle.

Use the citrus solution and spray it into the infested areas of your home like the sofa, pet bedding, chairs, and many more. Do not soak, only dampen the space.

Sprinkle the salt

Just like baking soda, salt is also a great natural flea home remedy that is accompanied by vacuuming. Salt acts as a dehydrating agent that helps to get rid of fleas, especially adult ones.

To treat fleas with salt, sprinkle it all over the carpet in each room. Leave the salt to rest for one to two days, then vacuum your home throughout. Empty the contents of the vacuum in the outside trash can.

Make herbal flea powder from rosemary

Rosemary is a great organic flea control product. It can be used to treat light infestations as well as pets. It is an example of a natural flea remedy that focuses on creating a powder to be used in treating fleas in your home.

To make herbal flea powder using rosemary, place the herb together with some rue, fennel, peppermint, wormwood into a mortar and pestle, and grind until it turns into powder.

Sprinkle the powder on the carpets, furniture, pet bedding, window sills, and other areas where you suspect flea activity in your place.

Can Fleas Travel From One Apartment To Another?

Living in apartments has been a trend nowadays. It is because they help in solving housing problems, especially in urban areas. From there, people tend to move from one apartment to another, and this can be challenging when it comes to pest control that loves to infest these spaces like fleas.

The design and style of apartment buildings also provide a way for fleas to travel from one unit to another unit. They share facilities like plumbing works, electrical ways, and ac vents that can facilitate their ease of movement.

Moreover, these fleas can travel on the edges of clothing and can be transferred from one place to another by pets. They can also ride on the back of animals like rats, bats, and squirrels.

Furthermore, the flea’s eggs can survive under the carpet for many months.

Therefore, when a new person moves into space, their vibrations can cause the eggs to hatch in seconds, starting a new batch of infestation.

So, if you are wondering if fleas can travel through apartment walls, yes, it is possible. Since most apartments share common amenities like plumbing and electrical causeways, which go through the walls, the fleas can leap in these and get to your apartment from an infested apartment.

Since the main host of fleas is pets, they can easily deposit in the apartment if you have pets or furry items. Once your pets are heavily infested with fleas, they tend to scratch themselves, then fleas start falling off their skin and eventually in the environment.

Salivary discharge from fleas can cause the swelling and itchiness of the pets. Meanwhile, human beings react differently to the bite and cause an itchy feeling and small, red spots are then formed.

They usually bite in the ankles and legs. Once the fleas disperse from the host body, they hide in dark corners, where they can be hardly seen and interrupted.

What To Do If A Neighbor Has Fleas?

Fleas are not just irritating, but they are also a source of diseases like plague and murine typhus. Heavy infestations can cause your pets and scratch constantly, leading to a roughened coat and nervous conditions. They can also cause tapeworms.

However, the sources of fleas do not only come from your pets, it can also come from outdoors like in your neighbor’s yard.

Getting rid of it is not a one-time project. It can take weeks and even months due to its life cycle. Fleas do not emerge fully grown until they have a host to feed on. So, make sure you know where to start.

If you are suspecting that there are fleas in your neighborhood, start by eliminating the fleas in the yard.

Get Rid Of Fleas In The Yard

Mow the lawn

Make sure that the lawn is unwelcoming for fleas to breed while allowing their predators to thrive. Grass that is too long allows fleas an easy and ideal place to hide. Meanwhile, grass that is too short will let spiders and ants live. (a natural predator of fleas).

Clean your yard

Making a barrier around the edges of your yard and home can help fleas away. You can remove bush, leaves, and trash from around the edges of the yard. It helps in keeping the fleas from having a place to hide and lay more eggs.

Do not overwater the grass and plants

Fleas favor moist and damp areas because it is the right environment for them to thrive well. Therefore, do not overwater your grass and plants as it can attract fleas and give them a happy place, which is something you wish to avoid.

Fill your yard with sunlight

Another thing that fleas love is dark places, so trim the bushes and trees to allow your yard to be filled with sunlight to deter fleas.

Keep wildlife out of the yard

Squirrels, cats, rabbits, rats, and other creatures are all potential hosts of fleas, so make sure to keep them out of the yard by using different techniques by using traps making your yard less friendly to fleas.

Make sure that your home and pets are clean at all times

Vacuum the house and treat it with flea treatment. Afterward, groom and bathe your pets with flea shampoos to kill any fleas that have gotten to them. It will ensure that fleas cannot get further inside.

How To Get Rid Of Outdoor Fleas Naturally

One of the natural ways you can get rid of fleas in the yard is by introducing nematodes that are tiny organisms living in the soil. Moreover, nematodes can help control other garden pests like ants and termites. They are readily available in any garden center or online store.

You only need to add water as instructed on the package and spray it directly to your yard.

Another is cedar. Cedar is an effective flea repellant. If spreading cedar wood chips is cumbersome, you can use them throughout the yard’s perimeter so that they can deter fleas from getting into the yard.

You can also spray the yard with some cedarwood essential oil. This oil is safe for pets, humans, and the environment.

Are Landlords Responsible For Fleas?

Just like garden maintenance, pest control is one of the biggest areas of confusion and dispute between landlords and tenants. It is mainly because of two fronts:

1. The legislation is not clear on responsibilities
2. The cause of pest is subject to dispute

Pest may include the following:

• Fleas
• Cockroaches
• Spiders
• Ants
• Rats and mice
• Bees and wasps
• Snakes and possums
• White ants (termites)

Pest control falls under the responsibility of both landlords and tenants to maintain the premises of reasonable repair, safety, and cleanliness.

Many cases have undergone a tribunal where the interpretation of the tenancy legislation has led to judgment. Most of the time it favors the tenants, but not always.

Generally, as a property owner, you will be responsible for pest and vermin control like rats, mice, and termites.

The exception that the presence of the pest is caused by the tenant’s poor housekeeping and lack of cleanliness.

If the tenant has not been disposing of perishable trash that can help in increasing the presence of pests, being a property owner, you could argue and win the dispute that your tenant is liable for that.

But what is more important is the timeline of the events that can lead to the discovery of the pest.

It is the landlord’s responsibility to provide a premise in a clean and habitable state that is free from pests.

The tribunals have found out that if the tenant reported an issue very soon after taking the occupancy, then it is a reasonable timeframe to place the responsibility in the hands of the landlord.

Moreover, if the tenant can prove it through evidence, for example, entry condition report and photographs that the premises were not given to them in a clean state, then this is enough evidence to place the responsibility and costs on the landlord.

A General Guide To Responsibility

You can see below is the general guide to who is responsible once the infestation has occurred. However, the person with responsibility may vary depending on the individual situation, the history of the property, and the previous records of the condition report.

Pests and vermin	Responsibility of landlord	Responsibility of tenant
Ants	If present at the start of the tenancy	If present during the tenancy
Bees and wasps	If present in a wall cavity or similar	If present during the tenancy
Birds	To remove and seal off any entry points	If present during the tenancy
Cockroaches, spiders, and fleas	If present at the start of the tenancy	If present during the tenancy
Mice and rats	To remove and seal off any entry points	If present during the tenancy
Possums	If present at the start of the tenancy	If present during the tenancy
Snakes	If caused by the landlord. For example: the landlord left piles of rubbish in the garden	If present during the tenancy
Termites	At the start and throughout the tenancy	If present during the tenancy