Fleas
Fleas can be very irritating and itchy. If you have dogs, cats, or rabbits, your bed is also vulnerable to fleas infestation. The worst part is not the itching and irritation but their presence in your house. It means that they can at any time deposit eggs on your bedding and create a nest there again. These pests spoil everything they come across, including your favorite clothes and soft furnishings at home.
How to get rid of fleas in bed?
1. Use salt
To get rid of fleas in bed, start by sprinkling salt on the mattress and let it stay there overnight. Now vacuum all the salt, and you’re done. The salt will dry out the fleas while at the same time absorbing moisture from them, which kills them slowly but surely. This way of getting rid of fleas also works for your carpet or couch if need be – make sure to use coarse sea salt (or any other healthy alternative like Celtic sea salt).
Salt has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, which help destroy microorganisms that might cause disease; it’s also very alkaline-forming in our body, which helps balance PH levels (we want this around 7.0). However, if you have a baby, make sure to avoid salt on its bedding or carpet as it may burn the infant’s skin.
2. Use baking soda and vinegar
Another excellent home remedy for getting rid of fleas is baking soda and vinegar mixed in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on your carpets and furniture – be generous with the amount – then let it rest for 30 minutes before you vacuum all that up. Do this once a week, as often as needed. This natural flea killer works because of the high levels of acids produced by both substances when combined: they kill anything around them, including fleas sensitive to highly acidic environments. Vinegar also helps keep bugs away from your home, so it’s a win-win situation.
3. Use lavender oil mixed with water
For this method of getting rid of fleas, all you have to do is mix a teaspoon of the essential oil into two teaspoons of water. Add five or six drops of tea tree essential oil as well and shake everything together before spraying that solution on your bedding, carpets, and other places where your pets sleep at night – make sure to avoid spreading it directly on their fur, especially if they’ve already been treated with flea medications.
Lavender oil effectively repels insects in general, including mosquitoes which can be very dangerous for dogs in some regions. Also, remember not to use this mixture on pregnant animals, especially cats, as it might induce contractions.
4. Use Epsom salt
If you can’t find sea salt at your local store, try using Epsom salt instead. Ideally, the best way to get rid of fleas in bed is by mixing half a cup of Epsom salt with water until it dissolves completely. Then take this mixture and spray it all over your mattress and other places where your pets spend their time, making sure to coat them well.
Now leave that for about 3 hours before vacuuming everything up (be generous when sprinkling the powder on the bedding). Put, if you want an effective method of getting rid of fleas without resorting to chemicals or expensive pills – one that doesn’t involve your kids or pets getting sick either – you probably won’t find anything better than Epsom salt.
5. Use baking soda and borax powder
Borax is another suitable natural insecticide. If you don’t have Epsom salt on hand, add a teaspoon of it to four teaspoons of baking soda and mix everything with water, just like before. Apply this mixture on the carpet and let it rest there for about 3 hours. Then vacuum everything together to remove eggs and larvae that these nasty minor bugs might leave behind. Repeat this process every three months for best results, especially during spring and summer, when fleas are most likely to appear more often.
6. UV light trap for eliminating fleas indoors
Aside from getting rid of dander, invest in some ultraviolet light trap like the Bug Zapper by Flowtron. It emits UV rays similar to sunlight which fleas inside it; once they come into contact with these rays, they’ll get electrocuted. That’s the same thing that happens to bugs flying around your porch light at night, which you can see more of in this video.
If you want to use electrical appliances inside your home without the risk of burning it down or blowing a fuse, I think this is by far one of the best ways to get rid of fleas inside your own house.
7. Clean everything thoroughly
Also, remember to clean all areas where your pets usually sleep, including corners and underneath furniture; vacuum carpets every week, if not daily, until there are no signs left of any eggs or larvae. Ensure that you get rid of them entirely before trying anything else against these bugs; otherwise, you’ll just be wasting your time.
8. Keep pets off the bed entirely
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It’s also not a bad idea to keep them off the bed for some time; their fur might even pick up fleas from the surroundings and bring them back inside once they jump onto your mattress again. Another option is to cover the top of their sleeping areas with foil or any other kind of fabric that doesn’t allow light through it (to avoid attracting bugs). You can also put some cedar chips underneath furniture where your pet hangs out, as this scent tends to repel small insects like dust mites.
9. Use lemon juice and vinegar around window sills
If you’ve struggled with getting rid of fleas in beds in the past, then you might also have a problem with these little buggers entering your house in the first place. For instance, window sills and any cracks in your window panes are their favorite spots to join if they feel like it; make sure you cut lemon halves and squeeze out their juice before sprinkling some vinegar on top of them (avoid using water).
10. Change all bedding regularly
Every three months is usually long enough for adult fleas to hatch from larvae and jump onto unsuspecting hosts. If you want to keep them away altogether, change bedding’s frequently – at least once or twice per week is recommended – and vacuum very thoroughly underneath furniture where pets usually nap. Make sure that comforters and pillows are washed in hot water at least once per month, too, as these little buggers can’t survive like this for very long.
What to do if fleas are discovered in your bed?
All your bedding, including your sheets, blankets, pillows, and mattress pad, should be washed in hot water if you suspect you have fleas in your bed. Treat your home for fleas because they may also be hiding in your carpet and other areas.
How are fleas on mattresses killed?
The hot water setting on your washing machine should be sufficient to complete the task. Use the maximum heat setting on your dryer to dry all your bedding because standard home dryer settings are often hot enough to kill fleas.
