“How to manage fleas in your house” is an all-too-common question many Adelaide families ask, especially during warmer months. Fleas are tiny but stubborn. They bite pets and people, leaving itchy red marks that disrupt sleep and comfort. Worse still, they breed at a rate that makes infestations difficult to control.
At Allstate Pest Control, we’ve helped thousands of South Australians tackle flea infestations over the past 30+ years. In this guide, we’ll walk you through why fleas are so hard to control, the signs of an infestation, and practical steps (from cleaning routines to professional treatments) to help you rid your home of fleas safely.
What questions will this article answer?
What is a flea?
Fleas are parasitic insects. At only 2mm long, oval-shaped and red-brown in colour, fleas need to find hosts to survive by drawing blood and gaining nutrients.
Problems caused by fleas
Their bites are uncomfortable and they also spread disease.
Signs of a flea outbreak
Check for fleas in your pets, flea droppings and eggs and you or your family members may also experience flea bites.
How to prevent a flea outbreak in your home
Practice good pet care, keep your garden well-maintained and your home clean and prevente other pest outbreaks.
Professional flea prevention
We use a combination of flea control insecticide and dust.
Choose Allstate for effective and reliable flea extermination
Our flea removal technicians are available 24/7 and are highly trained in flea behaviour and understand how to prevent recurring outbreaks.
Why Fleas Are So Hard to Get Rid Of
It’s easy to underestimate fleas. At just 2–4 mm long, they’re barely visible, yet their impact is huge. Here’s why they’re difficult to manage:
- The flea life cycle makes them resilient: Fleas go through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Eggs make up about 50% of a flea infestation and can hatch weeks later, depending on humidity and warmth. That’s why you keep seeing fleas even after you think you’ve cleaned them out.
- They breed rapidly: One adult female flea can lay up to 50 flea eggs a day. Over a month, that’s more than 1,500 eggs from a single flea.
- They hide everywhere: Carpets, cracks in floorboards, pet bedding, couches, even the seams of cushions. Their eggs and larvae tuck themselves into these hard-to-spot areas.
- Sprays don’t manage them all: Many store sprays kill adult fleas, but not flea eggs or flea larvae. So, infestations often return once the eggs hatch.
In Adelaide, warm summers create the perfect conditions for flea infestations. Flea activity often spikes between late spring and early autumn when humidity and temperatures are high.
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Signs You Have Fleas in the House
Spotting fleas isn’t always easy at first. Many people mistake flea bites for those of mosquitoes or even rashes. However, there are still some telltale clues that you can look out for:
Check for Fleas in Your Pets
If you’re noticing that your pet seems restless and is scratching itself more often, check their fur for fleas. If left untreated, this condition could result in more permanent hair loss, known as alopecia. Bites from certain flea species are also more likely to cause alopecia.
Some pets may experience a skin reaction to flea saliva, resulting in flea bite dermatitis. This causes irritation, swelling and even welts on their skin. You’ll more commonly see this in the groin and armpit areas.
Don’t forget to check hard-to-reach areas for fleas and bites, as well as dried blood from bite wounds.
In some pets, a long-term flea problem could lead to pale gums caused by anaemia. This is due to a heavy loss of blood and requires urgent treatment by your local vet.
You Have Skin Irritation Without Any Obvious Cause
Whether it’s you or your family members experiencing a sudden, unexplained itchy rash, skin swelling, or noticing bumps or bites that sting, fleas could be the culprit.
Pay attention to particular areas of your home where this happens, as it could be a site of a heavy infestation.
Flea Eggs
Difficult to spot and usually well-hidden, flea eggs are oval-shaped, white and around 0.5mm in length.
You may notice them tangled in pet fur, pet bedding, rugs and carpets, or tucked away in small cracks and crevices in walls, skirtings and floorboards.
Flea Dirt or flea Feces
These look like tiny black specks, often seen on pet bedding or carpet. If you place the specks on a damp tissue, they’ll turn reddish-brown. That’s digested blood.
Jumping Insects
You may feel something jump on your skin or spot fleas moving when you disturb rugs or bedding.
A true flea infestation usually becomes obvious within days. Once you see signs, quick action is essential.
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How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your House Step-by-Step
Let’s break this down into a clear action plan. These are also some of the steps to take while preparing for a flea treatment service.
Step 1. Clean and Vacuum Regularly
Vacuum carpets, rugs, couches, and even skirting boards. Focus on dark corners where flea larvae hide. Studies show vacuuming can kill up to 96% of adult fleas and most larvae if done thoroughly.
- Always empty the dust bag outside, as flea eggs and larvae can survive inside the vacuum.
- Steam clean carpets where possible. Heat above 60°C kills flea eggs effectively.
Step 2. Wash Bedding and Soft Furnishings
Pet bedding is a flea hotspot. Wash it in hot soapy water (above 60°C) every few days during an outbreak. Don’t forget human bedding, couch covers, and cushions. Flea eggs can survive for up to 10 days in fabric.
- Dry items in direct sunlight where possible. Fleas struggle in heat and UV exposure.
- Rotate pet bedding so you always have a clean spare while washing the other.
Step 3. Treat Pets Safely (Consult a Vet)
This step is non-negotiable. Fleas jump between pets and the home environment, so treating only one won’t solve the issue.
- Use vet-approved flea treatment such as oral medications, flea collars, or topical solutions.
- Avoid supermarket “all-in-one” sprays directly on pets. Some can be unsafe.
- Bathe pets with flea shampoo, then use a flea comb to remove fleas and flea dirt.
- Always check with your vet first for appropriate medications, especially for kittens, puppies, or pets with health conditions.
Step 4. Target Flea Hotspots
Fleas love warm, fibrous areas. Focus your efforts on:
- Carpets and rugs
- Floor cracks and gaps in skirting boards
- Upholstered couches and chairs
- Pet bedding and toys
Vacuuming and steam cleaning these areas weekly keeps infestations in check.
Natural Alternatives to Flea Control
Some Adelaide homeowners prefer to avoid heavy chemical use, especially around children or sensitive pets. Natural methods can help with mild infestations.
- Baking soda and salt: Sprinkle on carpets before vacuuming to dehydrate flea larvae.
- Food-grade diatomaceous earth: A natural powder that dries out fleas on contact. Apply lightly along floor edges.
- Hot soapy water traps: Place a shallow dish of hot soapy water under a light overnight. Fleas jump towards the light, land in the water, and die.
These methods work best when infestations are small. They rarely kill adult fleas or tackle the flea life cycle completely.
Professional Flea Removal Services
For heavy infestations, DIY is often not enough. That’s where professional pest control becomes essential. Here’s what you get when you call in professional pest control experts like Allstate Pest Control:
- Thorough treatments: Professionals use flea control products designed to kill fleas at every stage, from flea eggs and flea larvae to adult fleas.
- Safe applications: Treatments are applied carefully to avoid risk to pets and humans.
- Reduced reinfestation risk. A tailored flea treatment plan ensures eggs hatching later are also managed.
Allstate Pest Control provides professional pest control across Adelaide 24/7. We’re licensed, insured, and experienced with the specific flea challenges faced in South Australian homes.
Flea Prevention Tips for Long-Term Control
Once you’ve beaten an infestation, prevention is key. Here’s a flea control guide that shows what you should do in the long term to ensure they don’t return:
- Vacuum carpets weekly, especially in warmer months.
- Wash pet bedding and toys regularly in hot water.
- Keep lawns trimmed; Fleas thrive in tall grass and shady patches.
- Maintain regular flea treatments for pets, as advised by your vet.
- Monitor for flea dirt on pets during grooming.
Preventing fleas is always cheaper and less stressful than dealing with a full infestation.
Choose Allstate Pest Control for Effective Flea Control
It’s hard enough seeing our pets suffer from fleas, but having an outbreak spread around the house makes the problem worse for everyone. Luckily, at Allstate Pest Control, our team knows exactly how to help.
Family-owned and operated, Allstate has been managing flea outbreaks for more than 30 years. Our flea removal technicians are highly trained in flea behaviour and their life cycle. We understand that successful flea control requires applying the appropriate treatments at exactly the right intervals. This way, you and your family can enjoy long-lasting protection from recurring outbreaks.
All our treatments are non-toxic towards children, pets and the environment. Our flea removal service is backed by competitive warranties and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We even offer payment plans so you won’t need to delay your treatment. Available 24/7 for all urgent enquiries to all suburbs of Adelaide, the Allstate team is ready to help you prevent fleas in your home.
Get Rid of Fleas Before They Take Over
Fleas spread fast. They bite humans and pets, causing stress and damage to the comfort at home. Cleaning and natural methods can help, but most infestations need more. Professional flea treatment offers long-lasting protection by targeting fleas at every stage of their life cycle.
Don’t let fleas take over your home. Call Allstate Pest Control on 08 8371 1277 today or book a flea removal service online now. Our Adelaide team provides fast, safe, and proven flea treatments for homes and businesses.
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