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Table of Contents
Why do I need to kill flea eggs?
What’s in household flea sprays and how do they work?
Do they actually kill flea eggs?
How do I beat fleas?
How can I use a household flea spray safely?
When should I call a pest expert?
95% of fleas live in your home, not on your pet. So you need to treat your home whilst treating your pet. If it’s your first flea infestation then you might not know how to get rid of fleas properly. It’s key you kill adult fleas and their eggs for the infestation to end. So the treatment you use in your home and on your pet must kill eggs. Scroll to find out which household flea spray kills eggs.
Adult fleas bite and lay eggs in the environment like in your carpets, sofas, pet beds, even cracks in the floorboards. Those eggs hatch into larvae, pupate, and then emerge as adults when conditions are right. That life cycle is why a single spray or one-time shampoo rarely sorts a full-blown infestation. Treating eggs (or stopping them developing) is essential to break the cycle.Click here to see what the flea life cycle looks like.
Most home sprays do 2 jobs:
Kill adult fleas on contact. This is usually with insecticides such as pyrethroids or synthetic pyrethrins.
Prevent immature stages developing. This is by adding an insect growth regulator (IGR) such as (S)-methoprene or pyriproxyfen, which stops eggs/larvae turning into reproducing adults.
It depends on the product:
Sprays with a good IGR: These are extremely useful because they prevent eggs and larvae in the home from becoming biting adults. This is what vets recommend to break the flea cycle.
Sprays that only have adulticides: These may kill adult fleas on contact but will do little to stop eggs or pupae, so the infestation can reappear.
“Natural” powders/DIY remedies: Things like diatomaceous earth can kill adult fleas and some larvae by drying them out, but they’re not reliable against eggs or pupae and are usually slower and less complete than vet-recommended products.
Here’s what you’re going to do right now!
Treat the pet properly.
Spot-on treatments or vet-prescribed oral medications are the most reliable way to kill adult fleas on your pet and stop re-infestation. Itch Flea Spot On Treatment for Dogs and Itch Flea Spot On Treatment for Cats which targets all flea life stages to kill off your flea infestation. Do not spray pets with household surface sprays.
Treat the house.
If you use a household flea spray, pick one that contains an IGR like Itch Flea House Spray for Homes. Follow the label exactly, and remove people and pets from the room while spraying and until it’s dry. Wash pet bedding at 60°C or higher if the fabric allows. Vacuum thoroughly as this physically removes eggs and stimulates pupae to emerge, after which they'll be vulnerable to sprays or vacuuming. Click here for the best vacuum for pet owners to get rid of fleas.
Repeat and monitor.
Flea life cycles can stretch over weeks or months. Repeat treatments as often as once a month to keep up pet prevention against a flea infestation. Vacuuming weekly and washing bedding will help stop a comeback.
Read the label. Don’t assume all “flea sprays” are the same. Some are for indoor use only, some are for outdoor/yard use, and some should never be used near cats.
Keep pets and kids away while spraying. Many sprays require rooms to be vacated and well ventilated until fully dry.
Don’t treat pets with home surface sprays. They’re for the environment, not for direct application to animals. Use products labelled for animals on your pet.
Someone in the household is asthmatic or has chemical sensitivities. Consider professional treatment advice or targeted measures (e.g. lots of vacuuming and washing, or choosing lower-toxicity options discussed with your vet).
If fleas persist despite home treatment and regular pet prevention, get veterinary advice. Heavy infestations sometimes need a combination of veterinary-strength pet treatments plus a tough approach. At Itch, our flea trained Vet Team can guide you through getting rid of fleas and recommend the best flea fighting products. Click here to contact the Vet Team at Itch.
Household flea sprays can kill eggs or, more importantly, prevent eggs from turning into adults. But not all sprays do this. Most sprays work best when used alongside spot on flea treatment for pets, thorough cleaning, and repeat care.
95% of fleas live in your home environment, not on your pet.
To break the fast and furious flea life cycle, treat your home with Itch Flea Home Spray. In one blast, it will help turf out the little blighters — and any dust mites too — as well as put a halt to the development of flea eggs and larvae for up to 12 months.
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