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Table of Contents
Step 1: Don’t blame your pet
Step 2: Start with your pets
Step 3: Hoover like you’ve never hoovered before
Step 4: Wash, wash, wash
Step 6: Think about the garden
Step 7: Patience and persistence
Common myths about fleas and ticks
When to call in the professionals
Preventing future infestations
Fleas and ticks are a real nuisance. They bite, multiply like nobody’s business, and once they’ve made themselves at home, they don’t exactly pack up and leave willingly. But don’t panic! With a bit of know-how, elbow grease, and consistency, you can absolutely win the battle against these pesky little squatters. Keep reading to find out how to get rid of fleas and ticks quickly, fast!
Yes, fleas and ticks tend to hitch a ride indoors on cats and dogs, but it’s not because your furry friend is “dirty” or that you’ve neglected them. Fleas are opportunists. They live outside in the grass, they jump on passing animals, and before you know it, they’re bouncing about your living room rug.
Ticks, on the other hand, lurk in long grass, hedgerows and woodland areas, waiting for a warm body to stroll past. Click here to find out where ticks live in the UK. Again, not your pet’s fault. So, before we get into practicalities, remember: The aim here is to treat the problem, not to place blame.
You’ll never get on top of fleas or ticks indoors unless you deal with the source. That means treating your pets.
Flea treatments.
Flea treatments. You can get spot-on treatments, tablets, or flea collars to treat fleas. Monthly ongoing flea treatment, like Itch Flea Treatment for Dogs and Itch Flea Treatment for Cats will kill fleas, eggs and larvae to protect your pet, family and home.
Tick treatments.
Tick treatments. The good news is most modern flea treatments will tackle ticks as well. But if you live in an area where ticks are common, ask about specific tick prevention. And if you find a tick already attached to your pet, don’t just yank it out with your fingers. Use a proper Tick Remover tool (cheap as chips from the pet shop). You want to twist and lift the whole thing out so the head doesn’t get stuck.
Fleas love carpets, rugs, skirting boards and sofa cushions. Eggs can drop off your pet and roll into the tiniest of cracks, where they sit waiting to hatch. That’s why a one-off vacuum isn’t going to cut it. You need to hoover regularly, and we mean every day for at least a couple of weeks. Yes, it’s a faff, but it genuinely works to cut down the flea population.
Use the nozzle to get into crevices and corners.
Don’t forget under the sofa and along the edges of the carpet.
Empty the hoover bag or container straight away afterwards - outside, not in your kitchen bin. Otherwise, you might just give the fleas a free ride back indoors.
Any fabric in your house could be harbouring flea eggs or larvae - bedding, blankets, cushion covers, pet beds, you name it. It feels like overkill, but when you think about how small flea eggs are, it makes sense. You don’t want to give them a cosy place to hatch.
Wash on the hottest setting the fabric will allow, ideally over 60 degrees (check the labels so you don’t shrink your favourite duvet).
Dry thoroughly - A hot tumble dry cycle is excellent if you’ve got one.
Do this at least once a week until the problem’s under control.
Here’s where many people go wrong: they treat the pet, but not the house. Fleas can live for months in carpets and upholstery, and they don’t need your dog or cat to survive. They’ll quite happily nibble at human ankles if they’re desperate, so it is important that home treatment is maintained.
What you need is a household flea spray, such as our own Itch Flea House Spray for Homes. Look for one that contains an insect growth regulator (IGR) or is labelled as ‘Triple Action’. This stops flea eggs and larvae developing, which breaks the life cycle. A spray that just kills live adult fleas isn’t enough, because new ones will keep hatching.
Read the instructions carefully. Most sprays will tell you to leave the room afterwards for an hour or two to allow for the spray to set and room to ventilate.
Pay extra attention to pet bedding, skirting boards, and warm dark places like under furniture.
Don’t forget the car - if your pet rides with you, fleas can hitch a lift there as well.
You may need to re-treat after a couple of weeks to catch any late hatchers.
If your pets go outside, your garden could also be part of the problem. Fleas and ticks thrive in shady, damp, grassy areas. You can mow the lawn regularly so ticks and fleas have fewer hiding spots. Also trim back bushes and hedges where they might lurk. And remember if you’ve got wildlife visiting your garden (hedgehogs, foxes, etc.), be aware they can carry fleas too. You can’t exactly evict them, but at least you’ll understand where reinfestation might be coming from.
Here’s the honest truth. : Yyou’re not going to get rid of fleas or ticks overnight. Flea eggs in particular can survive for weeks before hatching, and they’re resistant to most sprays. That’s why consistency is key. Keep hoovering, keep washing, and keep up with pet treatments.
Most infestations clear within 4-6 weeks if you’re diligent but it can sometimes take up to 3-4 months depending on level of infestation. If you give up after a few days, you’ll just end up back at square one.
Let’s bust a few old wives’ tales while we’re here:
“Salt on the carpet kills fleas". Not really. At best, it might dehydrate some eggs, but it’s no replacement for proper cleaning and sprays. If this is ingested by your pet, it can cause salt poisoning or severe dehydration.
“Fleas can’t live without pets". Sadly, they can bite humans, and the eggs can sit dormant until vibrations (like footsteps or hoovers) wake them up.
“A single flea spray is enough". Nope. You’ve got to break the life cycle, which means repeat treatments.
“Ticks die if you smother them in Vaseline or burn them". Dangerous myth. Always use a proper tick removal tool.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the fleas seem to be winning. Maybe your house is big, carpeted wall-to-wall, or you’ve just got a particularly stubborn infestation. This is when it’s time to call in a pest control service.
They’ve got access to stronger treatments than you can buy over the counter, and they know exactly where to target them. It might cost a bit, but it’s often the quickest way to get your sanity back.
Once you’ve finally got rid of the little blighters, you’ll want to make sure they don’t come back. Prevention is far easier than cure.
Keep up with monthly flea and tick treatments for your pets.
Hoover regularly, even when you don’t think there’s a problem.
Wash pet bedding weekly.
Do a quick tick check on your pets (and yourself) after country walks.
Consider using flea prevention sprays in your home every few months if you’ve had problems before.
Getting rid of fleas and ticks in your house can feel like a never-ending battle, but it’s one you can definitely win. It’s all about a combined approach: treating your pets, your home, and sometimes even your garden. Stick with it, don’t fall for the quick fixes and old myths, and within a few weeks you’ll notice the difference.
And remember - fleas and ticks don’t make you a bad pet owner or a bad housekeeper. They’re just opportunistic little hitchhikers. With a bit of persistence, you can send them packing and get back to enjoying a peaceful, itch-free home.
Vet strength flea and worm treatments, tailored to your pet and delivered for free, every month, so you never forget.
Itch Flea kills adult fleas on your pet in 24 hours and halts all other flea life stages. Itch Wormer kills all common intestinal worms and prevents newly hatched larvae from growing and multiplying.
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