How to get rid of fleas permanently

Fleas are hard to eliminate

Before diving into solutions, it’s important to understand the flea life cycle. Only a small percentage of fleas live on your pet at any one time. In fact: Around 5% are adult fleas and the remaining 95% are eggs, larvae, and pupae hiding in your home. This means it’s nearly impossible to kill 100% of fleas instantly. Even if you remove all visible fleas, eggs that are living around your house can hatch within days.

Removing fleas takes effort and more than one type of treatment, Itch provides this all in one place with their Eradication Kit so you can Get Rid Of Fleas as fast as possible. The kit includes fast-acting flea tablet for your pet, household flea spray and ongoing pet flea treatment to stop the fleas from coming back.

Step 1: Treat your pet immediately

The first and most important step is to treat your pet. Fleas rely on animals for feeding and breeding, so cutting off this source is essential.

What to use:

• Spot-on treatments (also known as flea drops) - See our viral video on how to apply flea treatment, simple and effective!

• Oral chewable flea tablets

• Flea shampoos for immediate relief 

How fast do they work?

Most modern treatments begin killing fleas within hours and can eliminate the majority within 24 hours. While this isn’t instant, it is one of the fastest ways to reduce the active flea population. 

Get a breakdown of how quickly spot on flea treatments work here!

Step 2: Deep clean your home

To get rid of fleas permanently, you must tackle the environment, not just your pet. This is crucial because it targets flea eggs and larvae before they develop into biting adults.

Focus on:

• Carpets and rugs

• Sofas and soft furnishings

• Pet bedding

• Cracks in floors and skirting boards

Cleaning checklist:

☑️ Vacuum daily for at least 1–2 weeks

☑️ Empty the vacuum outside immediately

☑️ Wash bedding at 60°C or higher

☑️ Steam clean carpets if possible

Step 3: Use a household flea treatment

Cleaning alone won’t always eliminate hidden fleas. A dedicated flea spray or fogger can help reach areas you can’t.

Look for products that:

• Kill adult fleas

• Prevent eggs from hatching (insect growth regulators)

These treatments help break the life cycle, making it much easier to get rid of fleas for good. Itch sells a fast-acting and long-lasting household flea spray that targets live fleas and their eggs to stop infestation - One blast of Itch Flea House Spray and your home is protected for up to 2 months!

Step 5: Be patient

It’s completely normal to want fleas gone instantly, but due to their life cycle this isn’t realistic.

You might notice fleas appearing after treatment (newly hatched ones) or increased activity the following days after applying treatment. These aren’t signs that your pet’s treatment isn’t working, the chemical ingredients in flea treatment make the fleas hyperactive meaning they become more visible before dying.

It’s good to remember that most infestations take a few days for noticeable improvement and 2 to 4 weeks for full control.

Can you ever eliminate 100% of fleas?

The goal is always to eliminate every last flea, but to do so it takes a combination of different treatments and ongoing effort. Here is the winning formula to kill 100% of fleas to stay flea-free, forever: 

👩‍⚕️ Vet-approved pet flea treatment + 🏠 Environmental treatment that targets flea eggs + Ongoing preventive treatment and 🧹 regular cleaning = No more fleas 🙌

If you’re dealing with a flea problem, acting fast is the best way to prevent it from getting worse. While no solution works completely instantly, a combination of proper pet treatment, thorough cleaning, and household products will help you get rid of fleas permanently. Stick with the process, stay consistent, and you’ll soon have a home that’s not just flea-free but also stays that way.

If you have any questions or concerns about your flea problem, get in touch with our professionally qualified experts who are trained by VetPol to provide veterinary medicines advice to pet parents who need it. See if we’ve already answered your question here and if not, contact us!