The eggs of fleas (and other insects) don't easily die in water. However, washing machines do kill flea eggs. They can't survive the detergent, water, heat, and physical tumbling action. It's recommended to wash items at 140°F for ten minutes, and then dry at the highest heat setting.
Fortunately, washing your clothes, bedding, rugs, and other textiles effectively kills fleas in any of the four life stages, thanks to the detergent chemicals and the heat and turbulence encountered during washing and drying.
Whilst it is impossible to guarantee that all fleas will be killed in the washing machine, as long as you wash at a temperature of at least 35°C, it should kill a good percentage of them.
Very hot water, as in your washer (60°C), along with the added detergent or bleach, will also kill any flea eggs that have contaminated your pet's bedding or your own sheets and garments.
Controlling Fleas
Only about 5% of fleas live on your pet at any time, the rest are in your house! Regular vacuuming and washing of your pet's bedding can remove a large part of the problem (60 degree wash).
If you love giving your dog a cuddle in bed or on the couch, launder all bedding and blankets to get rid of fleas and eggs. A normal laundry detergent will be enough to kill any fleas on bedding.
Dawn soap is effective at getting rid of adult fleas. However, flea eggs and flea larvae are not affected by Dawn. When you use dish soap to kill fleas in your pet's coat, you are only getting rid of adult fleas. Dawn does not repel fleas.
Dawn dish soap will kill fleas by drowning them, which happens fairly quickly. However, flea eggs, larvae, and pupae in the environment will be left untouched. These will mature, hop back onto your pet, and start reproducing, leading to more fleas.
Hot Water. Washing linens and bedding in water that is 140 degrees or hotter will be effective to destroy most flea eggs. Steam cleaning carpets after vacuuming can also help to kill remaining flea eggs.
Can Vacuuming Kill Fleas? Can Vacuuming Kill Fleas? According to extensive studies conducted at Ohio State University, vacuuming is indeed an effective way of getting rid of fleas! Through these studies, scientists discovered that vacuuming killed 96% of adult fleas from carpets and 100% of the flea pupae and larvae.
When it has a host, an adult flea can live about 100 days. But how long can they live without a host? Those fleas typically live only one to two weeks. The entire lifespan of a flea, from egg to adulthood, can last a few weeks or even a few months.
Clean, clean, clean
This is why, if your pets have fleas you must treat and clean your house as well. Collect all bedding, throws, rugs and clothing and wash them in soapy water - washing liquid will do. The soapy water is known to kill the eggs, larvae, pupae and adults.
The reason that washing and drying anything with fleas works is that fleas have to stay at a constant temperature. Therefore, when you dry them, you are overrunning their internal temperatures and they aren't able to survive.
This is a common myth because fleas love to hitch a ride on pets, but they can also grab onto your clothes to come inside. If you've been working in the yard, you should immediately launder your clothes and shower. Fleas aren't the only pest that likes to attack humans, as chiggers are also a common problem.
Salt dries out fleas just like diatomaceous earth, but it's less messy, and unlike diatomaceous earth, it doesn't pose a respiratory threat when used indoors. Borax powder is also effective against fleas and their larvae.
Fleas have exoskeletons that allow them to float in water, explains Dr. Reeder. “Dawn (and other soaps like it) creates a kind of surfactant, or surface tension, that will compromise the exoskeleton and make adult fleas sink,” he says. So essentially, the soap drowns the fleas.
Natural Remedy: Diatomaceous Earth
This talc-like powder is made from silica, the same stuff that makes up sand. You can sprinkle it on carpets, bedding, and furniture. Let it sit for several hours, then vacuum it up. It kills fleas by drying them out.
In short: using vinegar solution or white vinegar on your pet's fur or in their drinking water will not kill fleas. There is a chance ACV could repel fleas because they don't like the taste, but it is only a mild detergent and is not the best flea remedy. ACV should not be your first choice for natural flea treatment.
The light attracts the fleas, causing them to jump and land in the water. Adult fleas are positively phototactic, meaning they're attracted to sources of light. Adding a few drops of dish soap to the water reduces the surface tension. As a result, the fleas sink and drown.
Fleas generally cannot live in human hair. While most species prefer to live on the furs of animals, they can use humans as temporary vectors.
Wait 5 minutes, then rinse all of the soap off of your pet's fur. Allow about 5 minutes for the dish soap to completely kill the fleas before you begin rinsing. Use a cup of water or a handheld shower head to wash the soap off. Start from the top of your pet's body and work your way down towards the tail.
Can fleas live in a kitchen? While fleas prefer the warm, furry bodies of cats and dogs, they can thrive in other places when they're not feeding—including your kitchen.
Clean bedding regularly and vacuum furniture, floors and skirting boards to help destroy fleas at each stage of their lifecycle. Throw away the dust bag from your vacuum after each use to prevent any flea eggs and larvae from developing.