Summer's here with us! This season is often known for good weather and good times. But beyond that, it also brings some occasional unwanted house guests: fleas.
Every pet owner knows how frustrating flea infestation can be. When these tiny parasites invade your home, they multiply pretty fast.
Within short notice, you'll see them strewn in your carpet, bedding, couch, and every other part of your home.
If left unattended, fleas will lay eggs in your carpet, some of which get lodged deep into the carpet fibers. At this stage, it can be hard to contain the fleas.
No need to fret, though!
There are a handful of solutions that kill these pesky pets right off the gate.
But let's face it—we all look forward to quick fixes, don't we? After all, that's how humans are wired to operate.
And that's where quick solutions like steam cleaning come into the equation. But then, does steam cleaning kill fleas?
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Does Steam Cleaning Kill Fleas And Their Eggs?
Yes, to some extent, steam cleaning is an effective method that can kill fleas along with their eggs. But for best results, it better be a professional steam cleaner, not a regular home steam cleaner.
In most cases, a professional steam cleaner can get hotter than 325F (162C). This temperature level is more than enough to kill adult fleas, flea eggs, flea dust, dander, and more.
I don't mean to say that home steam cleaners are bad. No, that's far from the point here. But, come to think of it: adult fleas typically die at temperatures hotter than 95F (35C).
So, while home steam cleaners can deliver the hot vapor, they may not produce the necessary heat and intensity to kill adult fleas and their eggs. Additionally, chances of home steam cleaners killing flea eggs lodged deep in the carpet fibers are slim to none.
In fact, the warmth and humidity of the steam may stimulate remaining flea eggs to hatch faster. That means you'll still end up with a new flea infestation in a few days.
So, what's the real story?
Suffice to say, at-home steam cleaning can help kill some adult fleas and their eggs. But depending on how bad your flea infestation is, it may not produce the required results.
As a result, you may need to seek the services of a professional steam cleaner. This can kill all fleas – from flea eggs to juvenile fleas to adult fleas.
But in cases of very severe infestation, it may still deliver lackluster results. Thus, combining extermination and professional steam cleaning will be your best bet.
Does Steam Cleaning Kill Fleas?
Steam cleaning is one of the least toxic methods that can kill fleas in certain stages of their life cycle. However, it's not meant to replace the services of a professional exterminator.
I can't emphasize this enough…
Dealing with a very severe flea infestation is no mean feat. For best results, hire a professional exterminator and then a steam cleaning service. This combination kills fleas throughout their life cycle.
After the extermination, it's essential to wait for a few days for the chemicals to settle and work. After that, contact a carpet steam cleaner to complete the job. What steam cleaning does is deliver hot steam via a dedicated nozzle or such like attachment.
The heat of the steam plays a significant role in keeping dead fleas and eggs at bay. It helps sanitize the carpet, upholstery, and area rugs. It also helps get rid of chemical residue left behind by the exterminator.
Keep in mind that steam cleaning shouldn't be done immediately after the extermination. If you steam clean the carpet or items before the chemicals are completely dry, they won't have the time to work. Plus, the chemicals can become airborne, which is harmful to your health.
Does Steam Cleaning Kill Flea Eggs?
As a reiteration, steam cleaning can kill some flea eggs. But there is a catch—you must act as fast as you notice fleas have infested your home. NEVER allow time for fleas to multiply and spread out because it'll be harder to control.
Remember, a female flea can lay between 20 and 50 eggs per day, with the eggs hatching into larvae in a span of 1-12 days. Adult fleas prefer to hide their larvae in hard-to-reach places. Usually, carpet fibers are their best gestation ground.
A professional exterminator can kill fleas and their eggs in hard-to-reach areas. But sometimes you can't afford to hire a professional exterminator.
In such a situation, you'll need to supplement steam cleaning with other methods. These include:
Vacuuming
Vacuuming helps pick up egg-stage fleas. Ensure you go over every nook and cranny, including crevices, edges, baseboards, and more.
A vacuum cleaner gets rid of fleas in various ways. First, the suction force of a vacuum captures adult fleas. Secondly, the vacuum vibrations stimulate fleas to emerge from their cocoons. You can then suck them up using a vacuum.
Last but not least, vacuuming gets rid of flea feces and dried blood, which are their primary food source. This interrupts their life cycle and development.
Do Laundry
Steaming cleaning and vacuuming might not be enough to completely kill flea eggs. You'll still need to wash your bedding and your pet's bedding to eradicate any remaining flea eggs.
Always wash and dry the bedding on the highest heat settings to kill flea eggs. Taking the bedding to a dry cleaner is an idea you might want to consider. But there are concerns associated with this move.
This option may expose other people to fleas. Additionally, the kind of chemicals used in dry cleaning may be hazardous to pets. So taking care of bedding and removable floor coverings at home is the ideal option.
Groom Your Pet
When all is said and done, grooming your pet after steam cleaning is a must. Comb your pet's fur using a fine-toothed flea comb to shake off any hidden flea eggs. Once these eggs drop on the ground, you can take care of them using a vacuum cleaner.
Pay attention to your pet's neck and tail regions while grooming to ensure no eggs are left behind. After each comb, dip the comb in a bucket of warm, soapy water to kill the surviving fleas. No flea can survive a combination of heat and soap.
You might also want to consider purchasing flea shampoo from your nearest veterinarian. Those shampoos are pet-friendly, so they pose no health concerns. Finally, always restrict your pets to a single bed, and bathe them frequently.
How Long Does It Take For Steam To Kill Fleas?
The results will significantly vary depending on the degree of the flea infestation. But in general, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to kill all the fleas in every stage of their growth.
Benefits Of Using Steam To Kill Fleas
Steam cleaning comes with a plethora of advantages, including but not limited to:
- It's more effective than many other non-toxic methods
- It's 100% eco-friendly as there is no chemical involved
- It kills 99.9% of mold, mildew, allergens, and even dust mites, leaving carpets sanitized
- It leaves carpets dry despite using heated water jets
Disadvantages Of Using Steam To Kill Fleas
There are a few challenges associated with using steam to kill fleas and their eggs. They include:
- Eggs lodged deep in fluffy carpets can be challenging to remove with steam
- A steam cleaner cannot be used to kill fleas and their eggs on pets, including cats and dogs
Wrap-Up
Steam cleaning is one of the most effective techniques for killing fleas and their eggs. It can kill fleas in carpet, upholstery, furniture, and more.
Be that as it may, the effectiveness of steam cleaning depends on how severe the flea infestation is. If you're dealing with a severe flea infestation, you may not rely on steam cleaning alone.
Instead, consider hiring a professional exterminator before steam cleaning your home. Better still, you can combine the professional steam cleaning service with other methods. The latter is the ideal option for those on a shoestring budget.
