How to Get Rid of Dog Fleas on Your Bed?

Do you have dog fleas on your bed? As embarrassing as a yes answer may sound, it is true for pet owners. You might just be hosting thousands of fleas on your bed and in other areas of your home. 

But how do fleas get to your home (bed)? What are the signs of a flea infestation? And most critically, how do you get rid of those blood-sucking pests?

Read on and find simple and easy-to-do ways to get rid of dog fleas.

Photo by Amy Humphries on Unsplash

How do dog fleas get to your home?

You’ve probably heard the proverb, if you lie around with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas. The ancients were spot on when they coined it because fleas love to latch and hide on furry animals like dogs and cats. 

Although they like furry animals, fleas can spread to any warm-blooded host who comes into contact with the infested pet. In fact, humans are better hosts because our skins are softer and easier to get a blood meal. Fleas then make homes in moist and dark spaces like your bedding and mattress.

But what makes fleas particularly notorious?

Although our pets could bring home various pests, fleas stand out because they are exceptionally resilient. They have a short but highly productive life cycle and can multiply fast. Fleas like to hide and reproduce in dark and moist areas. However, if in unfavorable environments, they can hibernate for many months without food and reactivate when a suitable host is present. Thus, they can live anywhere. 

If you have a tight relationship with your pet and often share stuff like the couch and the bed, chances are, they carried the fleas (at whatever life stage) to your bed. 

But how can you tell there is a dog flea infestation? Look out for the following signs.

Signs of dog fleas in your bed

The most common sign of a dog flea infestation is unusual itching. If a flea bites you, you will scratch (it doesn’t matter if you are conscious or not). If you scratch too hard, you could break the skin and make way for a bacterial infection. 

Other signs are as follows:

• Small discolored bumps on your skin. 
• Flea dirt under your mattress and bed.
• Flea eggs on your bed. 
• Adult fleas on your bed or other furniture.

Way before you began itching unusually or noticed the signs above, you may have seen your pet behaving unusually. That’s because they were likely to be infested first and spread the pests to you. 

Some of the signs you may see on your pet include:

• Unusual itching and scratching. 
• Due to the excess scratching, your pet could have dry and flaky skin, sores, and lose hair. 
• Adult fleas on your pet. Fleas are visible  in low-hair areas below the tail, under the belly, and in the ears.
• Flea eggs, dirt, and debris are visible in the places your pet likes to hang out, like their bed. 

So, how do you get rid of the fleas?

Getting rid of dog fleas on your dog is easy. Using Diatomaceous Earth for dogs is an inexpensive and easy way to eliminate fleas and other parasites from your beloved pet. However, keeping them away is not. If you have a dog or pet that loves to hang out outdoors, it’s an uphill task but not impossible. The following tips will help you to exterminate and prevent dog flea infestation:

Exterminate the pests

Hot steam your mattress, then take it out to dry. Let the sun bake it for some time. If you are in cold areas, vacuum it thoroughly after hot steaming it. As for the bedding, wash them thoroughly with hot water and detergent. Let them also dry, and iron them before putting them away or back on the bed. 

Spray a suitable insecticide on hard-to-reach spots in your bedroom. If you suspect the spread to be extensive, call a professional exterminator. 

These methods can also help to get rid of the fleas:

• Spray camphor water on your bed. Camphor water is a powerful, natural insecticide.
• Sprinkle silica gel on your bed and in other areas where there could be fleas. Silica gel takes out moisture and makes the area less conducive for fleas. 
• Spray vinegar on your bed. Vinegar alters the PH and makes the environment hostile for fleas.

Photo by Monstera

Prevent a future dog flea infestation

After exterminating the fleas, you should take steps to prevent future infestations, especially if you’re planning to sell the house. The first thing to do is take good care of your pet. Your dog is the most likely carrier of these nasty pests, and preventing infestation on your pet will go a long way in protecting your bed. Not to mention it is also beneficial for the well-being of your dog. 

The following tips will help:

• Wash your pet and groom them regularly. 
• Look for the signs of infestation and get rid of the fleas. 
• Keep your yard clean, neat, well-lit, and aerated. In other words, don’t let your pet and yard be a pest haven. 
• Apply essential oils to your pet and furniture. Essential oils are natural and safe for pets and yourself. But they emit odors that repel insects and fleas. It’s an excellent way to keep your bed pest-free.

In conclusion

If you hang out with flea-infested pets, the pests will have no trouble making you and your bed the next host. If you have a bed infested by fleas, your dog would be the most likely carrier.

To get rid of fleas, use the tips mentioned above, or call an exterminator. But apart from getting rid of the fleas, find ways to keep your pet and home pest-free.