Advice
How to Get Rid of Fleas in the Home
Fleas spend most of their life cycle in carpets, bedding and furniture rather than on your pet, so clearing them means treating the pet and the home together.
Read the guide →Eggs, larvae and pupae in carpets, rugs and furnishings keep a problem alive, so our visit focuses on where they develop. We explain each stage plainly.
Small cottages, big flea problems
Older cottages often have uneven floors, thick rugs and corners where dust collects. A single flea problem can spread through a small cottage quickly, because there are only a few rooms and the pet, or the visitors, move through all of them.
We see this in villages like Shaldon: a dog is walked along the estuary, picks up a few fleas, and by the weekend the sofa and bedroom carpet are affected. We inspect the rooms, treat the areas fleas breed in and explain how you can stop it coming back.
Holiday lets and quick turnarounds
Visitors come to Shaldon with dogs, and holiday lets can change hands every few days. Flea pupae can lie dormant for weeks, then wake when the next guest walks in. A property that looked spotless can suddenly produce bites.
If you manage a let, we can treat quietly and advise on cleaning between stays. We arrange a follow-up so that any fleas still hatching are dealt with. Treating once and assuming it is done is the most common mistake we see.
What we ask you to do
Before we arrive at your Shaldon property, vacuum carpets, rugs and sofas, wash bedding on a hot cycle and take pet bedding in for the same. Ask your vet about a flea product for the animal. We agree the price beforehand and explain the treatment in plain terms. We also cover Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Maidencombe, if you are close to TQ14. Fleas are common and can be dealt with calmly.
Frequently asked questions
The holiday cottage we manage in Shaldon has a flea complaint. What's first?
Close the room to new guests, let us inspect it and avoid sprays you cannot control. We will treat the affected rooms, tell you what to clean and book a follow-up so you can reopen with confidence.
Can fleas hide in old stone cottages?
They do not live in stone itself, but floors, rugs and gaps inside the cottage give them plenty of shelter. We check those hidden corners when we inspect.
Is it safe to stay in the house after treatment?
We will give specific advice on the day, including how long to keep pets and children out of treated areas and when to ventilate. Following it keeps everyone safe.