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 →Call us if you have noticed small black specks in pet bedding or bites that keep appearing, even though you have treated the animal. We will work out where the fleas are living and tell you honestly what needs doing.
Where fleas hide in a Sidford home
Adult fleas on a cat or dog are only a fraction of the infestation. The rest, the eggs, larvae and pupae, drop off into the places your pet spends time: a favourite sofa, the stairs carpet, the spot by the radiator. In houses with a mix of older floors and newer fitted carpets, we often find them along edges and under furniture where vacuuming does not reach.
Pets that go out into gardens and the fields around the Sid valley can pick fleas up from wildlife or other animals and bring them indoors. That is not a sign of a dirty house. It simply happens, and it is why a one-off treatment for the pet is rarely enough on its own.
How we treat the whole house in Sidford
We inspect the rooms your animals use, looking for flea dirt and checking soft furnishings, then treat carpets, rugs, upholstery and floor edges with professional products. We explain how long rooms need to stay empty and what to clear before we arrive. The aim is to reach every stage of the flea life cycle, not only the adults.
Before we come, vacuum thoroughly and empty the bag or bin outside. Afterwards, vacuum again and wash bedding on a hot cycle. Some pupae will hatch after treatment, so expect to see the odd flea for a short while, and we will agree a follow-up if one is needed.
Working with your vet and preventing a repeat
Alongside our work in Sidford, your pets need a flea product recommended by your vet, kept up to date through the year. That stops new fleas from establishing in the home once it is clean. We also cover Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary close by. Washing pet bedding regularly and vacuuming where animals rest, in the EX10 area and elsewhere, keeps numbers low.
Frequently asked questions
How soon will the itching stop after flea treatment in Sidford?
Bites should ease as the fleas die off, but pupae can hatch for a few weeks, so you may still see or feel the odd flea. Keep vacuuming and treating the pet, and tell us if it carries on so we can plan a follow-up.
Do I need to leave the house when you treat for fleas?
You will need to keep people and pets out of the treated rooms for a set time. We tell you exactly how long when we visit, and what to do with food, fish tanks and bedding beforehand, so you can plan around it.
Are fleas a sign my house is dirty?
No. Fleas travel on pets, wildlife and sometimes secondhand furniture or visitors, and any tidy home can get them. What matters is dealing with the eggs and larvae in carpets and soft furnishings, as well as the animal itself.