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 →We do not just treat the obvious spot. Fleas breed in carpets, sofas and floor gaps, so we look at every room where an animal or a person has been spending time.
Why holiday accommodation is hit by fleas
Guests bring dogs on holiday and then leave. Eggs and larvae stay behind in Torquay carpets and soft furnishings, and pupae can wait for weeks before hatching. The next guest arrives and the property seems to wake up with fleas, even though it was cleaned between stays.
If you run a guest house or let in TQ1 and TQ2, this matters, because a few bites can quickly become an unhappy guest. We treat affected rooms, advise on cleaning routines between stays and tell you plainly if a room should be left empty for a short time.
Older converted properties and floor gaps
Many Torquay buildings are older houses split into flats or rooms, with gaps between floorboards, deep skirting and thick carpets. Those are exactly the places flea larvae hide, away from light and out of reach of a normal vacuum.
We inspect those areas, treat the rooms affected and show you where the problem was. We also ask for a thorough vacuum before and after, hot washes for bedding and a visit to your vet for suitable pet treatment. A follow-up visit is arranged to deal with fleas that hatch afterwards.
Family homes, pets and what to expect
For households in Torquay the process is the same but quieter: we agree the plan and price first, explain what the treatment involves and tell you how to prepare. We also cover Paignton, Cockington and Maidencombe, so if you are on the edge of town we can usually still reach you. Fleas are annoying but they can be dealt with.
Frequently asked questions
We run a guest house in Torquay and a guest found bites. What should we do?
Move the guest if you can, keep the room closed and call us. We will inspect it, treat the room and any connected areas, and advise on cleaning before it is used again. Do not ignore it, as fleas spread.
Can fleas live in a holiday let with no pets in it now?
Yes. Eggs and pupae stay in carpets and soft furnishings after a pet has gone and hatch when someone arrives. A treatment of the affected rooms and a follow-up is the sensible answer.
Are flea bites different to bed bug bites?
They can look similar. Flea bites tend to be around ankles and legs, while bed bug bites often appear in lines on exposed skin. We can inspect and tell you which pest it is before any treatment.