Crawling pests
Fleas
- Stay out
- 3 to 4 hours, and until dry
- No mopping or carpet shampoo
- 14 days
- Vacuum floors
- Daily for 1 week
- Most improve within
- 2–3 weeks
No entry until it's dry. Drying takes 3–4 hours or longer, so don't go back into a treated area until it's dry, even if the time on this page has passed.
Get your home ready
Before we arrive
What we do on the day
- We treat the carpets, the floor edges, and under and behind furniture.
- We treat the pet bedding areas, and the subfloor and yard where the pet sleeps.
- Pets need to be kept away from where we're working.
- If you have a fish tank, it gets covered and the pump switched off while we treat.
- If something hasn't been prepared, we tell you plainly what we couldn't treat.
After treatment
- Do not enter treated areas for 3 to 4 hours, and until dry
- Do not mop floors or shampoo carpets until 14 days after treatment
- Vacuum floors daily for 1 week
- Empty vacuum contents into an external bin
- Continue treating pets for fleas as recommended
Common questions
How do fleas enter the home?
Fleas are commonly brought inside by pets.
Do I need to treat my pet as well?
Yes, treating pets is essential to prevent reinfestation.
Why am I still seeing fleas after treatment?
Flea eggs hatch over time. Newly hatched fleas will die when they contact the treatment.
How long does flea treatment take to work?
Most infestations improve within 2–3 weeks.
Do I need to treat the whole house?
Yes, fleas can spread throughout the entire home.
When can people and pets go back in?
Stay out of treated areas for 3 to 4 hours, and until surfaces are dry. If you have a question about children, pets or health, call us and a technician will talk it through.
Do I need more than one treatment?
We'll go through what's covered before you book.
Where do fleas hide?
Usually carpets, rugs, couches and pet bedding.
Can fleas live without pets?
Yes, fleas can survive in carpets and soft furnishings.
What should I do about flea bites?
Wash the bites with antiseptic soap and put an icepack on the swelling. Ask your pharmacist what will help with the itch. See your doctor if the bites get worse, or if one looks infected and has pus coming from it. If you're unwell, call 000 in an emergency, or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for health advice.
How do I check my pet for fleas?
Part the fur, especially around the ears and rump. Look for the fleas themselves, or for tiny dark specks, which are flea droppings. To check the specks, put a few on a damp white tissue. If they leave a ring of blood, they're flea droppings.
Signs you've got fleas
- Itchy, red, swollen bites that come up within about half an hour.
- A day or so later, the lump can turn into a blister or a small wound.
- Bites on the legs and feet, which fleas often go for.
- Your pet scratching a lot.
- The fleas themselves: wingless, oval and about 2 to 8 mm long.
- Being bitten when you walk into a house that's been empty for a while.
Where fleas hide, and how they get in
Where they hide
- In your pet's fur. The ears and rump are the places to check.
- In cocoons around the house. Footsteps and other vibration tell the adult fleas to come out.
- In outdoor spots your pet uses, such as a kennel.
- In the vacuum cleaner bag after you vacuum, so throw the bag away.
How they get in
- On pets. Fleas feed on the blood of people and animals such as dogs and cats, and they use a wide range of hosts.
- Adult fleas can go for some months without feeding, so a house that's been empty can still have them.
Keep them away
- Keep pets on regular flea prevention treatment
- Vacuum carpets regularly
- Wash pet bedding frequently
What happens next
Booking the treatment
A flea treatment covers the carpets, rugs and soft furnishings where the eggs sit. Keep the pet's own treatment going at the same time or they come straight back.
Still have a question?
Call us and we'll help. If you're still seeing activity after the times on this page, let us know.