How to Get Rid of Fleas on Humans

Written by Kevin Carrillo | Edited by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: October 3, 2022 References

If you have small, itchy red bites on your legs or ankles, you’re probably being bitten by fleas. Fleas live on pets like cats and dogs, but they’ll sometimes jump onto humans in a pinch. Getting rid of the fleas on your body is all about treating your environment to kill the fleas before they can get to you. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of ways you can treat the fleas in your home to stop getting bitten up by these pesky pests.

This article is based on an interview with our MMPC-certified pest control specialist, Kevin Carrillo. Check out the full interview here.

1

Wash your bedding in hot water.

Fleas often bite at night, so they might be living in your bedding. Strip your bed and wash your blanket, sheets, and pillow cases on the hottest setting you have. This will kill any fleas and eggs that could be in your bed, so it should get rid of the problem quickly.^{[1]
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- If you have fleas in your bed, you probably have them elsewhere in your home, too.

2

Vacuum your carpet.

Sometimes, simply vacuuming your carpet is enough to get rid of fleas. Use a vacuum and go over your entire carpet, and don’t forget any rugs, too! When you’re done vacuuming, empty the contents into a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it outside right away.^{[2]
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- The vacuum will suck up the fleas, but it won’t kill them. That’s why it’s important to seal and trash the vacuum waste quickly—otherwise, the fleas will simply hop out and infest your home again.

3

Vacuum your furniture and baseboards.

Fleas sometimes hang out in hard-to-reach areas. If you’ve vacuumed your carpet but you're still getting bitten, use a hose attachment on your vacuum and go over any soft furniture and along the baseboards. This will also remove any eggs that the fleas might have laid before you managed to get to them.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- Again, be sure to empty your vacuum contents into a sealed bag and throw it away outside quickly. That way, the fleas will be out of your home.

4

Steam clean your carpet.

The heat combined with the carpet cleaner will kill any fleas and eggs. Buy or rent a steam cleaner from your local hardware store and fill it up with carpet cleaner. Go over your entire carpet, and don’t forget to use it underneath furniture, too.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- You can find decent carpet cleaners for around $200 if you want to buy one. Or, you can rent one for around $30 per day.
- If you have a large house, you may want to look into hiring a professional carpet cleaner instead of doing it yourself.

5

Treat the fleas on your pet.

More often than not, the fleas in your home are on your pets. If you have cats or dogs, treat them with flea medicine either from your vet or from the pet store. These topical medications will infect the fleas as they bite your pet, and the fleas will usually die off in a couple of days.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- Be sure to read the dosage recommendation on the back of the flea medication. Larger animals need more, while smaller animals need less.
- You can also take your pet to the vet and put them on oral flea medication. Talk to your veterinarian to see if that’s the right move for you.

6

Use a flea comb on your pets.

For a more natural way to get rid of fleas, buy a flea comb from the pet store. Start at your pet’s neck, then slowly stroke the comb backwards in the direction that their hair grows. Keep a bowl of soapy water next to you—if any fleas come off on the comb, hold them underwater for a minute or so to drown them.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- Flea combs also pull out flea eggs and flea dirt (flea poop). You may want to wear gloves and lay an old towel down before you start.

7

Wash your pets' bedding.

Grab their bed and any blankets they sleep on. Throw them into the washer, then run a cycle on the hottest setting you have. The hot water will drown and kill the fleas, and it will also wash away any eggs they might have laid on the bedding.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- Try to wash your pets’ bedding at least once a week to prevent a flea infestation.
- If your pet has a litter box, clean that out with soap and water, too.

8

Use bug spray on your skin.

If you’re attracting fleas outside, use bug spray whenever you go out. Experts recommend using DEET, since it’s very effective against most pests. Focus the bug spray on your feet and ankles, since that’s where fleas like to bite the most.
- If the fleas are living outdoors, they’ll probably be in tall grass or under large bushes. You should definitely use bug spray if you plan on walking through any overgrown wooded areas.

9

Set up commercial flea traps.

These non-toxic traps kill adult fleas. Buy some flea traps and set them up in areas where you see the most fleas, like near your pets’ bedding. The traps will emit light and warmth to attract the fleas, but will trap them with a sticky paper insert. When the paper insert gets too full of fleas, you can take it out and replace it.^{[8]
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- Flea traps work for smaller infestations, but since they don’t kill flea eggs, they aren’t a great method for larger infestations.

10

Make a flea trap out of dish soap.

Attract the fleas and drown them with soapy water. Mix warm water with a few drops of dish soap in a shallow bowl or plate. Place your dish on the floor, then set a desk lamp next to it overnight. The fleas will be attracted to the light and the warmth from the lamp, and they’ll hop into the soapy water and drown.^{[9]
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- In the morning, simply dump the water mixture down the sink.
- You can use this trap multiple times if you’re still finding fleas in your home.

11

Spray an essential oil mixture around your home.

Fleas are repulsed by the strong scent of essential oils. In a spray bottle, mix together 1 c (240 mL) of water with 7 drops each of rosemary, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, and citronella essential oil. Shake up the bottle to mix them together, then use it as a natural flea repellent around your house.^{[10]
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- If you have cats, don’t spray essential oils around them, as they are sensitive to the strong smells.

12

Use pesticides in your home.

Spot treat areas where you’ve noticed the fleas like to gather. Usually, this will be in any areas your pets hang out in. There are a lot of pesticides that you can choose from, but you should find ones that contain boric acid, silica or diatomaceous earth to kill both adult fleas and their larvae. Spray or sprinkle the pesticides around your home according to the instructions on the package.^{[11]
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- Before you use pesticides, always read the safety information on the package. Pesticides are toxic to children and animals, so keep them away from the area if you choose to use them.^{[12]
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  United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
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- Pesticides normally take 2 to 4 hours to dry. After that, they’re generally safe to be around again.
- Wear gloves to protect your hands while using pesticides, and wear an N95 mask to avoid inhaling any harsh chemicals.

13

Treat outdoor areas with insecticides.

Tall grass and bushes attract a lot of fleas. If you notice that you’re getting bitten by fleas outside, you can use insecticides in either spray or powder form outdoors. Always read the label on the back, and keep pets and small children away from the insecticides while you use them.^{[13]
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- You might have to apply insecticides a few times until they kill all of the fleas.
- Always wear gloves and long sleeves to protect your skin while using insecticides.
- Read the safety information on any insecticide you choose to use, and keep kids and pets away from the area.^{[14]
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  United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
  Go to source}

14

Try flea bombing your home.

Flea bombs contain aerosol chemicals made specifically to kill fleas. You can purchase a flea bomb and release it in your home, then leave for 2 to 4 hours. When you come back, the chemicals will have permeated your home and hopefully gotten rid of all the fleas.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 5 November 2019.}
- Experts note that flea bombs work best in conjunction with other methods. Since the chemicals only go up and out, they probably won’t kill fleas that are hiding under furniture or behind baseboards.
- Always keep flea bombs away from ignition sources, like pilot lights and power outlets.
- Before flea bombing, get everyone out of the house, including pets. When it’s time to go back in the house, open up all the doors and windows to let your home air out before entering.^{[16]
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  United States Environmental Protection Agency
  Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
  Go to source}

15

Call a professional exterminator if you need to.

Large infestations can be hard to get rid of on your own. If you’re still finding itchy red bites on your arms or legs and you’ve tried multiple home remedies, look into hiring a professional exterminator. They can assess your home and figure out the method that will work to kill the fleas and get rid of them permanently.^{[17]
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- Exterminators usually charge between $100 and $400 depending on the infestation and house size.

Warnings

Always read the safety information and follow the instructions on any pesticides or insecticides you use.^{[18]
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