How to Get Rid of Fleas in Perth

What fleas are and how to tell if you have them

Adult fleas have six legs and powerful hind legs that let them jump more than 200 times their body length. The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is the most common flea in Australia and attacks dogs, rats, humans and other mammals.

Flea droppings, tiny dark specks, on a moistened white tissue staining it with a ring of blood — Flea faeces (dark specks) stain white tissue with a ring of blood, confirming fleas are present.

Look for live fleas on your pet's skin, especially around the ears and rump. Check your carpet, particularly in areas where the pet slept or spent time. Fleas leave faeces that look like tiny dark specks. To confirm, place a few specks on lightly moistened white tissue. Flea faeces will stain the tissue with a ring of blood because they contain blood from their host. If you see that ring, fleas are active.

Why flea infestations happen in Perth homes

Fleas generally become a problem when their preferred food source is not available. Infestations commonly occur after a pet dies or when people move into a home where a cat or dog previously lived. Early-stage fleas can stay in carpets or undisturbed edges of floors for up to one year.

The life cycle takes 2 weeks to 8 months depending on temperature and humidity.

Most WA residential leases that allowed a pet include a clause requiring a professional flea treatment at the end of the tenancy. Whether or not a previous tenant's pet had fleas, a professional treatment and certificate are the standard close-out document for bond release.

Where fleas live in your home

Fleas live where pets lived. The main harbourage is carpet and pet bedding. Soft furnishings and pet bedding should be targeted first.

Bites are red, swollen and intensely itchy, and are often concentrated on the legs and feet. A blister or small wound may develop a day after the bite. Secondary infections from scratching are common. Some people may become more sensitive to flea bites over time.

What you can do yourself (non-chemical)

Vacuum every carpet, rug and hard-floor edge thoroughly. Before emptying the vacuum cleaner, treat the dust bag with an insecticide or place it in the freezer for 24 hours to kill developing fleas.

Clear floors as far as possible so a future treatment reaches under and behind furniture.

Steam cleaning kills many adult and pre-adult fleas, but some eggs may survive and hatch afterwards. Check with the carpet cleaner first to confirm your carpet suits steam cleaning. Do a steam clean before any pesticide treatment, not after, because steam strips out the chemical residual and the growth regulator.

Pupae can remain in cocoons for up to two weeks. If you have a pet still living in the home, seek advice from your vet about flea control products suitable for that animal. If the pet is untreated, it becomes a host for fleas and will reinfest the house after treatment.

What not to do

Many pesticides are registered for flea control. Select the lowest strength product that will do the job.

Steam strips out the residual chemical and the growth regulator, which affects the effectiveness of the treatment.

If you have already sprayed with a supermarket product and fleas are still active, get it checked.

When to call a professional

Our vacate flea treatment is designed for end-of-lease situations where speed and a certificate matter.

A professional flea treatment uses an APVMA-registered product with an insect growth regulator applied to label to carpets, rugs, hard-floor edges, skirtings and under and behind furniture. The treatment is carried out by, or under the direct supervision of, a technician holding a WA pest management technician's licence. The pesticide and insect growth regulator work together as pupae hatch and emerge over the following days.

After treatment, stay off treated floors until dry, usually two to four hours.

What it costs

See the investment guide for typical ranges and the factors that move a quote up or down.

The investment includes:

Counting carpeted rooms and pet areas.
APVMA-registered product with insect growth regulator applied to label.
Treatment of internal carpets, rugs, hard-floor edges and skirtings.
Treatment of outdoor pet areas where the animal spent time.
Treatment certificate with product details, active constituents, areas treated, technician licence number and re-entry period.
30-day re-treatment promise (terms at djpest.com.au/warranty) if active fleas are found inside treated areas after you have followed the vacuuming plan.

See the full investment guide for all services and the factors that move a quote up or down. For a faster overview, text your suburb to 0468 170 107 and we'll send a quote within the hour.

Frequently asked

Text your suburb and what you're seeing to 0468 170 107 for a written price.

How long do flea pupae stay dormant in carpet?

Early-stage fleas can stay in carpets or undisturbed edges of floors for up to one year.

Can I treat my home myself with a supermarket flea bomb?

Ask the vendor whether the product includes an insect growth regulator.

Do I need to treat my pet at the same time as my house?

Yes. If your pet still lives in the home, treat the pet for fleas at the same time as treating the house. A licensed vet can advise on flea control products suitable for dogs and cats. If the pet is untreated, it becomes a host for fleas and will reinfest the house after treatment. Rodents can also carry fleas, so if you have evidence of rats or mice, read our guide on keeping rats and mice under control.

Can fleas transmit disease to people in Western Australia?

In Australia, fleas are not known to transmit any human diseases. Skin reactions to flea bites can appear within minutes or be delayed over hours or days. Family members can react differently to the same bites. Some people develop itching, swelling or lesions. Secondary infections from scratching are common.

What is the re-entry period for a flea treatment?

The re-entry period is typically two to four hours until treated surfaces are dry and safe to use.

What is an insect growth regulator and why does it matter?

An insect growth regulator is a pesticide active that stops flea eggs from developing into adults. When selecting a pesticide for flea control, ask your pest management technician to use the lowest strength product with both a pyrethroid pesticide and an insect growth regulator.

What if fleas come back after professional treatment?

If active fleas are found inside the treated areas within 30 days after treatment, and you have followed the vacuuming and preparation plan, we return and re-treat at no charge (terms at djpest.com.au/warranty).

What are the most common flea species in Australia?

The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is the most common flea in Australia. It attacks dogs, rats, humans and other mammals. The dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) is less common but similar in appearance. The human flea (Pulex irritans) is uncommon due to improved home hygiene standards.

Sources

Vacate Flea Treatment Perth, the full service and the investment
Every guide on fleas
Pest management investment ranges in Perth, every service with a typical range
What's my pest?, pick what you saw
All pest guides