Fleas love to hide in the warm confines of a pet’s bedding. Not only does this protect them against common predators, such as you, but it also provides them with an easy meal each and every night. When your pet goes down to sleep at night, they’ll immediately be attacked by blood-thirst fleas. This is why it’s important for owners to wash their pet’s bedding on a regular basis.
Why Washing Alone Doesn’t Always Work
Unfortunately, washing a pet’s bedding doesn’t always work. It may kill all the adult fleas, but flea eggs are highly resilient and able to withstand the hot water of a washing machine. Flea eggs are covered in tiny thorn-like protrusions that literally stick to fabrics and pet hair; therefore, washing pet bedding that’s covered in flea eggs may not work.
Vacuum First
Before tossing your pet’s bedding into the washing machine, you should first run over it with a vacuum cleaner. Most fleas will jump out of harm’s way before being sucked up, but flea eggs aren’t so lucky. A quick run with the vacuum cleaner will remove the majority of flea eggs covering your pet’s bedding. Just remember to hold the bedding down so it’s not sucked up into the vacuum cleaner.
When you are finished, empty the contents of the vacuuming cleaner and immediately dispose of it in two separate trash bags. Double-bagging the contents will reduce the chance of fleas making their way back into your home.
Washing Your Pet’s Bedding
Take your pet’s bedding and place it inside the washing machine in a separate load (note: don’t attempt to wash your pet’s bedding with your clothes, garments or bed sheets). To effectively kill the fleas lingering inside their bedding, it’s recommended that you wash it on the hottest setting possible. Hot water will help kill and flush away adult fleas and larvae.
You can also add a kick of flea treatment power by using white vinegar in the wash. Take a quarter cup of white vinegar and pour it inside the basket before turning the washing machine on. The highly acidic nature of vinegar will kill fleas while leaving your pet’s bedding smelling nice and clean. Some people prefer to use bleach, but you always run the risk of ruining the fabric’s color when using bleach.
Are you struggling with a flea infestation in your home? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section below!