How to keep fleas out of your home in summer

Fleas are with us all year, but warm, humid weather speeds up every stage of their life cycle. Pets spend more time outdoors, meet more animals and bring more fleas home, and a few fleas in late spring can become a house full by August. Prevention is far easier than clearing an established infestation.

01Why fleas are worse in summer

Fleas go through four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Eggs fall from the pet into carpets, bedding and furniture, the larvae develop there, and the pupae wait in sticky cocoons until a host comes near. Warmth and humidity shorten the time each stage takes, so more generations of fleas fit into the summer months. Our guide on why fleas are so hard to get rid of explains the life cycle in more detail.

Pets are the usual route in, but not the only one. Fleas can come from wildlife in the garden, from birds' nests near windows or in the loft, from second-hand rugs and furniture, or from a previous occupant's pet. A house that has been empty, or a room nobody has used for a while, can hold dormant pupae that hatch as soon as someone walks in.

02Signs to watch for

• Pets scratching, biting or licking themselves more than usual.
• Black specks in pet fur or bedding that turn reddish-brown on damp white tissue (flea dirt).
• Small, itchy red bites on people, mostly around the ankles and lower legs.
• Tiny dark insects jumping on pale floors, furniture or socks.

03Looking after your pets

• Use a vet-recommended flea treatment for every pet in the house, and keep to the schedule your vet sets. Ask your vet which product suits each animal, and never use a dog product on a cat.
• Comb them regularly with a fine-toothed flea comb, especially around the neck, the base of the tail and the belly.
• Ask about worming. Pets can catch tapeworm by swallowing fleas while grooming.
• Check after contact with other animals, such as kennels, catteries, dog walks in the countryside or visits from friends' pets.

04Looking after your home

• Vacuum often, paying attention to where pets sleep and sit, under sofas and beds, along skirting boards and in the car if your pet travels in it. Easy-to-miss spots like under the sofa are where larvae do best.
• Empty the vacuum into a sealed bag and put it in an outside bin.
• Wash pet bedding, throws and cushion covers on a hot wash, regularly.
• Check second-hand rugs and furniture before you bring them in.

05Looking after your garden

• Keep the lawn mown and clear leaf litter and debris from shady areas, where flea larvae can survive outdoors.
• Discourage wildlife from settling under sheds and decking close to the house.
• Check for old birds' nests near windows and in the loft once the nesting season is over and they are no longer in use.

06If fleas get in anyway

Treat every pet straight away with a vet-recommended product, vacuum thoroughly and wash bedding. If you are still seeing fleas or getting bitten after a couple of weeks, the problem is established in the house and needs treating at every stage of the life cycle. Our guide to fleas and your pets covers checking and treating your animals in more detail.