Does Bleach Kill Fleas?

Our fully inclusive guide on whether or not bleach is useful in killing fleas.

A flea infestation is one of the last things we want to get from our fur babies, isn’t it? One of the worst parts is how difficult they are to get rid of – and the more times you fail in doing so, the stronger they come back. Frustrating or what?

What’s worse, is they can attach themselves to clothes. Which means even if you think you’ve washed all of the fleas off your pet, it won’t be enough to eradicate the infestation entirely, and stop it happening again.

Because of this a lot of people wonder whether using bleach in the home can help with a flea infestation. Does bleach kill fleas? We hope we don’t have to say this really, but of course you can’t use bleach on your pet. It’s purely for around the house.

Read on for our fully inclusive guide on whether bleach can help to kill fleas in the home.

Does Bleach Kill Fleas?

Very simply, the answer to this question is yes. Bleach does kill fleas, which is unsurprising really. It’s also fairly effective against flea larvae and their eggs too.

The only issue with this? You’ll have to use the bleach in every corner in your home where the flea could have laid eggs in order to get rid of the infestation fully, so it’s a pretty big job.

Also, remember that bleach is toxic, so can be dangerous to use in the home around pets and small children. If you do spray an area of the house with bleach in an attempt to exterminate the fleas, be sure to cordon it off afterwards.

How Should I Use Bleach to Kill Fleas?

In order to use bleach safely and effectively to kill fleas around the home, there are some steps you should follow. We are going to detail these just below.

 STEP ONE

Prepare a solution of bleach which is diluted. There is guidance on how to do this online.

STEP TWO

Be sure to wear protective gear like a mask, gloves, and long sleeves when handling bleach, and use proper ventilation.

STEP THREE

Put the diluted bleach solution into a spray bottle, and then spray it around the house, paying particular attention to areas that are damp or dark. Be thorough, otherwise you could face the possibility of a secondary infestation taking place. Be careful on certain surfaces, as bleach can discolour, and cordon off any sprayed areas. We’ll pick back up on this at step five.

STEP FOUR

Any clothing or material around the home which may have been in contact with and therefore infested by fleas should be washed in water as hot as the specific fabric type can withstand.

STEP FIVE

After leaving the bleach for a few hours, thoroughly clean all of the areas which have been sprayed. It’s a good idea to leave these areas cordoned off for the next three to five hours following this in order to keep children and pets safe.

 Thanks for reading!