What does Health Canada say to do about fleas in the home?
Its flea control page says flea "eggs, larvae (immature fleas) and pupae can be found in and around where pets sleep", and lists the physical steps:
| Health Canada says | What it means for carpet (our reading) |
|---|---|
| "Vacuum carpets and cushioned furniture daily." | Daily, not weekly, while fleas are active; empty the bag or canister outside each time |
| "Steam-clean carpets." | Hot water extraction of the rooms the pet uses, after the pet is treated |
| "Wash pet and family bedding in hot, soapy water every 2 to 3 weeks." | Do it the same day as the carpet, so nothing re-seeds a clean floor |
| "Lift blankets by all 4 corners to avoid scattering the eggs and larvae." | Carry bedding to the washer folded, not shaken over the carpet |
| Clean cracks and crevices on floors and along baseboards | The crevice tool along every baseboard, under furniture and on stairs |
Why is one carpet cleaning not enough?
Because fleas come back from the pet and from the parts of the flea's life cycle that a single visit misses. Health Canada notes that household flea products "may require repeat treatments to kill the larvae and adult fleas", which tells you how stubborn the stages are. A professional clean removes a large share of what is in the carpet on the day; daily vacuuming and treating the pet deal with what hatches afterwards. Book the carpet clean after the pet's treatment has started, not before.
Should I use a flea product on the carpet?
That is your decision, and the label's. Health Canada lists products for the home, including insect growth regulators such as methoprene and pyriproxyfen, which "prevent flea larvae from becoming adults", and diatomaceous earth, which it says "is not toxic to humans and pets", with a caution not to inhale the dust. Read and follow the label, keep pets and children off treated carpet as it directs, and tell your carpet cleaner what was used and when, because a wet clean can remove a product that was meant to stay.
How do I know the fleas are gone?
When the pet stops scratching and you stop finding fleas on it, which your veterinarian can confirm. A simple check at home is a white sock pulled up over your shoe and walked slowly across the carpet where the pet sleeps; fleas show up against the white. That trick is common practice rather than Health Canada's advice. Keep vacuuming daily for a few weeks after the last flea you see.
Does it matter what kind of carpet I have?
Deep, soft pile gives eggs and larvae more places to sit than low, dense carpet, so plush and shag need slower vacuuming. Rugs can be lifted and vacuumed on both sides, and the floor beneath them too. For pet hair and dander, which travel with fleas, see pet hair and dander; for everything else, the pet carpet care section.
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