How To Safely Get Rid Of Fleas Hiding Out In Your Hardwood Floors

Household pets like dogs and cats are common carriers of fleas. These tiny insects live outside in tall grass and other moist, humid areas and jump long distances to hitch a ride on your pets. (They can also come into your home via mice and other rodents, but that's an infestation problem to solve another day.) Once inside your home, and after chowing down on your pet, they multiply and start dropping eggs all over your house. You might know that fleas can survive for weeks or even months on soft surfaces like pet bedding and carpet, but did you know they can also live in your hardwood flooring?

Fleas might not be found on the surface of your hardwood floors, but they can live for short periods and lay eggs in the cracks and spaces between the planks. That's why if you are experiencing a flea infestation, it may not be enough to simply treat your pets, wash all the bedding, and vacuum. You may also need to consider the best way to get rid of fleas in your home that have found their way into your hardwoods. If you are the type of pet owner who prefers avoiding harsh chemicals, you'll be happy to know that both diatomaceous earth and apple cider vinegar can safely get rid of the fleas.

Food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is an effective flea treatment on hardwood floors that is safe to use around pets (as long as it's not overused or applied directly on them) and won't harm your beautiful hardwoods. DE kills fleas by drying them out and tearing them apart from the inside. To use DE to get rid of fleas that have found their way into your hardwood floors, you'll first need to vacuum your floors. Then, dust a thin layer of DE on your floors. This can be done with a paintbrush to make it easier. After 24 to 48 hours, vacuum the DE, and that's it.

When applying diatomaceous earth to your floors, it's a good idea to wear a mask and keep your pets outside. While food-grade DE won't cause permanent lung damage, it can cause short-term, reversible lung irritation. Wait a week between DE treatments in your home to keep the levels of dust down and continue vacuuming on a regular basis. When you no longer notice any signs of a flea infestation, go ahead and clean your floors with a spray mop to remove any leftover DE. (If you've ever spilled flour or baby powder on your hardwoods, you know that a vacuum may not be able to get everything from between the seams.)

If you don't love the idea of cleaning powder from between your floorboards, there is another method of getting rid of fleas that you can try. If you have some apple cider vinegar in your pantry and a spray bottle under your sink, you already have what you need for this hardwood flea treatment method. You will need to mix 2 cups of apple cider vinegar with 1 gallon of water for a ratio of 1:8. Add the solution to your spray bottle, apply a light mist over your floor, and let it dry. When your hardwoods are dry, vacuum them. The idea behind this method is that apple cider vinegar, working as a repellent, will make the spaces between your floorboards uninhabitable. It won't kill them, though, so continuously vacuuming is key for this to work. An important caveat to this method is that it should not be used on untreated or waxed hardwood floors.

Spraying a DIY rosemary water flea repellent can also help keep fleas at bay. However, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Frequent laundering, sweeping, and vacuuming plus monthly flea preventative treatments for your pets are great ways to prevent an infestation in your home. If nothing you try seems to help, it might be time to call in the professionals to help with fleas.