Your bathroom is a place of cleanliness, and nothing can be worse than noticing that it has fleas. So, what causes this?
You have fleas in your bathroom because bathrooms can be warm and humid, conditions that fleas prefer. If you wash your pet in the bathroom and they have fleas, the fleas can easily make a home there. The risk increases if your bathroom is carpeted and your pet hasn’t been treated for fleas.
Read further to find out why fleas like bathrooms and what you can do to prevent them in the future.
Reasons Fleas Live in Bathrooms
Fleas live in your bathroom because they love the warm and humid conditions that come when you take a shower. And if your bathroom is carpeted, they lay their eggs in the carpet fibers.
Let’s talk more in detail about these issues.
They Like Warm and Humid Conditions
Fleas thrive in warm and humid conditions because this allows them to develop from eggs to larvae, and, finally, into adults. The optimal temperature for fleas is between 70 to 85°F (21 to 29.4°C), and they do well when the air has at least 50% humidity.
Bathrooms offer these conditions as they are typically the most humid place in the home.
Some Bathrooms Are Carpeted
If a flea finds its way to your bathroom and your bathroom is carpeted or has several long-piled mats, it will likely burrow into the protected environment of the carpet fibers and lay eggs. If you have wall-to-wall carpeting in your bathroom, you must have it professionally cleaned to remove the infestation.
Your Pet Has Fleas
Dogs and cats are soft targets for fleas because their fur provides the perfect environment for fleas to multiply. If your pet hasn’t had a flea prevention treatment, they can easily attract fleas outside or on a walk.
If you wash your pet in the bathtub, the fleas can jump off and make a home in the bathroom.
How Do I Eliminate Fleas in My Bathroom?
Now that you know why fleas like living in bathrooms, what can you do to prevent them from making a home there?
You can eliminate fleas in your bathroom by cleaning it thoroughly or using a non-toxic insecticide on the carpet or edges. You should also wash towels and bathroom mats on a hot cycle.
Here is some more in-depth information on how to eliminate bathroom fleas.
Clean It Thoroughly
If you notice strange black or white dust, you might have a flea infestation in your bathroom. To get rid of it, you should clean your bathroom thoroughly.
Here’s how to do it:
Sweep or vacuum up the black or white dust, and dispose of it in a sealed plastic bag.
Wipe down all bathroom surfaces with an effective cleaner. Examples include white vinegar, bleach, or ammonia-based cleaners.
After cleaning your bathroom, consider steam cleaning it to remove all traces of the fleas. Fleas can’t withstand excessively high temperatures, which will eradicate them completely.
Use a Non-Toxic Insecticide
If you’ve already cleaned your bathroom well, and are concerned that it may still have some fleas, consider using a non-toxic insecticide, which is a safe option for a bathroom where you’re likely to come into contact with it and safer still if you have kids or pets.
Examples of non-toxic insecticides that work against fleas include:
You can buy the above products online or from your supermarket, which is an inexpensive method of eradicating fleas. These products are effective because they come in powder form and dry the fleas out if you leave them on the affected areas for half an hour.
Wash Towels and Mats on a Hot Cycle
After noticing a flea infestation and cleaning your bathroom, you should also remove all the towels and bathroom linens so you can wash them. Washing them on a hot cycle will kill them, but you might want to add half a cup of white vinegar to your washer to be completely certain.
How Do I Prevent Fleas in My Bathroom?
After putting in the time and effort to eliminate a flea infestation in your bathroom, you’re probably keen to prevent another one. So, how can you prevent further infestations?
You can prevent fleas in your bathroom by reducing the humidity levels, replacing the carpeting, eliminating rodent infestations, and ensuring that your pet is always up to date on their flea prevention treatments.
I’ll discuss this further below:
Reduce the humidity levels. Showering and bathing create a lot of humidity, but you can reduce it by using an extractor fan. Alternatively, leave a window open during and after showering.
Replace the carpeting. Carpets in a bathroom can make it feel warm and cozy. However, carpet fibers are the ideal home for fleas, and if you have a flea infestation, the only way to remove them is by having them professionally cleaned. Consider replacing them with tile to make them less attractive to fleas.
Eliminate rodent infestations. Fleas love any creature with fur into which they can burrow and make a warm home for themselves. Since rodents are known flea carriers, prevent rodent infestations in your home by setting traps or asking a professional to assist.
Treat your pet with a flea prevention product. Always remain up to date with your pet’s flea prevention treatment, even if they are indoor pets. Flea infestations are normally due to pets bringing them into the home.
Wash your pet’s bedding regularly. In addition to treating your pet for fleas, you should also wash their bedding regularly, and on a hot cycle. This will kill any flea larvae that have settled.
Conclusion
Bathrooms are the ideal breeding ground for fleas because they are typically warm and moist places. If your pets haven’t been treated with a flea prevention product, they can introduce fleas into the bathroom.
You can eliminate fleas in the bathroom by:
Cleaning it thoroughly.
Using a non-toxic insecticide.
Washing towels and bathroom linens on a hot cycle.
The most important way to prevent fleas in the bathroom is by ensuring that your pets are always up-to-date on their flea prevention regimens.
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