Fleas can be brought into your bed from pets or humans and through infested clothing or furniture. They do need a host to survive since they feed on blood, so it's unlikely that fleas can live on your bedding or mattress for more than a week or two without an animal present.
Signs that Fleas Are in Your Bed
Signs of fleas in your bedding include tiny black specks that are sometimes called "flea dirt." These are flea excrement; if you sprinkle them with a little water, they'll turn a dark-reddish brown. Another sign that fleas have invaded your bed are flea bites on your body.
The fastest ways to get rid of fleas on your own are vacuuming and steam cleaning, washing bedding in hot water and drying it on hot heat, and applying chemical treatment.
Fortunately, washing your clothes, bedding, rugs, and other textiles effectively kills fleas in any of the four life stages, thanks to the detergent chemicals and the heat and turbulence encountered during washing and drying.
Can Fleas Live in Your Bed? These pests infest multiple areas in homes, especially mattresses, cushions, and carpeting. Pets transfer fleas to the beds and furniture where they sleep. From here, the insects quickly spread around the house.
The first sign of fleas in your bed may be waking up with itchy bites on your skin. If fleas fall off a pet and land in the bed, they may bite humans if the pet is not nearby. For some people who aren't sensitive to flea bites or don't sleep with their pet, the first sign of fleas is a pet's constant scratching.
Wash all bed sheets, pillowcases, blankets with detergent on a hot cycle. If you have a dryer, use this right after washing. The fleas will not survive the heat. Give your mattress a thorough vacuum and pay close attention to the seams and underside of the mattress.
Fleas are attracted to light, movement, heat, and CO2 because these elements help them find suitable hosts to feed on.
I've Got Fleas – Won't They Just Go Away? Unfortunately, no, they won't. Most fleas can live for between two and three weeks on a host organism, but some flea eggs can survive unhatched for up to an entire year. So even if the fleas you have are dying off, there will be plenty of eggs left to replace them.
Though they often burrow under comforters and sheets, fleas don't typically dwell in beds long term because they can only live without blood for about one or two weeks. Still, you'll want to look out for the signs so you can eliminate them as quickly as possible.
Wash All Bedding
Wash sheets, pillow cases, rugs, and dog beds in hot water. This should effectively kill any fleas on these fabrics, but don't rush to put them back on.
If your room is dirty, fleas can easily find places to hide. This means that a cluttered room might attract more fleas. Fleas can also be attracted to messy rooms if you don't wash your clothing, carpeting, or bedding often. Getting rid of fleas can be an annoying process.
Fleas like hiding in crevices. Their populations are more numerous in places where they can feed (like pet bedding and living rooms) and reproduce undisturbed (like lower-traffic areas or in carpeting). They also inhabit upholstery, furniture, and other common household furnishings, especially where they can stay warm.
Some Bodies React More Obviously to Slightest Bites
Another alternative theory that explains why some people are more likely to get bitten by fleas is that their bodies are genetically much more reactive than others.
Fleas do bite at night, at about the same rate as during the day. This is evidenced by their feces excretion being relatively constant over 24 hours. However, unfed fleas are more active at night than day. They seem to prefer looking for a host a night.
When it has a host, an adult flea can live about 100 days. But how long can they live without a host? Those fleas typically live only one to two weeks. The entire lifespan of a flea, from egg to adulthood, can last a few weeks or even a few months.
You may find it helpful to spray the mattress with a recommended flea home spray, and when dry, slip on a mattress cover and seal it up. Vacuum the bedrooms thoroughly.
Fleas generally cannot live in human hair. While most species prefer to live on the furs of animals, they can use humans as temporary vectors.
Use baking soda to remove fleas
A fail-safe way to get rid of fleas is to sprinkle baking soda down, give it a rub and then vacuum up any residue. You may have to do this a few times before you remove all the fleas. Pay close attention to the areas where pets sleep, too.
Washing clothing and fabrics might not be a 100% cure for a flea infestation, but as long as you wash absolutely everything, it will take a sizable chunk out of the population.
Use Essential Oils.
Pennyroyal. Eucalyptus. Those are just some of the essential oils that have been found to repel fleas. Dab them onto your skin or spray them onto your clothes to take advantage of their flea-resistant properties.
It is very likely that an animal with fleas could potentially get them into our beds if Fido is sleeping with us at night. Fleas are insects that naturally live outdoors and are parasitic. This means that they survive at the expense of their hosts.