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What do fleas look like?
Can they really live on my sofa?
How to get rid of fleas
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Can fleas live on your furniture?
- By Katie
-
- May 14, 2025
- 3 MIN READ
Fleas are a common nuisance in UK households, especially if you’ve got pets. But where are they hiding and what areas of the house should you be treating for fleas?
Yes, fleas absolutely can live on your furniture but they prefer warm, breathing hosts like your pet instead. Keep reading to find out how to get rid of fleas FOR GOOD!
What do fleas look like?
Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that live off the blood of animals—and sometimes humans. They're only about 2 to 3 millimetres long, so spotting them can be tricky unless you're really looking.
Here’s what you’re looking for:
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Size and colour: Small, dark brown or reddish-brown. They’re about the size of a sesame seed.
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Shape: Flat from side to side, which helps them move easily through fur or carpets.
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Movement: They don’t fly, but they can jump impressive distances—around 100 times their body length. If you spot something hopping around, it might just be a flea.
You might also notice flea dirt - this is basically flea poo made up of digested blood. It looks like tiny black specks, often found in pet bedding or on your pet’s skin. Not sure if it’s flea dirt or black specks? Try this trick: Rub with a damp tissue, if it’s flea related, they’ll turn red.
Can they really live on my sofa?
Yes, and it’s not just sofas. Fleas can live in carpets, bedding, curtains, and even in the tiny cracks between your floorboards. While adult fleas tend to stay close to your pet, their eggs, larvae, and pupae can fall off and settle into the fibres of your furniture and floors.
Flea eggs are laid on your pet, but they don’t stay there. They drop off into the environment—your home—and hatch into larvae. These larvae wriggle away into dark, hidden spots (under furniture, in cushions, behind skirting boards) and spin cocoons. They can sit in those cocoons for weeks—sometimes months—until they sense heat or vibration, which tells them a host is nearby.
So even if your pet is treated, you might still find fleas jumping out from your sofa cushions days or weeks later. It’s not that the treatment didn’t work—it’s just that 95% of fleas live in your environment, not on your pet.
How to get rid of fleas
Getting rid of fleas takes patience and a good bit of elbow grease. Here’s how to do it properly:
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Treat your pets
First things first: treat every pet in your home with a proper flea treatment. You can get spot-on treatments, tablets, sprays or flea collars. Try Itch Flea Treatment for Dogs and Cats, which kills any fleas on your pet currently and protects your pet from further fleas until their next monthly treatment.
Important: stick to the schedule. One treatment won’t solve the problem—you need to keep on top of it monthly to break the flea life cycle.
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Wash everything
Any fabric your pet has been near should go in the wash—on a hot cycle if possible. That means pet beds, sofa covers, blankets, and even your own bedding if they sleep with you (no judgement here).
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Vacuum like mad
Vacuum your entire home thoroughly and often. Pay special attention to:
Carpets and rugs
Upholstered furniture
Cracks in the floorboards
Under and around furniture
After vacuuming, empty the hoover outside immediately—you don’t want fleas escaping back into your home.
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Treat your home
You’ll need a proper household flea spray—not just an air freshener with a fancy label. Look for a flea treatment spray which stops eggs and larvae from developing into adults, like the Itch Flea Home Spray.
Spray your carpets, furniture, and skirting boards (always follow the instructions carefully and keep pets and kids out of the area until it’s safe).
You might need to repeat the spraying after a couple of weeks to catch any late hatchers.
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Stay persistent
Even with all this, you might still see the odd flea pop up in the weeks following treatment. Don’t panic - it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Some pupae can lie dormant and hatch later. Keep vacuuming and treating your pets regularly, and eventually the cycle will break.
Fleas can definitely live on your furniture—but they don’t have to stay there forever. With the right treatment plan and a bit of dedication, you can kick them out for good. The key is to treat both your pets and your home at the same time—and to keep at it. Think of it as spring cleaning, but with a little more urgency and a lot more hoovering.
Protect your pet from fleas, ticks and lice.
Fleas, ticks and lice can be a nightmare, but with the right approach, you can take control and rid your pets and home of these bothersome pests. Remember that parasites can be persistent, so patience and regular treatment will be your best friends! By addressing both your pet and their environment, you can ensure a flea-free and comfortable living space for both your furry companion and your family.
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