Table of Contents
First things first: Don’t freak out
Step 1: Change your clothes
Step 2: Shower
Step 3: Check your pets
Step 4: Hoover
Step 5: Keep an eye out
Preventing fleas
When to call in reinforcements
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What to do after visiting a house with fleas
- By Ellie
-
- May 28, 2026
- 3 MIN READ
Got a furry friend with fleas? This situation is more common than you might think. Fleas are hardy little things that like to breed intensely - One female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day! The good news is, if you act quickly, you can stop them from infesting your home and causing chaos. Watch our TikTok video on the steps you need to take to stay flea-free or scroll to find out how to thoroughly get rid of fleas (without panicking).
First things first: Don’t freak out
The idea of fleas can even just make you itch. But take a breath. Your mind can in fact play tricks on you and convince you that fleas are on your skin. This is called Delusional Parasitosis - Click here to find out more.
Just because you visited a house with fleas doesn’t mean you’ve got an infestation waiting in the boot of your car or clinging to your trousers. Fleas can jump onto clothing or shoes, but they prefer our pets like cats and dogs.
Step 1: Change your clothes
When you get home, the first port of call is to stop any unwanted passengers spreading around your house. The simplest way? As soon as you’re through the door, change out of the clothes you were wearing. If you can, pop them straight into the wash. If not, put them in a sealed bag until you’re ready to run a load.
Washing tips:
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Wash clothes on a hot cycle (60°C if the fabric allows). Heat will kill off fleas, larvae, and eggs.
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If it’s something delicate, tumble drying on high heat is another option. Fleas can’t survive prolonged heat.
Step 2: Shower
Next up, hop in the shower. Fleas can bite humans, but they don’t tend to “live” on us like they do on animals. Click here to see a flea bite picture on human. A good rinse with soap and shampoo will wash off any fleas that might have tried their luck. If you’ve got long hair, give it a proper scrub – Fleas can live in human hair!
Step 3: Check your pets
If you’ve got cats or dogs, this is the most important part. Your clothes might have carried a flea or two into the house, and your furry friends will be the first to attract attention.
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Give them a quick once-over with a flea comb - Watch our TikTok on How To Use A Flea Comb!
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Keep an eye out for flea dirt – those tiny black specks that look like pepper. If you dampen a bit of tissue and the specks turn reddish-brown, it’s flea droppings. Lovely.
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Make sure your pets are up to date on their flea treatments (spot-ons, tablets, or collars, depending on what you use). If they’re not, now’s the time to sort it. Be on it with the Itch Flea Treatment subscription - tailored flea treatment for cats and dogs that is delivered straight to your home, for free, exactly when you need it.
Step 4: Hoover
Even if you’ve washed your clothes and showered, it’s worth giving your home a quick once-over with the hoover, especially carpets, rugs, and pet bedding. Fleas lay eggs that can survive in fabric fibres.
Hoover tips:
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Pay extra attention to nooks and crannies – under the sofa, along skirting boards, and in pet resting spots.
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Empty the hoover bag or canister straight away (preferably outside so you don’t end up giving the fleas a cosy place to hatch).
Step 5: Keep an eye out
After a single visit, chances are you won’t have a problem at all. But it’s wise to stay alert for a week or two.
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What to look out for on Pets
Pets scratching more than usual.
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What to look out for on You and Pets
Flea bites. These are often small red marks around your ankles or lower legs. They tend to show on the base on pet's tails, underarms or around their neck.
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What to look out for in Home
Tiny dark specks in bedding or on carpets.
Preventing fleas
Seen fleas? Here’s what to do:
Treat your pets with fast-acting vet strength flea treatment like the Itch Flea Treatment for Cats and Itch Flea Treatment for Dogs which kills fleas in 24 hours and stops the development of eggs and larvae.
Treat your home. 95% of fleas live in your environment, not on your pet. Blast Itch Flea House Spray to kill fleas in your home for up to 6 weeks.
Establish a cleaning routine. Make sure to wash everything on a high heat and hoover daily for 2 weeks after seeing your first flea. Hoovering is important as the vibrations will hatch any flea eggs hiding in your home and then home flea treatment can then zap them dead.
“Always make sure your own pets are protected year-round – it’s far easier to prevent fleas than to get rid of them.” - Head Vet at Itch, Dr Zoe Costigan (BVSc BSc(hons) Cert AVP MRCVS)
When to call in reinforcements
If you are struggling with a flea infestation, we know just how frustrating it can be. Get Rid Of Fleas with the Itch Flea Eradication Kit. This includes all the treatment and support you need to fully remove fleas from your pet and home.
Visiting a house with fleas isn’t the end of the world. The key is to act quickly – wash, shower, check pets, and hoover. You can be flea-free in no time.
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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Itch Insights
Pet Wellbeing
Are you a bad owner if your dog gets fleas?
Fleas; they come out of nowhere and cause itching and scratching. Having to watch your dog go through the torment of fleas is a lot for any pet owner. But are you responsible for giving your dog fleas? 9 times out of 10, you’re not at fault but let’s delve into how your dog can get fleas so you can ditch the blame.
Flea
Treatment
How to use a household flea home spray
So, you’ve found fleas on your pet. Bad news: this means that they’re also highly likely to be in your home too.
The good news is that the combination of your gold-standard, Itch Flea treatment and Itch Flea House Spray for Homes will get rid of those fleas in no time.
Itch Flea House Spray as a one-off will kill adult fleas that are in your home. It will also prevent any new fleas from hatching for up to 12 months.
Don’t forget, once you’ve finished annihilating the adult fleas in your home, you need to stay up-to-date up with your monthly Itch Flea treatment for your cat and Itch Flea Treatment for your dog to keep your home and your pet flea-free forever.