You Don’t Need a Pet to Have Fleas
It’s a common assumption that fleas only infest homes with dogs or cats. In reality, fleas can establish in any home — and can be surprisingly persistent without a pet present. Understanding how this happens and how to treat it is the key to getting rid of them.
How Fleas End Up in Pet-Free Homes
1. The previous occupants had pets
Flea pupae (the cocoon stage) can lie dormant in carpet, floorboards and soft furnishings for up to 12 months without a host. When new occupants move in — providing vibration, heat and carbon dioxide — the pupae sense a suitable host and hatch all at once. This explains why people sometimes move into a new rental and are immediately overwhelmed with fleas.
2. Wildlife on or under the property
Possums, bandicoots, rats, feral cats and other animals that live in or under the home carry their own flea populations. Fleas can drop off these animals in the roof void, subfloor or garden and make their way indoors.
3. Brought in on clothing or second-hand items
Flea eggs and larvae can be transported on clothing, rugs, furniture or other items brought into the home from flea-infested environments.
The Flea Life Cycle — Why It Makes Treatment Difficult
Understanding the flea life cycle explains why a single treatment rarely works:
- Eggs: Laid on the host but fall into the environment (carpet, bedding, floorboards)
- Larvae: Feed on organic debris in the environment, avoiding light
- Pupae: Enclosed in a sticky cocoon that resists insecticides — can remain dormant for up to a year
- Adult: Emerge when stimulated by heat, vibration and CO2 — immediately seek a host
Most insecticides only kill adults and larvae — not pupae. This is why flea treatments almost always require a follow-up 2–3 weeks later, when the dormant pupae have hatched.
Treatment Steps for Pet-Free Homes
Step 1: Thorough vacuum
Vacuum all carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, skirting boards and crevices. This removes eggs, larvae and some pupae. The vibration from vacuuming also stimulates pupae to hatch — bringing them into contact with subsequent insecticide treatment sooner. Dispose of the vacuum bag immediately outside the home.
Step 2: Wash fabrics on high heat
Wash all bedding, cushion covers, throws and fabric items that contact the floor on the hottest suitable cycle and tumble dry.
Step 3: Professional insecticide treatment
A professional flea treatment includes a residual insecticide spray applied to all floor surfaces, and an insect growth regulator (IGR) that prevents flea larvae from developing into adults. The IGR component is critical — it breaks the breeding cycle and prevents reinfestation.
Step 4: Follow-up treatment
A second treatment 2–3 weeks after the first targets newly hatched adults from dormant pupae that survived the initial treatment.
After Treatment
- Do not vacuum or mop treated floors for at least 2 weeks
- Expect to see fleas for up to 2 weeks after treatment as dormant pupae hatch — this is normal
- Address any wildlife harborage (possums, rats) in the roof void or subfloor that may be re-introducing fleas
Pestyologist provides effective flea treatment across Sydney for both pet and pet-free homes. Book a treatment today.