The thing is – you want to start as soon as possible. Fleas breed at an alarming rate and once they start laying eggs on or around your bed, the situation can get a lot itchier. You don’t want that. So here’s exactly how you can get rid of fleas in bed in 5 simple steps. You’ll want to get started on it. Like, now.

#1. Make sure it’s fleas

Fleas don’t typically hang around in human beds so if you suspect fleas because you have bites or saw a tiny, disgusting bug – we’re sorry to break it to you, but it might be bed bugs, in which case, the situation just got a whole lot worse.

But don’t panic – here’s how to check which blood sucking parasite you’re dealing with.

Okay, fleas it is! Thank your lucky stars and let’s move on to the next step.

#2. No more pets in your bed…

At least until the flea situation is under control. We know, we know – you love sleeping with Fido on your bed but since flea infestations typically begin with pets, your furry friend is sort of like the flea “ground zero” and shouldn’t be allowed back into your bed until you’ve treated his fleas and followed the following steps to get rid of bed fleas.

Treat your pets for fleas

In order to get rid of fleas in your bed, start by treating your pets (if you have any). If you are unsure about the process, then it is best that your pet is checked by a veterinarian for proper flea treatment.

There are a number of flea treatment products available in the market which are good for use on both cats and dogs. Do note that some products are not safe for cats, so read the label carefully. These flea treatment products are available as topical preparations or for oral use which may be used monthly or with a few months interval. Follow the veterinarian’s advice for optimum results.

Also, beddings of pets should be washed thoroughly with very hot water, as fleas prefer to nest where the pet usually stays in order to continue feeding on him or her.

#3. Wash all your bedding

The second you find fleas in your bed, you should strip all your sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters and toss them into the wash. Wash and dry at the highest setting – fleas die at temperatures hotter than 95 degrees Fahrenheit so this simple step may be enough to wipe them out – as long as the flea infestation was confined to the sheets.

However, if you can’t remember the last time you washed or changed your bedding, the infestation might have spread to your mattress…

Wash sheets and other bedding

The moment you find fleas in bed, wash the bed sheets, pillowcases, blankets and comforters with detergent on a hot cycle. After that, run the beddings in the dryer. Fleas will not survive the hot cycle in both the washer and the dryer so this will do the trick. However, if the infestation is not limited to the sheets, when the fleas in bed have reached even the mattress for instance, washing the beddings may not be enough.

#4. Suck up future fleas

Flea eggs can wind up anywhere since they don’t stick to animal fur (or any surface), which makes it easy for them to fall off pets and land on your carpet, cushions or your bed. And this is bad news ’cause the eggs make up the majority of any flea infestation.

If you don’t clear them up now, the flea attacks will never completely stop. Plus, the thought of sleeping on a bed with flea eggs, larvae and pupae is seriously gross.

To clear your mattress of these future fleas, vacuum the entire surface of the bare mattress. Go over the surface two or three times and then flip the mattress over and repeat.

Remember to take the vacuum cleaner outside before you remove the bag so the fleas don’t sneak back into your house.

Vacuum the bed and floor

The next thing to do is to vacuum the sheets, mattress and the pillows. Even the rugs should be vacuumed on a daily basis. Doing this will eliminate not only the nesting fleas in bed, but also their eggs, and thereby interfere with their life cycle. After every vacuuming, vacuum bags must be disposed for proper control of the infestation. If not, the eggs will just hatch inside the vacuum bag and continue the life cycle and thereby the infestation. Know that the vibrations from the vacuum stimulate the fleas to come out of their cocoons, making them exposed to the insecticide to be used.

#5. Completely de-flea your mattress

Some fleas may escape the vacuuming and others could be hiding nearby in carpeting and cushions, biding their time to jump back into bed with you.

To not give them even a sliver of opportunity, we’re going to completely de-flea your mattress. Some people recommend boric acid for this, but why have toxins near where you sleep? Especially when there are much more effective flea killers​.

To do this, you’ll need:

Start by spraying your bare mattress with Vet’s Best Natural Flea and Tick Home Spray and then wait a few hours until the mattress is dry.

Once dry, slip on the mattress cover and before you seal it up, squirt DE inside. Seal up the mattress cover.

The DE is harmless to you but we still want to make sure it’s sealed so you can trap all the fleas that are in your mattress. Once fleas come into contact with the DE, it only takes a couple hours to kill adult fleas, but we recommend leaving your mattress sealed for a solid month to ensure any hatched flea eggs have also made contact and died.

The mattress cover we recommend feels lovely on the skin and is comfortable to sleep on so a month is nothing. And plus, you’ll be getting rid of fleas in your bed while you sleep!