How to Get Rid of Fleas in Beds & the Couch

Although fleas are most commonly found on your four-legged friends, fleas also can be found on furniture, such as your bed or your couch. Fleas prefer to bite your pets, but are known to bite pet owners as well. If you have a flea infestation in your home, the first step is to treat your pets. Once that is complete, you can focus on removing the fleas from your couch and bed using a few simple steps.

• 1

  Remove all bedding from your bed, including blankets, sheets and pillow cases. Wash them in the washing machine on the highest heat setting possible. Place three to four drops of lavender essential oil on a clean rag and add it to the dryer. Dry on high heat. The same also can be done with any blankets on your couch, as well as slip covers. The water will work to drown the fleas, while the heat from the dryer will also kill any fleas and their eggs that escape drowning.

• 2

  Attach your vacuum's upholstery tool and use it to vacuum your mattress and your couch. Use the crevice tool to vacuum in the crevices of the couch. Empty the contents of your vacuum into a sealable bag and dispose of it outside. This will prevent the fleas from climbing out of the vacuum and re-infesting your home.

• 3

  Use your steam cleaner to clean your couch and mattress using the upholstery attachment. The heat of the steam cleaner will act like the heat in your washer and dryer, killing the fleas and their eggs. Dispose of the contents of the water receptacle into the toilet and flush it away to prevent fleas from escaping back into your home. Allow your carpets to dry completely.

• 4

  Use scissors to cut a flea collar into fourths. Place the cut up pieces of the collar underneath your mattress to repel fleas. Pieces also can be placed underneath the couch cushions.