Fleas can enter your house and in the same way, they can enter your car. If you have them in your car you will want to know how to get rid of fleas there too.
Having a flea infestation in your car is just as irritating as finding them in your house.
How Do You Get Rid of Fleas in a Car?
To get rid of fleas in your car, remove any blankets or sheets then use a flea bomb inside your car, wait an hour then thoroughly vacuum your car.
If you are looking for a flea bomb for the car, I highly recommend Hot shot flea bomb which you can purchase from amazon.
How Do Fleas Get Inside Your Car?
There can be many possibilities, similar to how they reach inside your house in many ways.
- Maybe you’ve parked your car in the flea-infested area, and they got inside your car.
- Maybe your pet has fleas and you’re driving the car with your pet.
But, whatever the case, they’re present in the car and you don’t like them. Then follow these methods to get rid of fleas from your car.
Steps To Remove The Fleas From Your Car
Several remedies may help you get rid of fleas in your car or vehicle. First and foremost, you need to follow these basic steps to kill fleas in your vehicle effectively.
To get rid of fleas in your car follow these steps;
1. Flea Bomb: Use a flea bomb/fogger inside your car with the windows and doors closed. I highly recommend hot shot flea bomb which you can purchase from amazon.
2. Treat the surrounding: Removing fleas from the infected areas or removing the root cause of the flea infestation is the main step in getting fleas out of the car. The fleas must have traveled to the car from someplace. Therefore, treating the surroundings is the most important step.
3. Treat your pet : Pets are usually carriers of fleas. So using flea shampoos or prescribed medicines will treat the fleas on your pet reducing the transport of fleas in the car.
4. Treat your car : Remove any blankets, sheets, bedding, covers or clothing from your car. Seal these items in garbage bags. Carry the garbage bags from your car directly to the washing machine. Use the hottest temperatures possible for both washing and drying as fleas cannot survive in the heat. After this step,
- Prepare for the treatment.
- Take care of car items and fabrics.
- Vacuum your car.
- Use a flea killing product.
- Wait for the treatment to take effect.
- Repeat for as long as needed.
With regards to 4) above, here are some ways that enable you to kill fleas in the car effectively:
Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is another method that aids you to get rid of fleas in your car. You can treat fleas and their eggs using steam. A steamer has a temperature between 120 to 170 degrees, which can easily kill adult fleas and some eggs.
If your car is suffering from a severe infestation, you might have to use steam cleaning in combination with boric powder treatment to eliminate adult fleas, larval fleas, and their newly hatched eggs from your car.
But, use steam cleaner in your car with caution. It’s risky.
Process:
- Vacuum all clutter and clean the car thoroughly. Remove all materials that can be washed & dried and then do so in the highest temperature possible.
- Use a steam cleaner to kill the remaining fleas and their eggs.
- Repeat daily until the fleas have completely disappeared.
- When using this treatment along with flea sprays, make sure you steam before spraying any chemicals.
Flea Bombs
Flea bombs are used to treat indoor/ compact flea infestations through the indirect application of chemicals. They are designed to be left alone as they release pesticides into the area to kill the fleas. Flea bombs are easily available in the pest section at any major hardware store.
If you’re thinking about buying a flea bomb for your car, then I’ll suggest Hot Shot No Mess! Fogger. It works well, and if you check the customer reviews of this fogger, you’ll see that many people have used this fogger in their cars. It’s cheap, effective, tried and tested by hundreds of people.
Process:
- Vacuum all clutter and clean the car thoroughly. Remove all materials that can be washed & dried and then do so in the highest temperature possible.
- Insert a single flea bomb in the middle of the car floor.
- Roll up all the windows, detonate the flea bomb and shut the door immediately.
- DO NOT use your car for 48 hours after detonating a flea bomb to avoid the inhalation of toxic chemicals. It is extremely harmful if inhaled.
- After 2 days, roll down the windows and keep them down for several hours and allow the car to air out, getting rid of the smell.
- Clean/ Vacuum your car afterward to get rid of any dirt or leftover matter.
Boric Acid
Boric acid is mined from the mineral sassolite and it is a great cleaning agent. It is also helpful to treat fleas and their eggs. It does not contain harmful and unwanted chemicals. To use boric acid to treat fleas in your car, follow the process mentioned.
Process:
- Vacuum all clutter and clean the car thoroughly. Remove all materials that can be washed & dried and then do so in the highest temperature possible.
- Mix salt and boric acid in a bowl.
- Sprinkle the mixture on the interior of your car.
- Leave it on for a few hours. Please ensure that you keep your pets away from the car, as well as everyone else, while this treatment is taking place.
- After a few hours, vacuum the area again afterward to remove any trace of the mixture completely.
- Repeat this process every other day until the fleas and their newly hatched eggs are gone as if you only kill the adult fleas, they will become food for the nymphs and the infestation will come back in a few days.
- Although it is time-consuming, boric acid is extremely effective against fleas. It’s non-invasive and not chemically harmful.
Flea Sprays
Flea sprays are sprays that use chemicals and chemical-like substances that kill adult fleas, larval fleas, and eggs. They are considered effective when other treatments fail.
However, you must use them only as of the last resort as they contain chemicals that are toxic and harmful. Flea sprays are cheap and effective. They are also easy to use. They kill adult fleas and their eggs, preventing infestation from spreading further.
If you want to buy a flea spray for your car, then I’ll suggest Raid Flea Killer Spray. It’s fast, effective, and cheap.
Process:
- Vacuum all clutter and clean the car thoroughly. Remove all materials that can be washed & dried and then do so in the highest temperature possible.
- Purchase a flea spray and a mask to protect yourself from the spray.
- Use the spray on the carpet, flooring, and underneath your car seats.
- Be extremely careful, as it contains harmful chemicals.
- Let the spray sit in your car for a few hours before you enter the car again.
- Make sure you vacuum and steam the car afterward to remove dead fleas.
Cold Temperatures
Adult fleas are not able to survive in temperatures colder than 46 degrees Fahrenheit. However, flea eggs are unable to survive below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Hence, to be on the safer side, cool your car to about 55 degrees to ensure ALL fleas, including eggs, are eliminated.
Vacuum Cleaner – Most Important Thing to Fight Fleas
If you’re having fleas in your car, then you can use many different ways to get rid of them like sprays, foggers, etc. But, one thing is the most important, and that is the use of vacuum cleaner.
You have to constantly clean your car with a good vacuum cleaner. Whatever method you use, you need a good handheld vacuum cleaner to catch fleas and to collect dead fleas after using a spray or something.
Investing in a good vacuum cleaner is a good investment, and you should definitely buy one if you don’t have.
I personally like Black+Decker Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner. In my opinion, this is the best vacuum cleaner you can buy because you can use it in your car and also in your house.
Use IGR
Novacide Flea & Tick Killer is a marvelous combination of an insecticide in that it kills adult fleas but also contains an IGR (insect growth regulator) that disrupts the reproductive cycle of fleas, causing eggs to be unable to hatch and develop.
Novacide sterilizes adult fleas so they can’t lay any more eggs. If you have a significant outbreak of fleas in your car, spraying Novacide on your car’s floors and seats will do a great job in wiping out the infestation and making sure it doesn’t continue to grow.
Process:
- Open all your car doors and roll your windows down.
- Spray only a light mist of the Novacide in a downward sweeping motion onto the seats and the car flooring.
- Do not saturate the seat and carpet.
- After this, let your car ventilate.
- Do not drive until the product has dried and the fumes have dissipated.
- If you have leather upholstery, avoid spraying Novacide.
Hot Temperatures
Fleas can only withstand temperatures up to 95 degrees, so, if it is hot enough, leaving your car outside in the sun should kill all the fleas. If the temperature inside the car exceeds 100°F, no life stages of fleas will be able to survive.
A day should be enough for this process, but be sure to check before you take the car out to drive.
Can I Use a Flea Bomb in My Car?
Yes. The trouble with fleas in a car is that there are so many welcoming nooks and crannies to hide, breed and survive. A flea bomb will do the trick when no amount of spraying gets into a flea’s new hiding place.
Follow these steps below to successfully flea bomb your car:
- Place the flea bomb in the most central area on the floor in your car.
- Make sure all windows are rolled up.
- Close all doors after detonating the flea bomb.
- Stay away for 48 hours.
Once 2 days have past, there should not be a flea that survives this deathly ordeal. Your car is safe for your return and ready to drive without these unwanted passengers.
Preventing Fleas Entering Your Car
The best way to handle a flea problem in your car is preventing them from ever being invited. The only way to do so is with proactive cleaning.
You can go all out and remove all bedding, blankets, carpets and anything else that you can for a thorough wash, rinse and dry,
You can also perform weekly vacuuming and monthly steam cleaning. The tips below will also help prevent fleas from your entering your car:
- sprinkle salt in and around the car
- sprinkle boric acid instead of salt
- set up flea traps
- cut and slice up hedge apple (horse apples)
These alternatives to deep cleaning your car have also proven successful in keeping fleas away.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Fleas from your Car
These are an inexpensive and easy way to get effectively rid of fleas.
Salt
Salt can be used as an effective home remedy to kill fleas and salt is very easy to use. When fleas come in contact with the salt, it reaches inside their body and acts as a dehydrating agent while drying out their bodies from inside. It only takes about 12 to 48 hours.
Process:
- Obtain highly refined household salt, which we use in our home.
- Ensure the texture is like a powder.
- Now, sprinkle the powder evenly over places where you think fleas can be present.
- Leave the salt on for at least 12 to 48 hours, so that, the maximum number of fleas can get in contact with that.
- After this, clean all the surfaces with a vacuum cleaner.
- Make sure to dispose of the debris away from your house.
If you live in a humid area, use another process as due to the moisture, the salt is likely to melt and result in wet surfaces discouraging the whole purpose. Furthermore, if your car is immensely infested with fleas, salt would not be extremely suitable for you. Try using borax along with salt which is deemed to be useful and effective in killing fleas.
Borax
This is a great home remedy, but you should take precautions when using this as it may tend to irritate your skin and cause redness. Make sure that it is kept away from moisture and areas where it is extremely heated as it will become wet and hence defeat the whole purpose.
When fleas come in contact with borax, they get dehydrated from the inside. Borax can be used to eliminate a small infestation as it can kill fleas & their larvae, but it might not be an effective solution for their eggs. Hence, this process will not guarantee 100% removal.
If you want to read more about the use of borax, then you should read my article on how to use borax for killing fleas.
Process:
- Vacuum all clutter and clean the car thoroughly. Remove all materials that can be washed & dried and then do so in the highest temperature possible.
- Sprinkle the powder evenly over places where you think fleas can be present.
- Leave the powder for 48 hours.
- Ensure nobody comes in contact with the car, especially pregnant ladies and pets.
- After this, clean all the surfaces with a vacuum cleaner.
- Use and mix with salt if the flea infestation is large.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth has a sharp and crystalline molecular structure and it’s made from the fossilized remains of ancient sea creatures. Food-grade diatomaceous earth powder is available from pet stores and health stores.
This is the most effective home remedy as, when Diatomaceous Earth makes contact with the fleas, it shreds the exoskeleton completely. Here, 99 percent of your flea infestation is dealt with. Although for the eggs and larvae, other remedies need to be used.
Process:
- Vacuum all clutter and clean the car thoroughly. Remove all materials that can be washed & dried and then do so in the highest temperature possible.
- Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth liberally and leave it inside the car overnight.
- Ensure to sprinkle the powder on and in between all of the seats, seat belts, on the floor mats, and in the trunk of the car.
- After the set time, repeat the process 2 days later, and be sure to discard the vacuum bag away from home every time.
Baking Soda
It is not that effective as compared to insecticide, but if your flea infestation is of a smaller size, it is useful.
Process:
- Vacuum all clutter and clean the car thoroughly. Remove all materials that can be washed & dried and then do so in the highest temperature possible.
- Lay down the baking soda along with your car, car seats, carpets, seat belts, etc.
- If there is any fabric, rub it on the fabric using a hard brush.
- Leave it for about 12- 48 hours.
- After that, vacuum your car thoroughly and discard the bag away from home.
Flea Repelling Plants
Growing pest-repelling plants is just one of many sustainable ways of repelling fleas and ticks from your backyard.
Tansy, Wormwood, Eucalyptus, Fleawort, Pennyroyal (also called Fleabane), Rue, Citronella and Sweet Bay are garden plants that can help repel fleas and they are suggested for use as natural flea control, but all of them are toxic to dogs and cats.
Therefore, do not plant these plants if you have pets in your house. Whereas, Green Sage, Sweet Basil, Rosemary, Venus flytrap, Thyme, and Marigold are plants that repel fleas and ticks and they are also safe if you have pets.
Final Words
After using these tips, I hope that you’ll be able to get rid of fleas from your car.
I have also shared an article about how to get ants out of the car that may be helpful to you.
Thanks for visiting ThePestManagement.com for the best information to help you to make the pest control process easy, safe & affordable.