Bites around your ankles, a pet that won’t stop scratching, or tiny black insects jumping on the carpet? Our flea treatment clears fleas from homes and rentals across Bexley and South London, and it targets the eggs and larvae hidden in your floors as well as the adults you can see. I’ll explain how the flea life cycle works and exactly what to do between visits, so they don’t come back. Call me for a price over the phone.
Flea bites are small, very itchy red spots, usually around the ankles and lower legs, because that’s what fleas can reach from the floor. Pets scratching, biting at their fur or losing patches of hair are another early sign.
To check, walk slowly across the carpet in white socks and look for small dark insects that jump. You can also comb your pet over a sheet of white paper: black specks that turn reddish-brown when dampened are flea dirt, which is digested blood. Adult fleas are dark brown, flat from side to side and only a few millimetres long, and they can jump a long way for their size.
It’s one of the most common questions we’re asked. If you don’t have pets, fleas can still come from:
The previous occupants. Fleas often appear a few days after moving into a home where the last owners or tenants had cats or dogs. Flea pupae can sit in their cocoons in carpets and floorboards for weeks, waiting for the movement and warmth of a new occupant before they hatch.
Wildlife. Mice, rats, squirrels, foxes and birds nesting in the loft or eaves can all bring fleas close to the house. If you are also hearing noises overhead, have a look at our squirrel control and mice control pages.
Visitors and neighbours. A friend’s dog, a neighbour’s cat coming in through an open door, or fleas travelling between flats can all start a problem.
The fleas you see are only a small part of the problem. Female fleas lay eggs on the pet, which fall off into carpets, rugs, bedding, sofas and the gaps between floorboards. These hatch into larvae that hide deep in the fibres, then spin cocoons. Inside the cocoon, the developing flea is protected from most sprays and can wait until it senses vibration, warmth or carbon dioxide before hatching.
That is why flea sprays from the shop and flea bombs often seem to work for a few days, only for a new wave of fleas to appear. It is also why fleas can seem worse after you come back from holiday, as the house has been quiet and the waiting fleas all hatch at once.
We start by inspecting the property to confirm it is fleas and to find where they are concentrated, usually around pet beds, sofas, rugs and bedrooms. Then we treat all carpets, rugs, floors, the gaps between floorboards and skirting, and upholstered furniture in the affected areas. Professional treatments target adult fleas and also stop the developing stages from reaching adulthood, which is what breaks the cycle.
Treatment is carried out over our three-visit programme. Because some fleas will still be sealed in cocoons during the first visit, the follow-up visits are what make sure they are dealt with as they hatch.
If you have pets, they need treating at the same time with a product from your vet. Treating the house without treating the pets, or the other way round, is one of the main reasons flea problems drag on.
We’ll give you full instructions when you book. Usually, that means vacuuming every floor, rug, sofa and under furniture thoroughly just before we arrive, then emptying the vacuum outside. Wash pet bedding, throws and loose covers on a hot wash. Clear toys, shoes and clutter off the floors so we can reach every area, and make sure your pets have been treated by the vet.
It is normal to see some fleas for a while after treatment. They are hatching from cocoons and coming into contact with the treated surfaces. Keep vacuuming every day, as the vibration encourages the remaining fleas to hatch sooner. Avoid washing or steam cleaning carpets for as long as we advise, so the treatment keeps working. Let us know how things are going before the next visit.
Fleas are a common problem in homes that have been empty between owners or tenants. If you are buying or renting, a new property pest inspection can catch them before your furniture goes in. Landlords often book a flea treatment at the end of a tenancy where pets have been living in the property. We cover the whole of Bexley and South London, including Bromley, Sutton and Greenwich.
Not sure it’s fleas? Bites in lines on the arms and shoulders overnight are more likely to be bed bugs, and itching with no visible insect can be mites. Our insect control page can help you narrow it down.
It depends on the size of the property and how many rooms are affected. Call us with a few details and we will give you an estimate over the phone.
We plan every treatment around the people and animals in the home. We will tell you how long to keep babies, children and pets out of treated rooms, and anything else you need to do, before we start.
Most flea problems are cleared over our three-visit programme. You may see fleas for a short time after each visit as cocoons hatch, which is normal and a sign the treatment is working.
Yes. Fleas and their larvae can live in the gaps between floorboards, along skirting boards, in rugs, sofas and bedding. Hard floors make fleas easier to see, but they don’t prevent an infestation.
Not quickly. Flea pupae can wait in their cocoons for a long time until someone moves in, which is why fleas often appear soon after moving into a property that has been empty.
Rentokil-trained and Level 2 certified, so you know you’re in safe hands.
We don’t just show up, treat, and leave. We walk you through exactly what we found, why it happened, and what we’re doing to fix it.
Pests don’t work 9 to 5, and neither do we. We’re available when you need us most.
We are Level 2 certified technicians, fully insured, and members of BPCA, BASIS Prompt and RSPH. You’re in safe, qualified hands.
Hundreds of satisfied clients across South London have trusted us to get the job done right, and we back every job with a satisfaction guarantee.
We’re not a faceless national company. We’re local, we care about our community, and we treat every property as if it were our own.
Call us or fill out the contact form. We’ll assess your situation and give you a straight, honest estimate over the phone.
Our technician visits your property, carries out a thorough on-site inspection, and begins treatment right away.
We carry out a 3-visit treatment programme to make sure the problem is fully resolved, not just temporarily patched.
Job done. Your property is protected, and you’ll know exactly what was done and why every step of the way.
Same-day response available
Out-of-hours and weekends
Rodent proofing specialists
