Can You Drown Fleas?

While it’s possible to drown fleas, the process is not effective for fleas. Fleas have a waxy cuticle, which repels water, making them difficult to drown. Even though the water doesn’t seem to kill them, they are still alive for a few hours after drowning. One way to help the process is to use dishwashing liquid.

If you can get to the fleas on your pet, using dishwashing soap is an effective way to kill them. Dishwashing soap lowers the surface tension, damaging the exoskeleton of fleas. Dish soap can be applied to the pet’s coat and then rinsed after about five to ten minutes.

Although the process of drowning fleas may seem simple enough, many pet owners are afraid that they will end up drowning their pet or themselves. Fleas can survive for long periods of time in water, and if you don’t want them to die, drowning them isn’t a good idea.

One way to drown fleas is to drown them in a dish of soapy water and leave it overnight. This technique is effective for both adult fleas and eggs, but it doesn’t work for fleas that live on humans. Because fleas can survive in cold temperatures, you should also be aware that the heat of water can kill them too.

The surface tension of water will break the fleas’ wings and make them drown sooner or later. Adding dish detergent will also help them drown more quickly. Regardless of how long your dog or cat stays in water, it is essential to treat the infestation quickly. In some cases, the submersed pet will drown, while others will be able to survive.