Do Fleas Die in Water?
WouterFleas have a cuticle wax coating that prevents them from drowning. The wax covers the fleas’ skin and extends into the trachea. The wax prevents water from entering the flea’s body, and the wax helps it thrash around on the water’s surface.
It is a misconception that fleas die in water. In fact, they can live for weeks in water. While drowning will kill the flea, the process of drowning takes time. Fleas don’t die instantly, so they need at least twenty-four hours to die.
If you find that fleas live in your home, washing them regularly may help you kill them. The temperatures in your laundry should be at least 35 degrees Celsius. This will kill the fleas as well as their eggs. During this time, they cannot survive without their host. However, this doesn’t mean they won’t bite you in the interim.
If you are unable to get rid of fleas quickly, you can place them in soapy water and leave them there for at least 24 hours. During this time, the soapy water may contain enough suds to save the fleas. If you want to speed up the process, try using liquid soap instead of dish soap. It contains surfactants that will lower the water’s surface tension. A good quality flea comb will help kill the fleas, too.
Salt can be used as a natural flea killer. It can also kill the larvae. Salt also works as a drying agent. Salt can be sprinkled on a carpet to kill fleas. Allow it to remain on for one to two days before it’s time to clean the carpet.
