Do Fleas Stain Sheets?
WouterFleas can cause staining of your bed sheets and other linens by dropping blood on them. These stains are usually black or dark reddish brown in color. The blood is a source of nutrition for flea larvae. The blood from fleas feeds on animal blood. A flea can leave up to ten drops of blood in your bedding after a single feeding. Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of flea stains.
The first step is to find where the fleas are living. Fleas lay eggs on their host animals. These eggs are oval in shape and are laid by female fleas. They lay four to eight eggs per day and can lay as many as 500 eggs during their lifetime. The eggs mature into larvae in two to four days. The larvae are white with chewing mouthparts and can live up to five months inside the cocoon.
The second step is to wash the affected clothing. Washing your bedsheets in 95 deg F water is an effective method of removing fleas and their eggs. It is also recommended that you wash the bedding of your pets, including their beds. The blood and flea dirt from your pet’s fur may stain your sheets. Depending on the fabric, you might need to use a stain remover to remove the flea dirt. You may also need to shampoo your carpets.
In addition to causing staining of bedding, fleas can also cause bacterial infections in humans. Fleas also produce an offensive odor, so it’s best to keep your pet’s bedding clean and free of flies. Another great way to keep fleas away from your bed is to keep the carpets and furniture clean. Another way to get rid of fleas from your bedding is to spray apple cider vinegar or lemon juice on your carpet.
