Can fleas really escape a vacuum cleaner?
I’m currently treating my cats for fleas and have been on a hoovering mission to try and tackle the problem in the house.
99% of what I’ve read on the internet tells you that you MUST throw the bag away every time you hoover because fleas can escape! I can see how they may be able to survive the process of being sucked up and that eggs can still hatch, but can they really find their way out of the bag and down my long henry hose and back out into the outside world?
I’m hoovering nearly every day and it seems ridiculous and expensive to replace what is actually a pretty empty bag.
I’m putting a sock over the hose and securing with one of the attachments to be on the safe side but what does everybody think?
Filed under: Henry Vacuum Cleaner Faqs
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No. The online science research showed that 96% of fleas died while being banged around when sucked up by the vacuum, the experiment was so conclusive they did it again for verification and got the same results. 96% of adult fleas died, 100% of young fleas died.
Sucking up 100 fleas and having 4 adults live through the process is a pretty good return.
Here’s the article.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/12/18/us-fleas-vacuum-idUSN1852730520071218
The OSU study, partially funded by the Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co. and detailed in a recent issue of the journal Entomologica Experimentalis et Applicata, involved vacuuming up groups of 100 adult fleas at a time, as well as groups of 50 pupae and 50 larvae, from a tightly woven kitchen-type carpet.
Six tests on the adult fleas killed an average of 96 percent of adult fleas, and the three tests of pupae and one test of larvae resulted in the deaths of all the fleas.
Study team member Glen Needham and his colleagues are researching non-toxic ways to kill insects, because though bug bombs have sent fleas on the run, the fleas could develop resistance to these chemicals.
Needham thinks that the brushes, fans and powerful air currents of vacuum cleaners are what’s responsible for killing the itchy insects. Needham and his colleagues have suggested that the vacuum brushes wear away the cuticle, a waxy outer layer on fleas and most insects that holds water in and keeps them hydrated. Without this protective layer, the adults, larvae and pupae probably dry up and die, Needham said.
"We didn’t do a post-mortem, so we don’t know for sure," Needham added. "But it appears that the physical abuse they took caused them to perish."
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I understand your situation and bless you for being so diligent. When the bag gets full, put it in a plastic garbage bag and tie it closed really good then throw it away. Consistent vacuuming in every corner, crevis, under furniture cusions, top and bottom of appliances, matress, etc. Wash counters down with bleach along with top and under of refrigerator, stove, bare floors, etc. Wash pet’s bedding in hot water with bleach. Cut some lemon wedges and boil them. Let sit overnight and the next day spray your carpet, furniture and pets with the lemon juice. Comb your pets fur sideways on an old cloth or garbage bag then throw away making sure no specs fall onto your floors. You can even wipe your pets down with vinegar, since fleas do not like the sent. Fleas can live without a host for 6 months so all of this needs to be done frequently until you are sure all fleas are gone. Also keep your yard grass cut short and discard any debris where fleas can hide like old furniture. If your pets have fleas in their ears, put some mineral oil or olive oil in their ears (this should be done away from carpeting and furniture). Let pet shake the debris out then take a cotton ball and wipe ears out gently. Good luck, I hope you get rid of those litte irritating pests.
I was just reading up on that… so instead of telling you, here’s the website I went to. It gives you all the info on fleas. From their lifespan to getting rid of them and myth advice ppl give about how to get rid of them.