Can Fleas Survive In Hot Water

Hot soapy water in a washing machine.

Can fleas survive in hot water. If there are clothes that can t be washed but can be dried then you ll need to put it in the dryer and run it on a hot cycle for about 30 minutes which will kill the fleas too. Dish soaps contain surfactants which reduce water s surface tension and cause fleas to sink and drown. Fleas need to live within a specific range of temperature for them to flourish but die if they are exposed to high temperatures so hot water will raise their temperature and kill them that way rather than drowning. Fleas in any life stage will either be killed in the course of the wash or will ultimately wind up in the sewer.

Whether the owner can t afford treatment or preventative or they re afraid of subjecting their dogs to chemicals or medications they always ask the same thing. Adding a couple drops of dish soap to the water will speed up the process. This is something i see people posting questions about in dog owner forums at least a few times a month. Keep in mind that those are the same places where your pet could seek refuge from the sun too.

Can you kill fleas on a dog by immersing it in water. When submerged it takes fleas at least 24 hours to drown. In fact fleas will survive in water for about 7 days. Any insects that might happen to make it all the way to the dryer will be killed off by more heat and turbulence.

They won t survive on your sunbaked patio but even during a heat wave odds are they ll survive if they find a shaded or damp place. As previously explained washing flea infested items in a clothes washing machine is an effective way to kill fleas thanks to the laundry detergent along with the heat of the water and the turbulence of the wash cycle.