ACTIONS: Should You Vacuum Your Dog for Fleas?

If you worry about using chemical (aka poisonous) treatments on your pets or in your home to get rid of fleas, worry no more — there’s an eco-friendly solution. Researchers at Ohio State University found that when fleas, from larvae to adult, were embedded in a tightly woven, kitchen-style carpet, sweeping the carpet with an upright vacuum killed 96 percent of fleas and 100 percent of the larvae. Glen Needham, associate professor of entomology at Ohio State, and W. Fred Hink, professor emeritus of entomology, determined that the brushes, fans, and whirling air currents combine to kill the fleas. And although the team used only one model of vacuum cleaner in their tests, it’s likely that any functional machine would have the same impact. The results of the study, published in Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, did not mention vacuuming the pets, but maybe there is a green-business opportunity for a pet-friendly vacuum. We’ll test it!