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It is highly unlikely that fleas will go away on their own without treatment. Female fleas can lay dozens of eggs per day—up to 50—causing their numbers to multiply quickly and spread throughout your home. An adult flea can live for around 100 days or even up to a year as long as it has access to a host, such as a pet or human. Even without a host to feed on, fleas can survive for weeks. Because of their rapid reproduction and resilience, it's best to tackle a flea problem as soon as possible. Hiring an exterminator is recommended to prevent the infestation from worsening.

While taking a shower can help wash away fleas and their dirt from your body, it may not completely get rid of all of them. However, if you wash your clothes and bedding in hot water and dry them on the highest heat recommended for the fabric, it can further reduce the possibility of an infestation. However, even if just a few are left, they can reproduce and take over again, so it’s best to take additional measures and call a flea exterminator to ensure they’re gone for good.

Like many pests, fleas hide in dark, sheltered areas, including in the bed. They will seek out crevices in a mattress, so they have easy access to their hosts (you and your pets) as well as somewhere that is warm and hidden. You may also find fleas hiding in carpeting and other furniture.

Gel bait and gel bait traps use poison to kill cockroaches, and aren’t safe to use around pets. Many gel bait traps are called “child-resistant,” but this only means that the traps are hard to rip open for children. Large pets and children are still able to swallow them. If you use gel bait, use it in areas where pets and children can’t access them, such as under a washing machine. Another option is to use glue traps, which don’t contain pesticides and are safe to use around pets.