Steps
- Start by cleaning everything. Send the pet(s) outside, or confine them to the bathroom, so that any fleas they're carrying would not jump onto the surface you just cleaned. Throw all of the pet bedding in the washing machine, or use a hot dryer for about 15 or 20 minutes to kill adults larvae and eggs. That includes anything that the pets like to regularly lie or sleep on, which isn't always intended to serve as pet bedding. Vacuum everywhere, especially areas that don't get much exposure to sunlight (fleas like humid and cool spots), anywhere that you find dried blood and feces (flea debris), and upholstered furniture (lift up those couch cushions).
- Before vacuuming the carpets, sprinkle salt, Borax, or baking soda throughout. Work it into the base of the carpet with a broom. Let it sit for a few hours; all of these powders will cause the flea eggs that are tucked deep into the carpet to dry out. Don't let your pets walk on the carpet during this time, since they might get some stuff on their paws and lick it off, causing them to get sick. If there's a chance the pet will walk on the carpet, use baking soda (probably the least harmful) and be thorough when working it into the base of the carpet (so it doesn't sit on the surface and get on your pet's paws).
- When the vacuum bag is full, seal it in a plastic trash bag and put it in a covered trash container, preferably outside. Otherwise, the little buggers can crawl out and make themselves cozy again.
- Before vacuuming the carpets, sprinkle salt, Borax, or baking soda throughout. Work it into the base of the carpet with a broom. Let it sit for a few hours; all of these powders will cause the flea eggs that are tucked deep into the carpet to dry out. Don't let your pets walk on the carpet during this time, since they might get some stuff on their paws and lick it off, causing them to get sick. If there's a chance the pet will walk on the carpet, use baking soda (probably the least harmful) and be thorough when working it into the base of the carpet (so it doesn't sit on the surface and get on your pet's paws).
- Clean any outdoor areas where your pet might hang out, too. Trim lawns and weeds, and expose any cool, moist dark spots (which fleas love) to sunlight, or keep your pet away from those spots.
- Consider spraying flea control nematodes.[1] These beneficial microbes work by killing them while in the developing stage, where they live in the soil. This disturbs their life cycle, lessening their numbers.
- Pennyroyal[2][3] discourages fleas. Plant it around your house. Do not do this if your pets are prone to eating plants or if you have children around. See Warnings below.
- Consider spraying flea control nematodes.[1] These beneficial microbes work by killing them while in the developing stage, where they live in the soil. This disturbs their life cycle, lessening their numbers.
- Give your pet a bath. You can use a flea shampoo, but this article assumes you want to stay away from that kind of thing, so use any gentle shampoo. Wash the neck first so that the fleas don't jump up to the head during the bath. Be thorough; you'll probably see several fleas come off and float around in the water.
- Additionally, you can make your own herbal flea dip. Take two cups of fresh rosemary leaves and add them to two pints of water. Boil for thirty minutes. Strain the liquid, discard the leaves, and mix it with up to a gallon of warm water. Pour this over your pet until saturated. Do not rinse off, but allow your pet to air dry. This is something to do on a hot day only.
- After your pet is dry, use a flea comb (one that is specifically designed to remove fleas) to get rid of stubborn fleas that remain.
- Additionally, you can make your own herbal flea dip. Take two cups of fresh rosemary leaves and add them to two pints of water. Boil for thirty minutes. Strain the liquid, discard the leaves, and mix it with up to a gallon of warm water. Pour this over your pet until saturated. Do not rinse off, but allow your pet to air dry. This is something to do on a hot day only.
- Use yeast as a weapon. Supposedly, fleas don't like the taste of yeast. Although this has not been proven, many people swear by it. Buy some brewer's or nutritional yeast and rub it onto your pet's skin. You can also sprinkle a small amount onto their wet food and mix it in.
- Feeding your pet garlic is thought to have the same effect, but it can be irritating or even toxic to your pet, so use yeast instead.
- Feeding your pet garlic is thought to have the same effect, but it can be irritating or even toxic to your pet, so use yeast instead.
- Make a citrus spray. Citrus oils allegedly repel fleas, but they may also repel your pets, and irritate them if they ingest them, so use this solution with care. Slice a lemon thinly, add to a pint of water and heat to the boiling point. Let it sit overnight and in the morning, spray it onto areas where you suspect fleas hang out (beware of staining) and rub it over your cat's fur. Don't soak but dampen the fur. Do this once a month to combat fleas. Do not use a lot at first, and keep an eye out for signs of digestive discomfort in your pet.
- Make a 'flea collar'. Take the pet's collar or neckerchief and put on drops of eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, citronella, lavender, or geranium. (See Warnings below.) This will need to be done weekly.[4]
- If fleas are a problem in a specific area of your yard or home, fill a aluminum pie pan with water and set out in the area (i.e.under a bed). The fleas are trapped on top of the water due to the tension of the surface of the water. Change the water daily until there are no more fleas. If you are placing the pie pan outside, empty daily to prevent mosquitoes.
- Repeat all of the above as often as possible. It cannot be stressed enough that just because these solutions are 'natural', they can still be dangerous for your pets, and people as well. Watch out for signs of discomfort and sickness! On the other hand, cleaning obsessively won't hurt anyone.
- Monitor your progress by making flea traps. The more fleas you see, the more you need to clean. Alternately, you can put out white bowls of water with a drop of soap in it - the white color attracts fleas and the soap cuts the surface tension on the water and makes them drown.
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Tips
- Know that nothing works as well as some of the better flea products. These above methods are for a more holistic alternative to the flea medications. There are risks in commercial medication to read up on whatever you use and learn about it.
- Always ask your vet before trying any home remedy on your pets. They can verify how safe the treatment is for your pet, and may have more tips on how to treat and prevent fleas.
- Vacuuming can kill almost as many fleas as any product and is very effective on hard wood floors that have gaps. Vacuum a heavily infested room twice a day to see if you can put a dent in the problem.
Warnings
- Be careful of using too much of anything...especially essential oils.[1] Also, essential oils are toxic to many animals--especially cats. Check with your vet.
- Watch your animals closely for any signs of sensitivity. Don't introduce everything at once. Try one thing at a time so that you know if it will be too disruptive to your pet's health or comfort.
- Pennyroyal is a known toxin. Be extremely careful in its usage. It can cause spontaneous abortions and should not by used by pregnant women[5] or on pregnant pets.[3]
- With tea tree oil, be especially careful to use products with 1% or less of this essential oil. It can cause nausea, vomiting, lethargy, and general weakness and should be used with caution. With this oil, more is not better.
Related wikiHows
- How to Make a Flea Trap
- How to Get Rid of Fleas
- How to Treat Flea Bites
- How to Shampoo a Kitten for Fleas
Sources and Citations
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