Fleas can get very vexing when you have a pet. They pester you around all year but they come in full force during summer when it’s warmer. These fleas might be small but their bites are terrible. It burns as it causes itchy swelling on the skin which can be quite painful at times. The small red bumps with a red halo around the bite are the aftermath reaction caused by the flea’s saliva on the skin. There are many ways to get rid of fleas and the best way to go is the chemical-free one.
Here’s an extensive list of natural remedies on how to get rid of nasty fleas.
1. Table Salt
One of the easiest ways to get rid of fleas on a dog is by using basic table salt. It’s something that you can easily use because you usually have it around your kitchen all the time. Salt dries up the eggs of the fleas and will eventually kill every last one of them.
Here’s what you need to do:
Search the entirety of your pet and look for the areas affected by fleas. Once located, grab a pinch of salt and add just a drop of water on the tips of your fingers and massage lightly. Do this day after day until there are no more signs of the fleas. Be careful not to put too much salt on as it may irritate your dog’s skin.
2. Vinegar
This is also a very effective flea repellant that you can use on your fabrics at least once or twice a week. You’ll notice the fleas will flee in no time.
Here’s what you need to do:
In an unused clean spray bottle, add ¼ distilled white vinegar to ¾ of water. To get rid of the dirt, you can have the option of adding 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Spray on the counters and surfaces that might be swarming with fleas.
3. Lemon
This citrus fruit is a great weapon to combat fleas. There’s something about its tangy taste and smell that repels the fleas, which a very good thing for us humans with pets.
Here’s what you need to do:
Grab a good whole lemon and slice it thinly. Place the thin slices in a pint of water and heat until it is boiled. Let it sit overnight for the mixture to settle in. Place the product inside an empty spray bottle and spray onto areas where fleas gather.
4. Rosemary leaves
Making your own herbal flea dip is a great way to deal with fleas without using chemical products. This trick should only be done on a hot day only.
Here’s what you need to do:
Take two cups of fresh rosemary leaves and combine them to two pints of water and boil it for half an hour. Strain the product and discard the leaves. Mix the liquid with a gallon of warm water and bathe your pet with it until saturated. Don’t rinse off, just let your pet to air dry.
5. Horse Apple
This has been a great traditional insect terminator for many years which is why it can remove fleas from your home and pet in no time.
Here’s what you need to do:
Buy some fresh green horse apples and slice each apple into two. Place the pieces of the apple in each corner of your home. Allow it to sit there for a few days because their effectiveness happens when they get dry. It can get rid of the unwanted fleas in few months time.
6. Pennyroyal Leaves
This herb discourages fleas. Its oil strongly repels fleas and other insects which could make your job a ton easier.
Here’s what you need to do:
Take ample amount of pennyroyal leaves, wash them, and crush them with a pestle until they release their oil. Place the crushed leaves on cheesecloth and tie them while making sure that its parts will not fall to the ground. Plant the cheesecloth to every corner of your house where fleas are most likely located. Careful not to let it be in reach of kids or pets as it can be harmful to them.
7. Dish Washing Liquid.
Aside from cleaning your plates clean, this product can kill fleas and get rid of them for good. It is one of the simplest ways to trap and destroy fleas.
Here’s what you need to do:
On a bowl of warm water, add an ample amount of dish washing liquid and stir well. Put the bowl on the floor of the room where fleas are and light a candle near the bowl after switching off the lights at night. The fleas will be attracted to the light of the candle and the aroma of the dish washing liquid until they will get trapped in it and drown.
8. Lavender and Soapwort
You can make your own DIY flea shampoo using lavender oil and soapwort. It will easily and effectively kill fleas that are hiding in your pets and will also keep your house clean.
Here’s what you need to do:
Get 2 cups of distilled water in a metallic container and boil it. Add 1 ½ tablespoon of dried soapwort to the water and let it boil for 20 minutes. Cover the mouth of the container with cheesecloth and let it cool for a few minutes. Strain the liquid and add 1 ½ tablespoon of lavender essential oil and stir well. Use this DIY flea shampoo on your pets when you give them a bath to get rid of your tiny nemesis.
9. Citronella Oil
One of the best oils to get rid of fleas is citronella oil. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) citronella oil has little or no toxicity when used as a topical insect repellent.
Here’s what you need to do:
Get 3 liters of warm water and add it to 1 tablespoon of citronella oil, ½ tablespoon of tea tree and lemongrass oil, and 5 drops of germanium oil. Mix everything accordingly and mop your floor with this solution every day. Repeat this until fleas no longer exists in your home.
10. Diatomaceous Earth
These are the microscopic skeletal remains of unicellular algae-like plants called diatoms. It’s feels and looks similar to fine flour but it has cell walls made of silica. The hard shells of the fleas are vulnerable to the sharp edges of microscopic diatoms and will destroy the fleas and their larvae.
Here’s what you need to do:
Sprinkle the DE wherever fleas exist. You can spray it everywhere with no worries because it is non-toxic and leave it be for two days. The fleas will die in 4 to 6 hours tops. Clean the DE from the floor and throw away the vacuum bag.
11. Baking Soda and Salt
Fleas usually hide under carpets and rugs so it’s very important to keep those places clean at all times. Using baking soda and salt can clear the infestation.
Here’s what you need to do:
Sprinkle the salt on the carpet followed by the baking soda. Sweep the salt and baking soda into the carpet until they are absorbed. Do this at least twice between the week and you will notice the fleas will die instantly.
12. Eucalyptus and Wintergreen
These two can effectively eliminate fleas with their powerful mixed aromas. This will cause the fleas to die.
Here’s what you need to do:
Add 5 to 6 drops of eucalyptus and wintergreen oil to a cup of water. Mix it thoroughly and put the liquid into an empty spray bottle. Feel free to spray this sweet aroma in your furniture, upholstery, carpet, etc. Keep a eucalyptus branch in your home to prevent fleas from coming back.
13. Bay Leaves
Another natural alternative for getting rid of fleas is by using bay leaves. They repel fleas inside and outside the house to keep your home from being infested.
Here’s what you need to do:
Sprinkle bay leaves on your furniture, bedding, carpet, and anywhere you might suspect fleas are living. It’s a great remedy to plant bay leaves in your kennel and garden for a year round protection from fleas.
14. Hot Water
If you don’t have any essential oils or bay leaves, just a simple hot water can do the trick. Just wash your rugs and carpets where fleas usually hang out with hot water. This will destroy them completely.
Here’s what you need to do:
Add 4 cups of detergent powder to 3 tubs of hot water. Submerge the carpets and rugs in the water for 1 to 2 hours and then wash it off. You can do this to your bedding if you feel they’re infested as well.
15. Boric Acid
This remedy works just like salt in getting rid of fleas. It acts as a dehydrating agent that causes dehydration in fleas, killing them in the process.
Here’s what you need to do:
Fill a shaker with 1 cup of boric acid. Spray it on the carpets, furniture, bags, toys, etc where fleas might reside. Get a soft brush and put the boric acid into the carpet pile and leave it for 1 to 2 days and then clean up the places where you sprayed the boric acid. It’s non-toxic so it’s completely safe to use.
16. Flea-Killer Cookie
Make use of your baking skills and make some flea killer cookie that would surely get rid of those nasty fleas for good. Keep those biscuits in places where fleas hide.
Here’s what you need to do:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Let the beef bouillon dissolve in a pot of boiling water. Grease the cookie sheets. Next, mix the wheat flour, corn meal, brewers’ yeast and garlic powder together in a mixing bowl. Add some egg yolks and add the bouillon water you boiled earlier while stirring. Mix all the ingredients to create firm dough. Cut into shapes and place inside the cookie sheets and bake for 20 minutes. Leave overnight for 3 hours and they’re ready to
17. Nematodes and Water
Nematodes are worms that love to kill off fleas and their cocoons. You can use them in your yard or outdoor areas where fleas are living.
Here’s what you need to do:
Place the nematodes outside your house where fleas are present. Remember that nematodes work well in moist, sandy soil, which is away from direct sunlight so it’s important to sprinkle the ground with a little bit of water before putting the nematodes.
18. Botanic Dust
This is a low to non-toxic natural pesticide to destroy fleas. They don’t pose any danger for humans and pets.
Here’s what you need to do:
Mix botanic dust and boric acid together and dust the mixture in places where fleas reside. You can also dust it all over your house to prevent fleas from infesting your home. Leave the dust for a day and clean and wash of the area the next day.
19. Spearmint
This plant repels fleas away because it contains specific oils, compounds, and chemicals which fleas hate and will try to avoid as much as possible.
Here’s what you need to do:
Plant spearmint in your garden or use this plant around your house in flower pots and flower beds to naturally get rid of fleas. They will voluntarily leave your house once they spot the familiar scent of this plant that they hate.
20. Garlic
Fleas loathe garlic the way we loathe fleas. It’s a natural way to repel fleas and get them to pack their backs and leave.
Here’s what you need to do:
Place 8 heads of chopped garlic in an extra large soup pan and pour 1 gallon of almost boiling water over the top. Cover and let the mixture sit for 12 hours. Strain the liquid and put it into a garden sprayer. Spray your lawn and garden area with garlic water lightly to drive away those tiny fleas.
These are the best ways to eliminate fleas in your home. After following these procedures, especially when having to care for a cat, you will enjoy a flea-free home with your pets and children. Do you have any personal natural remedies that we haven’t added to the list yet?
Feel free to comment them down below. We’d love to hear from you!
