Best Home Remedies for Fleas
9 Best Home remedies for Fleas, ways and methods to get rid of fleas on dogs, cat fleas, fleas in your house and in your yard.
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If you know your pet has Fleas, and aren’t able to get to a store to purchase Flea treatments, there are a few items you might have in your cupboards you can use.
Here are a few home remedies you can use as effective Flea treatments to get rid of fleas on your dog and cat.
Remember after your initial treatment to kill Fleas, you need to continue with weekly hot-washing, cleaning and vacuuming – or the Fleas will come back. Learn about the Flea Lifecycle.
If you don’t have one – buy a Flea Comb for Dogs or a Flea Comb for Cats to use after you’ve sprayed your pet with a natural herbal Flea spray or after a Flea dip. These make getting the Fleas out of your pet’s fur an easier task. You can also dip the comb into a mixture of Dawn dish soap and water to check for and remove fleas.
Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Bragg is a good organic brand of natural vinegar to use as a natural Flea spray or Flea bath. Mix one part vinegar to 3 parts water.
It’s said that Fleas hate the smell and taste of vinegar and avoid it. Use in a spray bottle and spray your pet’s coat. Be sure to spray lightly several times, and get the solution as far down in the coat as possible. Let air dry. Repeat every couple of days.
When bathing your dog at home, you can use this organic apple-vinegar as a rinse, after the final water rinse. Natural Vinegar will soothe and heal existing flea bites, without irritating the skin further.
Homemade Flea Trap
In your home, Fleas are attracted to heat. Fill a shallow glass or aluminum container with soapy water. Pie pans work well for this. In the center of the pan, place a votive candle and light it.
Leave the candle lit (in the soapy water) for a few of hours at a time. If there are active fleas in the house, you have a 98% chance of finding them with this homemade flea catcher. The Fleas will jump toward the heat of the candle, and get caught in the soapy water.
It’s best to place several of these around the house, more work better than just one.
Be sure to keep small children away from the lit candle.
An organic, all natural way to kill Fleas is with Diatomaceous Earth. It’s an inexpensive powder and when applied to your yard or carpets, will kill fleas and most insects. You should buy only the ‘food-grade’, meaning it’s safe for humans, and animals to ingest. Diatomaceous Earth works by puncturing the exoskeleton of the insects, causing them to dry out.
It works great, and Diatomaceous Earth works fast. You can Dust this powder over your pet’s fur (very lightly) just like other flea treatments. Be sure to gently rub into the coat. Also dust your pet’s sleeping and playing areas.
Not only is Diatomaceous Earth organic and non-toxic, it’s also good for your pet because it contains 15 trace minerals that are proven to boost your pet’s immune system. More details on Diatomaceous Earth and how to use it in your house for Flea control and in your yard to kill Fleas.
Homemade Lemon water as a Flea Spray
Cut a lemon into quarters and place in boiling water. Steep the lemon-water overnight, and in the morning, transfer the liquid to a spray bottle. Spray your dog or cat with this solution around the head, behind the ears, and at the base of the tail.
If your pet won’t tolerate this natural lemon spray, go ahead and soak a soft cloth in the solution and rub onto targeted areas. You can also use this lemon mixture as the last rinse after a bath.
Rosemary Leaves as a Flea Soak
Grind rosemary leaves into a fine dusty powder, either by hand or in a food processor. Sprinkle lightly onto areas your dog sleeps and visits in your home.
Create a natural rosemary Flea dip by steeping two cups of fresh rosemary in boiling water for 30 minutes.
Strain the rosemary and water liquid to remove the leaves. Transfer the liquid to a container and add one gallon of warm water.
When the mixture reaches a lukewarm temperature, soak your dog or cat by pouring the rosemary mixture over their coat. Let your pet air dry. Rosemary contains anti-inflammatory properties that stimulate growth of hair if any is lost from frequent scratching and/or Flea bites.
Essential Oils for Flea Spray
(not for Cats)
Mix a few drops of any of these Essential Oils Fleas Hate into a pint of water, use as an herbal oil spray on your dog’s coat. Let air dry. Repeat once a week.
Tea Tree or Melaleuca alternifolia Essential Oil
** DO NOT USE ESSENTIAL OILS ON CATS OR KITTENS **
Natural Aloe Vera Juice Flea Spray
Organic Aloe Vera Juice with 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle, then spray on the coat of your dog or cat, paying attention not to get in their eyes or ears.
You can also combine aloe vera juice with two drops of any of the essential oils listed above. Gently massage into target areas where the Fleas are most likely to hide. Leave on your dog for 30 minutes. Be sure to repeat weekly.
DO NOT USE ESSENTIAL OILS ON CATS OR KITTENS
Dawn Dish Soap for Flea Baths
Add Dawn dish soap (blue color) to your pet’s bath which will help get rid of Fleas. You can use one a week as a Flea treatment by dipping a Flea comb in a soapy mixture of Dawn and water – and run through your pet’s hair. The soapy water suffocates the Fleas. Rinse your dog or cat with clear water after using Dawn soap.
Tea Tree Oil as a Flea Bath
If you have a shampoo containing Tea Tree Oil, you can bathe your dog with this. Once your pet is soaped up, let the shampoo rest for 30 minutes, then rinse with clear water.
Fleas Don’t Like Cedar Chips
If you have any cedar chips, place a handful under or in the lining of your pet’s bed. Fleas don’t like the smell and will steer clear.
Cedar chips are good to use in your yard, around the foundation of a house, along a fence line, etc. If animals carrying Fleas cross your yard, active Fleas will high-tail it out of the area.
Please note: Just as with humans, each pet is unique and can be “sensitive” to products often considered “natural” or “safe”. Always check with your own Vet first, before choosing any product for use on your pet. If you aren’t able to consult with a Veterinarian – watch and observe your pet carefully whenever using a new product is used for the first time, to see how your pet is reacting. If anything appears “not-normal”, discontinue use immediately.
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