Natural Home Remedies for Killing Fleas

Fleas can be tough to fight, but if you don't eliminate them from your pets and home, they can quickly take over and become unbearable. Research has shown that certain insecticides found in commercial flea sprays can be harmful to children, pets, and even adults. Luckily, there are some safe and highly effective home remedies available to you.

  1. Combing

    • Combing your pet daily with a flea comb is the simplest way to keep him flea free. A flea comb has narrow gaps between the teeth, trapping fleas and their eggs. Comb through a small section of your pet's fur, then submerge the comb in a bowl of soapy water. Repeat until you have combed the entire animal. Fleas like to collect around the ears, belly, and lower back so give these areas special attention.

    Bath Time

    • Try a bath of Dawn dishwashing liquid and water. The ingredients in Dawn not only smother fleas, it prevents their eggs from attaching to hair follicles. As an added bonus, it will keep your pet's fur from becoming too dry. When you bathe your pet with Dawn, you will see many fleas swarming around her eyes, ears, and nose looking for a place to hide. Soap her head and neck up first, then her body and tail. Keep her saturated with heavy suds for more than 5 minutes. Rinse her well.

    Homemade Flea Repellent

    • When you finish bathing your pet, spray him with this homemade flea repellent. Immerse one lemon that has been quartered into about 20 oz (2 1/2 cups) of boiling water. Let the mixture stand for 12 hours, then strain it and pour it into a fine-mist spray bottle. Add 2 to 4 drops of pure lavender essential oil, 2 to 4 drops of pure cedar wood essential oil, and 2 to 4 drops of Pure Neem essential oil to the lemon water. Mix well to combine the oils and lemon water. Spray the mixture throughout your pet's fur daily, being careful not to let it get into his eyes, nose, or mouth.

    Garlic and Brewer's Yeast

    • Another natural way to prevent fleas from attacking your pet is to sprinkle garlic or brewer's yeast on her food or to feed her a wafer that contains these ingredients. Fleas apparently don't like the taste that garlic and brewer's yeast leave in an animal's skin.

      Dogs that weigh more than 50 pounds can have up to two teaspoons of the garlic/brewer's yeast combo a day. Smaller dogs that weigh less than 50 pounds should have 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon a day. Cats should have only 1/8 of a teaspoon or less each day for two weeks.

    Household Control

    • To make flea control truly effective, it's critical to disinfect your home. To rid bedding of fleas, wash it. During your washer's final rinse cycle, add eucalyptus and cedar essential oils. In addition, vacuum your home meticulously, and then sprinkle a fine layer of ordinary table salt over the upholstery and carpets.