How to Kill Fleas in Your House With Common Household Products

So you've noticed that your dog has been scratching a lot. You find small red bug bites on your ankles. Then, one day, you are playing with Fido, and as you scratch behind his ears, your hand becomes covered with fleas. Fleas are one of the common risks of keeping a dog. They infest, irritate and are extremely difficult to get rid of. What's worse is that most of the products available are full of toxic chemicals you don't want around your pets or your kids. However, there are non-toxic options.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring cup
  • Water
  • Saucepan
  • Stove
  • Knife
  • Lemon
  • Bowl
  • Spray bottle
  • Garlic
  • Brewer's yeast
  • Dish soap
  • Borax
  • Salt
  • Baking soda
  • Vacuum
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Instructions

  1. Make Citrus Oil

    • 1

      Boil a cup of water in a saucepan on the stove.

    • 2

      Cut a lemon into slices, but do not peel the lemon.

    • 3

      Place the lemon slices in a bowl, and pour the cup of boiling water over the lemon.

    • 4

      Cut small slits in the skin of the lemon slices to release the lemon juices into the water.

    • 5

      Soak the lemons overnight to let the citrus oil set in the water.

    • 6

      Pour the citrus oil into a spray bottle, and add water to dilute the solution.

    • 7

      Spray the solution on your pets and around your house. Be sure to spray the carpets and upholstery.

    • 8

      Spray your pets and the house every few days until the fleas are gone.

    Other Quick Solutions

    • 9

      Add garlic or brewer's yeast to your dog's food so that his skin tastes bad to the fleas, and the fleas will leave when they have nothing to eat.

    • 10

      Wash your dog with a sudsy dish soap to drown the fleas.

    • 11

      Sprinkle a mixture of borax, salt and baking powder around your house and on your dog.

    • 12

      Put a few drops of dish soap in a bowl with water, and place the bowl under a lamp on the floor. Switch out the bowl every morning as it will be full of dead fleas.

    • 13

      Vacuum your house daily to suck up dead fleas.