Inexpensive Way to Kill Fleas

Killing fleas is a potentially expensive and frustrating endeavor, but it doesn't have to be. However, simply removing fleas from pets does not solve the problem. Inexpensive pet shampoos remove fleas, but only about 5 percent of fleas reside on pets during their life cycle. The rest of the fleas are either still outside waiting to hitch a ride back into the house on your pet, or they are already in the home. Though many chemical insecticides effectively kill fleas, they are not always the safest solutions due to the harsh chemicals they contain. They can also get quite expensive. Luckily, there are inexpensive ways to kill fleas at home using things that you probably already have sitting around the house.

Things You'll Need

  • Flea shampoo
  • Flea comb
  • Baking Soda
  • Salt
  • Lemon
  • Pot
  • Spray bottle
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Instructions

  1. Pets

    • 1

      Wash the pet thoroughly in warm water and flea shampoo. You need not buy an expensive flea shampoo, as you aren't using this as the end-all-be-all flea-killing solution. It's just the beginning.

    • 2

      Comb the pet's hair with a flea comb. The flea comb removes any fleas missed during shampooing and also picks up flea eggs.

    • 3

      Soak the comb in water. The water kills the fleas and prevent the eggs from hatching.

    Home

    • 4

      Locate any areas affected by fleas. These areas are most likely where the pets lay and rest.

    • 5

      Cover the area with an equal amount of baking soda and salt.

    • 6

      Allow the baking soda and salt to sit undisturbed overnight and vacuum it up in the morning.

    Ongoing Treatment

    • 7

      Slice a whole lemon and put it in a pot.

    • 8

      Pour 12 oz. of boiling water into the pot.

    • 9

      Allow the mixture to sit overnight.

    • 10

      Discard the lemon slices and put the residual lemon water into a spray bottle.

    • 11

      Spray the mixture onto the pet.