How To Get Rid of Fleas Permanently

Fleas live off of the blood of animals or humans. Your pet often brings the fleas in from outside. Once you notice the fleas, you can assume you already have an infestation. Because fleas go through a four-stage life cycle (eggs, larvae, pupae and adult), you must kill every stage to get permanently rid of the fleas.

Things You'll Need

  • Vacuum
  • Mop
  • Garbage bag
  • Dish soap
  • Water
  • Flea comb
  • Bleach
  • Flea powder with IGR
  • Cedar chips
  • Empty spray bottle
  • Cedar wood essential oil
  • Lavender essential oil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Vacuum and mop every floor in your home. This will help you get rid of many fleas. It is important that you wrap your vacuum cleaner bag up in a garbage bag immediately, and then toss it in an outside trash can.

    • 2

      Purchase a flea comb at your local pet store. A flea comb as teeth that are very close together. That allows you to easily catch the fleas in the teeth, and remove them from your pet. Use this comb on your pet, just before bathing.

    • 3

      Give your pet a bath. Fill the tub with lukewarm water up to the pet's knees. Use some dish soap as a substitute for shampoo and lather your pet up. Leaving the soap on the pet for five minutes will kill all of the fleas. Rinse your pet off with plain water.

    • 4

      Throw all of your pet's bedding and toys in a washing machine full of hot water and laundry soap. You can also add one cup of bleach. This will kill the any fleas living on your pet's things. Dry in the dryer on high heat.

    • 5

      Treat your home with a flea powder that contains the ingredient IGR (insect growth regulator). If the flea powder does not have this ingredient, it will not kill all of the stages of the flea in the life cycle. Eggs will hatch, and you will continue to have a flea problem. Follow the instructions on the packaging.

    • 6

      Vacuum up the flea powder after the recommended amount of time. Immediately remove and discard the vacuum cleaner bag as you did earlier.

    • 7

      Sprinkle cedar chips around the perimeter of your yard and home. Fleas hate the smell. At this point you have killed all of the fleas, so you must begin taking action to keep them from coming back on your property and your pets. Cedar chips are an excellent, all-natural repellent.

    • 8

      Make a flea repellent spray for your pet. Mix two to four drops of both lavender oil and cedar wood essential oil with a cup of warm water. Pour this mixture in to an empty spray bottle and use it on your pet. You can use it every few days to repel fleas. This will keep your pet from bringing home fleas from a walk in the park, or a play date.

      Note: Essential oils can be toxic to cats if the proper dosage is not followed. It is important that you dilute the essential oils with water and not place them directly on your cat's fur or skin.