How to get rid of fleas without chemicals
88There are many ways of getting rid of fleas and their eggs. The professionals have several options at various prices. However several home remedies also work for a much lower cost. I will list some of my favorite ones below:
Inside Options...
Borax & Salt
Mix 4 parts Borax to one part Salt and sprinkle over the carpet. The mixture works down into the carpet and dehydrates the eggs and the fleas, which can then be vacuumed up in a few days. It is important to give this a few days to work and some people prefer to not allow toddlers or young children to play on treated areas.
Rock Salt
Put rock salt in open trays on the floor under furniture out of site and reach of children and pets. This does not eliminate a problem but will help keep it to a minimum.
Comb
Combing out fleas is always an option but also time consuming and it only works on the current problem.
Vacuuming & Mothballs
Vacuum often and place mothballs in the vacuum bag to dehydrate the fleas and their eggs that have been picked up.
Outside Options...
Pennyroyal
Plant Pennyroyal around your yard here and there it works as a natural repellent.
Cedar Chips
Place cedar chips in sleeping areas and doghouses.
Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkle Diatomaceous earth around your yard. It consists of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae that gets into the crevasses of articulated shelled bugs like fleas and they cannot move, or breathe well and die. This is helpful in the end and will help control things but does not stop an infestation. I have used this often and it is also totally safe for pets and children, they do suggest you where a mask while spreading it only so you do not breath it into your lungs when it is floating in the air. This is not an issue later.
Dust
Allow your pets to roll in the dust, this is also a natural way to eliminate fleas. I had a white cat that would come in looking brown with dirty dust and only a white face. She rarely had any fleas.
I hope some of these ideas are helpful and of use to you in your home. One word of warning, do not leave for a summer vacation with an on going problem, when you get home it will have become a full blown infestation that will require immediate and probably professional help, along with a motel room for the night. Good Luck
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Comments
Thank you Stacie, that is helpful information..!
I read a study not too long ago about controlling fleas and it said that vaccuuming your floor actually kills the fleas. Apparently they can't take the abuse that the vaccuum hits them with. It won't completely rid your home of fleas, but it effective and doesn't require chemicals.
Great tips. Though I have simplified the solution for our pet Missy. For the last rinse of her bath, I add 3 ounces of a product called Bioneem Insect Repellant to one small pail of water (as recommended). The product is organic, non-toxic, non-solvent, and environment-friendly. After the second bath, our pet has cease to suffer from fleas and other insects, and has no foul odor. We also dilute the product for use as organic spray against houseflies, cockroaches, ants, mosquitoes, and other small flying and crawling insects. It can also be used as general disinfectant and deodorizer.
This is packed with tips. Thank you. And thanks to vikky, jmarket and stacie as well. I've heard that vacuuming kills them also. I'm going to try the insect repellant rinse on my dogs.
working
Stacie Naczelnik says:
2 months ago
Nice tips. People should know, though, that salt can harm expensive rugs--so use caution. As well, many mothballs are full of icky chemicals that are toxic, so watch out for those as well.