Fleas are small parasites that suck on the blood of your pets. But you shouldn’t be too complacent, because they can target you too and your family. You can have flea bites, skin irritations, and even infections.
Get rid of fleas naturally in your home using these simple remedies. The best thing with going natural is that they are unlikely to be harmful to everyone in your home. You can’t say the same thing for pesticides.
The most common spots where fleas thrive in your home
First, you have to know the most common spots where fleas thrive in your home. This way, you will know where to focus your flea killing efforts. Here are the spots you should give focus on:
- Carpets and rugs. Carpets and rugs are almost on the same level as your pets, so they become perfect spots for fleas to thrive.
- Furniture. Furniture, particularly those with soft cushions, such as beds, chairs, and sofas, are known to shelter fleas too. Don’t overlook the crevices on the sofas.
- Pet’s bedding. Your pet is the primary spreader of the fleas, so it’s not surprising that fleas can be found in your pet’s bedding.
1. Diatomaceous earth
Don’t let the complicated name intimidate you. Diatomaceous earth is simply the fossilized remains of diatoms, a kind of algae. You can sprinkle it all over the spots where fleas thrive. Leave it there for about a day or two.
Diatomaceous earth will dehydrate the fleas and kill them. Vacuum the spots and throw away the vacuum contents in a trash bin outside your home.
Though diatomaceous earth is safe and not poisonous to humans, you should still be careful in inhaling it. It may cause some irritation, like any powdery substance.
2. Lemon-vinegar spray
Get rid of fleas naturally with the powers of lemon and vinegar. Making a lemon-vinegar spray is simple enough, but it may take a while because you have to steep lemons in water overnight.
Cut 3 whole lemons into discs. Put them in a pot with 3 cups of water and let them boil. After that, remove the mixture from the heat and let it sit for several hours or overnight. Discard the lemon slices and pour the mixture into a spray can. Then mix 1 and 1/2 cups of vinegar.
You can use the lemon-vinegar spray on the spots where fleas thrive. Don’t soak the spots too much. Just dampen them. And tolerate the smell!
3. Herbal flea powder
You can also use a flea powder made of different natural ingredients. The primary ingredient of the herbal flea powder is rosemary. It is known as an effective flea repellent. Put rosemary, fennel, peppermint, rue, and wormwood into a pestle and mortar. Grind them until they turn into a powder.
Sprinkle the powder on the spots where fleas thrive. But take note that this is only a flea repellent. It doesn’t actually kill the fleas. It will only drive them away or repel them. If you want to kill the fleas in your home, there are better and more aggressive options.
4. Salt
If lemon-vinegar sprays and herbal flea powders look like too much work for you, you can go back to something as basic as diatomaceous earth – salt. Just like diatomaceous earth, salt can dehydrate the fleas and kill them.
Sprinkle salt all over the spots where fleas can thrive. Wait for up to two days and vacuum the spots. But be careful in vacuuming, because salt can ruin your vacuum. Rust can develop in your vacuum if you don’t clean it properly afterwards.
5. Boric acid
Boric acid has antifungal, antiseptic, and antiviral properties. This is actually more common than you think. You can find it in dish washing soaps, laundry detergents, and you can even buy it from the pharmacy.
You can use boric acid to get rid of fleas naturally. Just sprinkle the boric acid on the spots where fleas can thrive. But unlike diatomaceous earth and salt, you should not leave boric acid unsupervised for too long, especially on carpets. This is because it can bleach and destroy fibers. Leave it only for about one hour before vacuuming the spots.
Other home remedies for fleas
Home remedies may not be exactly natural. But they are easily accessible. Get rid of fleas in your home using these common home remedies:
- Baking soda. Baking soda is particularly good on carpets, but they can also be effective on other spots where fleas can thrive. Sprinkle some baking soda on the spots and brush it hard. Leave it there overnight to kill the fleas with dehydration. Vacuum everything up the next day.
- Dish soap. In a bowl, mix water and some dish soap. Place the bowl near the spots where fleas can thrive and leave it there overnight. The mixture will capture and kill fleas. This is completely harmless and just as safe as the more natural ways enumerated above. You can use this method every night until the flea population is drastically reduced.
- Steam cleaner. Aside from vacuuming, you can also try steam cleaning. The great thing about steam cleaning is that it kills the fleas with heat. It will also make your furnishings look much cleaner than simply vacuuming.
Don’t forget to get rid of the fleas on your pets
You should not be too caught up with the fleas around your home that you forget to deal with the actual source of the fleas – your pets.
Here are the most commonly used methods to get rid of fleas on pets:
- Essential oils
- Flea combs
- Over-the-counter or prescription medication
- Pet-friendly soaps and shampoos
For optimal results, it’s best to go to a pharmacy or veterinary clinic.
Conclusion
Your pets are the lights of your home. But they can also be the ones who destroy it by introducing pests such as fleas. You can go to the pharmacy or veterinarian to get rid of the fleas in your pets. But also remember that fleas can thrive on different spots around your home.
You can get rid of fleas naturally in your home by using diatomaceous earth, lemon-vinegar spray, herbal flea powder, salt, and boric acid. There are also less natural ingredients but are equally accessible, such as baking soda and dish soap.