A flea infestation can affect your yard, home, and pets. These pesky pests can cause serious damage, and many people find that getting rid of fleas is difficult and costly. However, there are safe, natural, and effective ways to get rid of your flea problem once and for all.
To understand how to get rid of fleas, you must first know what fleas are. A flea is a type of insect, of course, and they are parasites. They live by feeding off the blood of mammals, who become host animals. The most common flea in North America is the cat flea. However, there are other types as well.
Getting rid of fleas can be difficult because of their rapid reproduction rate and the many places these insects can hide. They can lay eggs in carpets, bedding, and other soft surfaces. The infestation can spread from the yard to a pet to the entire home rather quickly.
Typically, cats and dogs are the primary victims of a flea infestation. However, in rare cases, fleas do bite humans. Flea remedies can protect you as much as your pets.
Your yard can be the place where your flea problem begins. If you’re worried about how to kill fleas in your yard without ruining your plants, worry no more. There are many natural methods available.
For centuries, garlic has been used as a natural antiseptic, which is what kills fleas. That is what makes it so effective against fleas. However, it is safe with your plants and grass. Making your garlic flea spray is an excellent way to keep your yard flea-free.
First, peel and chop two bulbs of garlic into small pieces and put the pieces in a jar. Bring water to a boil and pour it over the garlic pieces in the jar. Leave the solution to sit overnight. Then, in the morning, strain the garlic pieces and put the water into a spray bottle. Spray on your yard as needed.
Flea removal could be as easy as mowing your lawn regularly. Although fleas alone do not harm your lawn, they can find a home in tall grass. Keeping your grass low, weed often, and trim shrubberies.
Keeping your yard clean like this will uncover flea eggs, which cannot thrive and become full fleas without cover. Lawn maintenance can stop a flea infestation before it has the chance to start.
The enemy of the flea is your friend, right? Getting rid of fleas in your yard may be as easy as introducing a different kind of organism. Nematodes are microscopic roundworms that may be the best way to kill fleas because they do the work for you.
Nematodes can kill up to 90% of flea larvae when introduced to the soil. Plus, these tiny helpers are so small that you won’t even notice their presence. You can find nematodes online and in garden stores.
Some plants make a great natural remedy for fleas. Whether it is their aromatic smell or something else, many plants tend to keep fleas and other pests away. Catnip may draw cats in, but pretty much everything else hates it. Planting some throughout your yard can keep fleas and even mosquitoes at bay.
Lavender is not only gorgeous; it can repel fleas, moths, and other pests. Chrysanthemums can also act as a natural home flea treatment. Getting rid of fleas has never been so lovely.
Cedar has long been used to repel insects like fleas and ticks. However, as essential oils have taken hold in our society, many people have noticed that cedar oil unleashes the deterring effects of cedar more profoundly.
Add 15 drops of cedar essential oil to about 14 ounces of water and mix. For an extra boost, add a few drops of garlic oil as well. Then, spray as needed throughout your yard to kill fleas. This is one of the best ways to get rid of fleas because it is completely safe for your pets and beneficial insects.
If the fleas have made it from your yard to your home, you may be panicking to find out how to get rid of fleas in the house. However, you may have found that many recommended methods are full of harmful chemicals. Don’t worry. There are many natural ways to get these pests to leave your home.
A vacuum just might be the best flea killer for houses. Because eggs and larvae can hide in your carpet, busting out the vacuum often can help keep fleas away. When you suck up the larvae, they are not allowed to hatch into full-blown fleas.
Don’t be fooled by the long name. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a soft rock that is found naturally. It is easy to crush into a soft powder. This powder has a lot of great uses, including pest control. If you’re looking for how to get rid of fleas in your home, DE might be the answer.
The difference between DE and other substances you might sprinkle around your home is the mechanism by which it kills the bugs. Some solutions kill fleas by poisoning them, which can harm your family and pets too. However, DE simply dries out the fleas by sticking to them. It’s a physical reaction, not chemical.
How do you get rid of fleas? The same way as any other pest: set a trap. For an effective flea treatment for your home, you’ll need some large bowls with very low sides (like pie pans), dish soap, water, and a lamp or other light source.
First, fill up the bowls with water and add about two tablespoons of whatever dish soap you have on hand. Place the light source so that it shines right over the bowl of soapy water. If it’s a candle, place it in the middle. Otherwise, carefully position the lamp to shine on the soap.
Leave the trap overnight for as long as needed. This will not kill larvae or eggs. However, it will trap and kill fully-formed fleas before they can lay any eggs and cause more damage.
Get rid of fleas in your home with a dehumidifier. Fleas need moisture in the air to continue to thrive. Therefore, a dehumidifier is a natural flea remedy because it creates a dry climate that the fleas cannot live in.
A Dehumidifier is one of the safest home remedies for fleas because it does not hurt you, your family, or your pets. Just place a dehumidifier in the affected room, close the door, and let the machine do its work.
It can be incredibly sad when your pet is infested with fleas. Fleas can cause serious harm to your dog or cat, so it is important to learn how to get rid of fleas on a dog or a cat. Unfortunately, many collars and other commercially available treatments can be toxic since they rely on poisoning the fleas.
Instead of endangering your fur baby, learn how to get rid of fleas naturally. Not only can you protect your home and pets from toxins, but you can also save money in the process.
Don’t spend another dime on commercial flea powders that are filled with chemicals and poisons. Instead, make your flea powder. You can learn how to rid your house of fleas and keep your pets safe. In fact, with the right recipe, you can keep ticks, ants, mites, and mosquitoes away too.
Mix the following ingredients into a jar and shake thoroughly:
If you have no cats, you can also add 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil. Sprinkle the powder on your dry pet, then brush against the grain of the fur. Rub the powder on less-furry areas, like the belly. You can do this as often as once per month to keep your furry friend flea-free.
Getting rid of fleas in your house starts with a bath for your cat or dog. Use vinegar in your pet’s bath to kick fleas to the curb. Better yet, mix a little dish soap with distilled apple cider vinegar for the perfect flea shampoo for dogs or cats. This way of getting rid of fleas is safe enough for daily use.
If you have solution leftover, this can make a great flea spray for your house too.
A flea collar gives your dog or cat protection all day long. However, most commercially available ones are toxic. Instead of relying on those, dip your pet’s regular collar in a flea-repelling mix.
Mix one tablespoon of witch hazel with two drops of each of the following essential oils:
Then, dip your pet’s collar in the mixture and allow it to soak. Do this once a month to keep fleas away all year long.
Fleas aren’t fans of vinegar. Thus, this is how to get rid of fleas in your house fast: make a spray from vinegar and other flea-repelling ingredients.
Get a clean spray bottle and fill it with one half water and one half vinegar. Spray and comb into your pet’s hair and skin. Fleas will hate the vinegar and leave your pet alone. This also makes a great flea spray for your house.
In much the same way that you can use garlic to get fleas out of your yard, you can use it for your pets. Boil chopped garlic and let it sit overnight. Strain the garlic pieces and spray the water on your pet. Fleas will hate the smell and antiseptic properties.
Fleas hate all kinds of vinegar, including apple cider vinegar. Simply make a mixture of half water and half apple cider vinegar and spray it on your pet. It will taste better to your pet if they lick after application. However, fleas will despise it just as much.
Rosemary is another aromatic herb that fleas run away from. Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil or fresh rosemary to any of the above remedies to add a punch of anti-flea power to it.
If you find fleas around your family, make sure to rid them from your yard, home, and pet. Otherwise, they may come back. Luckily, there are great natural ways to get rid of fleas.
