If you are a pet owner, the thought of your beloved cat or dog catching fleas is a constant strain on your mind. These parasites feed off the blood of animals and can easily become a problem in your home, biting both you and your furry friends.
Did You Know…? Relative to their size, fleas can jump further than any other insect. If an average sized human had the same jumping ability of a flea, they would be able to jump 295 feet across and 160 feet high!
Flea Bites
The main reason behind fleas being regarded as a pest is through their biting habits.
Flea bites on humans are quite rare, the majority of the time it’s your beloved pets which come victim to flea bites. They aren’t particular painful compared to wasp stings but you will become aware once you have been bitten. As with all insect bites, itchiness and swelling will occur around the bitten area.
Flea home remedies
Fortunately, there is a handful of homemade flea remedies you can try to help prevent and get rid of fleas.
1. Washing up liquid
This home flea remedy involves creating a flea trap using washing up liquid and some water. All you have to do is fill a plate or bowl with a mixture of warm water and washing up liquid and place it in the rooms of your house which receive the most flea activity.
The water and washing up liquid solutions act as a glue, trapping the fleas due to the high viscosity of the solution. You should repeat this method with a fresh batch every day.
For this flea home remedy to work effectively it should be conducted at night time. This is because, for the most part, fleas are nocturnal creatures. It has been suggested that placing a candle near the solution will help this natural flea remedy, but this is not advised due to the potential fire hazard a naked, unattended, flame can cause.
2. Herbal flea spray
Rapid home remedies suggest using a herbal flea spray to get rid of fleas from your home. This natural remedy for fleas is made from non-toxic products found around your home, making it suitable to use around pets and children.
Create a flea spray by mixing 4 liters of vinegar, 2 litres of water, 500 ml of lemon juice and 250 ml of witch hazel in a large spray bottle. Before applying the product around your home, you should vacuum properly, emptying the contents into an outside bin, and wash any bedding/cushions that could be infested. Once this is completed, apply the natural flea remedy to your home using a heavy spray, spraying carpets, furniture, pet bedding, window sills, and floors.
3. Baking soda
One of the most effective flea control home remedies is vacuuming. This helps getting rid of fleas by removing them from the fibres of your carpets and furniture. However, there is a way in which you can increase the effectiveness of this by using baking soda!
For this flea home remedy to work, lay down baking soda along your carpets and furniture, take a hard brush and rub it into the fabric. After that vacuum your home thoroughly and empty the contents of the vacuum into a bag and place in an outside bin.
4. Salt
Much like baking soda, salt is a great natural flea home remedy when accompanied by vacuuming. Salt acts as a dehydration agent, helping to get rid of adult fleas.
To treat fleas with this natural remedy take some salt (finely ground works best) and sprinkle it all over your carpets in each room. Leave the salt to rest for 1-2 days, then vacuum your home throughout, emptying the contents in an outside bin.
5. Lemon spray
Lemon can be used in a lot of ways around the house, but aside from being a good way to treat wasp stings, it’s also a great natural home remedy for fleas.
Treatment using this natural remedy to get rid of fleas consists of making a citrus spray to use on infected furniture. To make this flea spray, slice a lemon thinly and add to a pint of water and bring to the boil. Let the citrus solution sit overnight and pour into a spray bottle. The next day take the citrus solution and spray it on the infested areas in your home – sofas, pet bedding, chairs etc. Do not soak, only dampen.
6. Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is the microscopic remains of fossilized algae, diatoms. It’s a very fine powder, which is non-toxic to humans and is a great natural remedy to get rid of fleas as it causes dehydration.
Using diatomaceous earth to treat a flea problem consists of sprinkling the powder over areas you suspect have high flea activity, applying thin layers. Leave the diatomaceous earth to do its magic for 2 days then vacuum promptly, following the necessary prevention methods afterwards.
Proceed with caution!
It is important to note that if using diatomaceous earth as a natural flea remedy you should use the food grade option. Although it is non-toxic, the nature of the powder can get messy and irritate your eyes and throat. When using diatomaceous earth to treat your home it is advised that you wear a face mask.
7. Rosemary
Rosemary is a great organic flea control product. It can be used to treat light infestations as well as on pets (depending on how you use it). This example of a natural flea remedy focuses on creating a powder to be used to treat fleas in your home.
To make a herbal flea powder using rosemary place this herb with some rue, wormwood, fennel and peppermint into a pestle and mortar and grind into a powder.Then sprinkle it on your carpets, furniture, pet bedding, windows sills and anywhere else you suspect flea activity in your home.
Note: Rosemary is a natural flea repellent, it will not get rid of fleas but help repel and prevent them.
8. Flea repelling plants
The final natural remedy to get rid of fleas is enlisting the help of specific plants to help repel these biting insects. Certain plants contain specific oils, compounds, and chemicals which fleas hate and will try and avoid.
There is a range of different plants that repel fleas. Using these plants around your home in flower pots and flower beds is a great natural home remedy for fleas.
Plants that keep fleas away:
- Penny Royal
- Chrysanthemums
- Lavender
- Spearmint
How to get rid of fleas
Although there is a range of different home remedies for fleas they are not 100% effective. Yes, they do help manage a flea problem, but they can not successfully solve one. This is mainly due to the fact that the majority of home remedies for fleas only affect the adults of the species, leaving the larvae and eggs behind. This creates a window of opportunity for another flea infestation to arise.
Professional pest control
The best way to get rid of fleas is with the help of a professional pest controller such as Rentokil. A pest control professional can provide you with the best services and solutions to fully remove a flea infestation from your property. If you think you might have a flea problem, get in contact with Rentokil today.
2 Comments