Best Home Remedies for Fleas

Home remedies and natural treatments for fleas are safe for your pets and kids. In fact, you probably have some of the products you can use to get rid of fleas, such as salt, baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Some professional flea exterminators in your area might even use natural products.

When you want to eliminate fleas without the risk of chemical residues, use these treatment ideas to help you find the best home remedy for fleas. You can easily find most of these products in your local store.

On This Page:

1. Diatomaceous Earth
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
3. Herbal Sprays
4. Citrus
5. Dish Soap
6. Cedar Chips
7. Salt
8. Baking Soda

1. Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is the best natural way to get rid of fleas in your home. However, you need to use it carefully as it’s likely to irritate your throat and eyes.

Diatomaceous earth is the remains of fossilized algae, called diatoms in powder form. When applied to your carpets, furniture or upholstery, the powder causes the fleas to dehydrate and die. Be sure to leave the powder for at least two days before vacuuming.

Diatomaceous earth is a good solution if you want a natural option for killing fleas. The drawback is, you have to spread it extensively in your home since the fleas must come in direct and prolonged contact with the material for them to die. Also, it becomes ineffective when it comes in contact with water, so it needs to stay bone dry.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Spraying your pet with a solution of apple cider vinegar and water helps to repel fleas. Use equal parts of water and apple cider vinegar to make the solution. Vinegar helps create a balanced pH on the pet’s coat, which the pests don’t like. They also don’t like the smell and taste of vinegar.

Bear in mind that apple cider vinegar doesn’t kill fleas. It only makes a great home remedy for the prevention and control of fleas. Once they leave your pet, you can vacuum and steam clean your home to get rid of them completely.

3. Herbal Sprays

Herbal sprays also offer one of the best home remedies to get rid of fleas. You have different options, including rosemary, oregano, cinnamon or peppermint oil sprays. Mix five drops of your preferred oil with 300ml–400ml of water and spray the solution on your carpet and furniture.

However, they’re not powerful enough to kill fleas, so they just act as repellants. So, you might want to use chemical sprays as an alternative.

While these are non-toxic products, some people might have allergic reactions when they come in contact with them. Also, it’s not advisable to spray your pets with these oils. They’re likely to affect their natural body chemistry, leading to sickness.

4. Citrus

A mixture of lemon and orange juice can also help you get the fleas to scram. Here is what you need to do:

1. Peel the citrus and keep the fruit for eating, or include it in your mixture.
2. Put the rinds (and juice if you like) in a pan and cover with water.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer for an hour on low heat.
4. Let the mixture cool, then blend to a fine pulp.
5. Strain the mixture so only a liquid solution remains.
6. Spray the solution around your home.
7. Dampen, don’t soak, your upholstery with the solution.

Citrus peels contain compounds, such as linalool and D-limonene, which effectively kill fleas and their eggs. However, some cats can have reactions to these extracts. Use them carefully.

The citric acid in the juice also is a bleaching agent. This means it can affect the color of your carpets and rugs.

5. Dish Soap

You can also create a trap for fleas using dish soap and water. Fill a bowl or plate with water and put the dish soap in the water. Then, put the bowl in a place in the room where you suspect there’s flea activity.

This solution is highly viscous, creating a glue-like substance that traps the fleas. The solution attracts and traps them. You can then dispose of the solution together with the fleas. This remedy works well at night since fleas are nocturnal.

However, using a dish soap only targets adult fleas. You’ll need another solution for larval fleas and eggs. This means dish soap can only target a small percentage of the flea population.

6. Cedar Chips

Fleas don’t seem to like the smell of cedar chips, so they work well as a deterrent. Spreading the chips around your yard or spots where your pets frequent can help control the pests. Some pesticide products contain cedarwood oil to help repel insects.

Cedar chips have chemicals that inhibit the growth of seedlings and other plants, so don’t put them where you want plants to grow. They’re also expensive.

7. Salt

Salt is a good home remedy for fleas, and it works effectively when used alongside vacuuming. It works by dehydrating insects, making it easy for the vacuum cleaner to pull them out.

Sprinkle salt on your carpets and floors. Allow it to rest for a day or two before vacuuming your home. Be aware that using excess salt can make your carpet damper due to moisture retention. This makes the carpet attract dirt easily.

8. Baking Soda

Like salt, baking soda also works effectively when combined with vacuuming. You’ll need to sprinkle the baking soda on your furniture, carpets and upholstery.

Allow the powder to settle deep into your carpets and rugs before vacuuming them. Baking soda dehydrates the larvae and eggs for easy removal when vacuuming.

The drawback of using baking soda is that it adheres to the fibers of your carpet. Even after vacuuming, the residue is still left behind.

Final Thoughts

We know that flea infestations disturb your peace of mind, but you might already have the solution in your cupboard. While pesticides are effective, they can irritate your skin, eyes or lungs. However, natural remedies may take longer or not be as effective as synthetic treatments. So, try several to find the best home remedy or combination to kill fleas and deliver a lasting solution for your home.

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