You see their back legs flailing at their ears and hear the clanging name tags as misguided toenails scratch at an itchy head, ears, and other parts of their suffering body.
Yes, your beloved pet most likely has fleas. You’re on a budget, flea meds are expensive, and you aren’t sure how to get rid of fleas and prevent them from spreading their misery in the first place.
Fortunately, there are multiple natural ways to get rid of fleas from invading your pet and ultimately, your home and yard.
Here’s what you must do to get rid of fleas before they bombard you and your pet:
1. Use Soap
When we brought home our kitten, Taffy, he was covered in fleas. Someone had dropped him in a public restroom, and when my husband found him, we couldn’t leave him there.
I couldn’t get him to the vet because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Instead, I brought him home and bathed him in warm water and dish soap. It helped rid him of many fleas until I could get him stronger flea meds.
If you’d like to get rid of fleas on your animals, add a drop of dish soap to their bathwater when you bathe them regularly.
2. Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is an amazing product. It’s all-natural and is good for many things. I use it to treat mites and lice on my chickens. I also use it on my goats to keep lice away.
If you have a pet you’re concerned about getting fleas, sprinkle diatomaceous earth on their coat, and rub it in.
Be sure to cover your nose and mouth because it’s dusty. Use the food grade option as well. When fleas climb over the DE, it’ll chop them to pieces.
3. Sprinkle Some Baking Soda
If you’re afraid you have fleas in your home, don’t panic. This is a great tip for staying on top of fleas while also preventing them from your pets.
Sprinkle baking soda onto your carpet. Rub it in with a moist cloth. If there are fleas in the carpet, the baking soda will dehydrate them.
When you’ve allowed the baking soda to sit for 20-30 minutes, run the vacuum and suck up any fleas which may have made their way into your home uninvited.
4. Use Salt
Salt works similarly to baking soda. It also dehydrates fleas. If you’re concerned you have fleas in your home, sprinkle salt on your furniture.
Allow it to sit for a short time before you vacuum the dehydrated flea carcasses. By staying on top of your pet and your home, fleas shouldn’t have a chance to invade.
5. Spray with Citrus
Lemons are your friend when trying to prevent fleas. Squeeze lemon juice into a spray bottle. Add boiling water to the bottle and allow it to sit overnight.
Spritz your pet with the cooled mixture being careful to avoid their ears, eyes, and any open sores they may have.
If your pets aren’t fond of being sprayed, you can rub lemon slices on their fur.
6. Plant the Plants They Hate
One of the best ways to keep fleas off your pets and out of your home is making your yard undesirable to them.
You can do this by planting a variety of flowers and herbs they detest. You can also rub some of the plants on your pet’s coat to make them carry the unwelcoming scent.
Try planting:
7. Try Essential Oils
Do you love essential oils? Some people aren’t into them while others swear by them. If you’re part of the latter, you’ll be happy to know essential oils aren’t only for humans.
Instead, they can be applied to pets if used with a carrier oil to avoid causing skin irritation. Start using smaller amounts to make sure your pet doesn’t have an allergy to any of the oils mentioned.
Try using the following oils:
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Cedar
- Sage
- Eucalyptus
8. Nematodes
Don’t let the name scare you. Nematodes can be purchased at most big box garden centers. Once purchased, you bring them home, and put them in a container used for fertilizing which attaches to your water hose.
They’ll be mixed with water and distributed throughout your yard. The nematodes will eat fleas and flea larvae.
Some studies show nematodes are amazing at killing flea larvae. In only 24 hours, they’ve been known to consume 90% of the larvae in yards.
9. ACV
I’m a huge fan of apple cider vinegar. I take it every morning and every night to help control my blood sugar naturally.
However, you can use ACV for a variety of other things. Plus, you can make your own for little money, and it’s healthy for you!
To help your pets remain flea-free, mix ACV in water. Spritz your pet with the mixture. You can also add some to their water for further benefits. Be sure to avoid getting ACV in their eyes and use small doses of ACV until you know your pet doesn’t have sensitive skin.
10. Yeast
Some say the best way to keep your pet free of fleas is to keep them as healthy as possible. If your animal is healthy both inside and out, pests usually stay away.
There’s something about preying on the weak, that insects enjoy. They do the same with weak plants in the garden. The sicker the plant, the more bugs it draws.
By giving your pet brewers yeast and keeping their insides healthy, you may notice fleas leave them alone.
11. Neem Oil
Neem oil is a great natural product you’ll be glad to have on hand. You apply it to the coat of your pet, and it drives away most biting insects.
The only thing still left uncertain is if neem oil will also drive away ticks. Researchers can’t seem to reach a clear conclusion.
If you need something you can quickly apply on your pet before they run out the door, try neem oil.
12. Scare Them With Garlic
Garlic is most famously known for scaring off fictitious vampires in old horror movies, but it can be helpful in fighting fleas too.
Rub the garlic on the coat of your pet before you send them outdoors. Some suggest feeding the garlic to your pet.
However, I urge you to do research before giving garlic to your pet to ingest. Garlic can be toxic if given to dogs.
13. Use Ultrasonic Flea Collar on Your Pets
You want to be cost-effective and chemical-free while also caring for your pet and keeping them itch-free while you get rid of fleas.
However, you don’t have time to plant flea-repellant crops in your yard nor time to hunt down some of the ingredients mentioned above.
What should you do? You can try using an ultrasonic flea collar. It goes around your pet’s neck and is unnoticeable to your pet or you.
What is does is it gives off pulses which confuse insects. They try to get away from it and your pet in their confusion.
Hopefully, this has given you plenty of ideas on how to get rid of fleas, save money, stay natural, and be a responsible pet owner by keeping your pets healthy and fleas away.
You’ll be happy the fleas are also gone because it leaves less chance for you to be bitten or have a flea home invasion.
