9 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Fleas

9 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Fleas

Fleas are the most common parasites that live on the back of dogs and cats (yes, pun intended). They feed on the warm blood of their host. I know, yuck! The flea bites cause scratching, anemia, and even skin infections in your pet.

The harm doesn’t stop here. These little buggers can pester your home and bite you, too. Do you find yourself in this itchy situation? You have tiny, red, itchy bites on your legs and arms, only to realize that your beloved pet has brought home uninvited obnoxious guests – fleas?

What do you do to get rid of these pesky fleas when you don’t want to use toxic sprays and powders in your house and on yourself? You turn to the best natural ways to get rid of fleas. They are simple, effective, and non-toxic for humans and animals alike.

First, let’s find out more about fleas. Then we will see which are the best natural remedies to kill fleas effortlessly and effectively.

Fleas Facts

  • Fleas feed on the warm blood of humans and animals. They are voracious feeders, that’s why they bite like crazy to suck the blood when they are hungry. The bites cause itchiness, pain, and redness.

  • As if this wasn’t enough, fleas transmit nasty diseases, such as viral and bacterial infections, dermatitis, tapeworm, plague (the Bubonic Plague or Black Death who killed one-third of the planet’s population in the Middle Ages was spread by fleas). That is why fleas are considered a serious health threat.

  • A flea has a lifespan of up to 3 months.

  • They don’t have wings and they can’t fly, but they can jump higher than a man on the moon. Yes, fleas can jump 150 times their own tiny size! They’re not afraid of heights. They are champions in jumping. This is how they successfully jump from a dog or a cat on you.

  • Fleas are also champions in laying eggs (up to 2.000 in a lifecycle and 50 eggs per day). So they multiply quite rapidly and infest your pets and your house like wildfire. That is why it is so difficult to get rid of them.

  • You would be surprised to know that 95% of the flea eggs and larvae are on carpets, rugs, beds, mattresses, blankets, pants, and even shoes, not on your pet. Although fleas lay their eggs on their host, these will fall off the pet’s body as they don’t stick at all.

  • If you have the bad luck of being allergic to flea bites, you may get rashes, hives, and toxic reactions.

However, botanicals and other natural plant-based products can stop them. So, let’s see the best home remedies for getting rid of fleas.

9+ Best Natural Ways to Get Rid of Fleas

Wash, Dry, and Let Fleas Die

  • Wash the bed sheets and pillowcases with a natural soap detergent at maximum heat.

  • Add apple cider vinegar during the rinsing cycle.

  • Use the dryer at maximum heat (if the fabric allows it) to kill the fleas eggs, larvae, and adult fleas.

You will be surprised to see how easily you succeed using this cheap way to get rid of fleas.

Salt Water

Another simple, effective, and cheap way to get rid of fleas is salt. Just salt and water. You wouldn’t have thought of that, right? Salt is one of the most powerful flea repellents. This is how you can use it:

  • Spray the areas in your house where there are fleas (including mattresses, curtains, bed sheets and blankets).

  • Clean the floor with a strong solution of salt to destroy all the eggs and adult fleas.

  • Simply sprinkle salt into your carpets (I know, it’s a bummer that you have to do that to your beautiful carpets, but you do want to get rid of all the fleas, don’t you?).

Apple Cider Vinegar

One of the many natural remedies for getting rid of fleas is Apple cider vinegar. Not only is it cheap, but also it is effective and even beneficial to you and your health.

  • Dilute 2 tablespoons of natural apple cider vinegar in one liter of water. Drink one glass 4 times a day. It will strengthen your immune system and prevent infection and diseases.

  • Soak a cotton ball in this apple cider vinegar solution and gently apply to the flea bites. It will relieve itching and it will stop the scratching.

  • Apply the diluted apple cider vinegar solution all over your skin, as it is a natural flea repellent.

  • Bath in apple cider vinegar to protect yourself from fleas. Add 2 cups of water in the warm water in your bathtub.

Lemon Juice

Lemon is one of the scents that repel insects, including fleas. You don’t want to waste money on Lemon essential oil (it can be pretty expensive, I know)? Use lemon juice.

Cut 10 medium lemons (whole, with peel) in slices and let them simmer in 2 liters of boiling water for about 20 minutes. Let it cool and strain it. This is how you can use this lemon solution, infused with lemon oil (from the peel):

  • Mop the floor with it, especially the fleas infested areas.

  • Spray yourself and around the house with it.

Essential Oils Fleas Repellent

Essential oils are a fantastic natural flea repellent for house and yourself. They are ecological, have a broad spectrum, and very effective with no side-effects. The best essential oils against fleas are:

  • Lavender

  • Tea tree

  • Peppermint

  • Eucalyptus

  • Cedar

  • Basil

  • Myrtle

  • Thyme

  • Sage

  • Rosemary

  • Helichrysum

  • Cardamom

  • Clove

  • Lemongrass

  • Lemon

Simply add 20 drops of essential oil (make a mix of more essential oils or just use one of them that you like) to 4 cups of water in a spray bottle. Then just spray around the house, on the carpets, floor, tiles, your clothes, your bed, your chairs, and on yourself.

Neem

Neem is a powerful antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial, antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory herb that is very effective against fleas and flea bites. It is a natural repellent for the house and for you. How to use neem against fleas:

  • Use neem oil topically on your flea bites to sooth the itch, prevent infection, and accelerate healing.

  • Simmer neem leaves (or neem powder, if you prefer), let the concoction cool, dilute it with water, then mop or spray the floor with the solution.

  • Bath yourself and your pets (separately, of course) in a neem extract. Add a concentrated neem tea into your warm water during bathing to help deter fleas and prevent skin infections.

Sage, Thyme, and Rosemary Tea for Skin

These three wonderful herbs are great natural remedies to kill fleas with no adverse reactions whatsoever. They are completely safe and non-toxic.

Make a concentrated tea from the dried leaves of Sage, Thyme, and Rosemary.

  • Add 1 teaspoon of these 3 herbs in 1 cup of water.

  • Let it steep for 7 minutes, strain, and put it in a spray bottle.

  • Use it on your body after you shower or on your pets as a final rinse at the end of the bath.

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera has astringent, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, healing, and skin cell regenerating properties. It is safe for both you and your pets.

You can apply it on your skin, on the flea bites, and on your pet’s skin (under the fur, if you can). Aloe vera gel suffocates the fleas so they flee or die.

Diatomaceous Earth

This natural silica mineral (fossilized phytoplankton) is completely harmless to pets, humans, and soil. Having a great ability to absorb oil, Diatomaceous earth destroys the outer waxy protective layer of fleas, causing them to get dry and die.

Dust the food-grade DE powder on carpets, floors, mattresses, beddings, blankets, furniture, etc. Let the powder sit there for 3 days without vacuum cleaning in the meantime. Don’t sleep in the area and don’t let the animals stay there.

More Effective Ways to Get Rid of Fleas in the Home

In addition to using all these natural flea repellent for the house, you should:

  • vacuum the house more often, especially the carpets, rugs, floor, beds, couch, sofa, chairs, and the areas where your pets sleep

  • wash the mattresses and bed frame with a natural fleas repellent to kill fleas eggs

  • wash the curtains and spray them with a natural fleas repellent

  • clean and spray the kennels, porch, deck, and yard with one of the home remedies for getting rid of fleas

  • clean your pet’s house and the areas where your furry companion spends times and basks in the sun

Getting Rid of Fleas Isn’t Happening Overnight

Don’t assume that you will apply all the above mentioned natural remedies to kill fleas and you will get rid of the little buggers in 2 days. Know that it takes about 5-8 weeks to completely eliminate the flea danger in your house. It is not easy, but these time-tested natural flea repellent for the house will help you succeed.

How about you? What natural ways to get rid of fleas have you used? Please let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you.

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