get rid of fleas in your house naturally

One of the biggest setbacks of pet ownership is dealing with their fleas. They are annoying, irritating, and difficult to get rid of once an infestation starts in your home. They are most active during the summer and can remain dormant for months until a new host arrives.

There are many commercial products available in stores but the question is, do they really work? Is it really safe to use on your pet?

Flea shampoos and baths only work for a day or two, while the toxic gas released by flea collars can be harmful to you and your pet, the same goes for pesticides and other harmful insecticides. However, there are safe and natural ways to deal with your flea problem that will be beneficial to both your pet and the environment.

To get rid of fleas at home, we must first look at the cause of the problem, which of course is your pet. Since a flea’s main meal is your pet’s blood, what easier way to get rid of them than by treating them from within. You can do this using vinegar water therapy. Add a little apple cider vinegar to your pet’s water and gradually increase as they get used to the taste. You can also use the vinegar water to bathe your pet. The fleas will soon die and fall off.

But treating your pet is just the beginning. The life cycle of a flea has 4 stages, about 50% of which are eggs, and only a measly 5% are adults which are usually on your dog. The next step now is to get rid of fleas in the house. Flea eggs, larvae, and pupae are found primarily in moldings, cracks, and crevices where your pets often stay. A good way to get rid of them is again, the vinegar and water solution. Just add a bit of soda and wash the whole house with it, or just the places where the infestation is worst.

Here is a simple trick that you might also like to try. Place a cake pan or dish of water on an infested area and put a few drops of liquid dish soap in it. Next, place a candle in the middle of the plate and leave it overnight. You can also substitute the candle for a night light. Just make sure your children and pets are well guarded when you try this at home.

Another way to get rid of these pests is to sprinkle the entire area with table salt, especially on carpets. Leave it for four or five days and vacuum it clean. This kills fleas by dehydrating their larvae.

Now that it’s done, you won’t have fleas in the house anymore, right? Wrong. After keeping your pet and home free of fleas, there is still a chance that these pests will return. You need to exterminate the entire population, or at least those in immediate locations, so work outdoors next.

The outdoors includes your porch, lawn, garden, backyard, and the like, as these are the places that your pets can easily access and are likely breeding grounds for these parasites. Using the vinegar and water solution and salt may not be recommended, especially in the garden, and the tin tray trick may not work as well. However, a good solution is to use predatory nematodes such as cutworms that attack insect larvae. These are available from plant nurseries and can even benefit your garden. Growing natural insect-repellent plants like citronella grass, catnip, marigolds, rosemary bushes, or gliricidia trees can also help.

Another solution is to use diatomaceous earth. It can be used by dusting or spraying on affected areas in or around your home. Diatomaceous earth is a compound that is usually found in kitty litter. Its absorbent property dehydrates the exoskeleton of insects and kills them effectively. Diatomaceous earth is not toxic, but wearing a face mask is a good idea to avoid breathing in the fine dust. It can also be used as a wide area spray and is also effective against other pests such as ants, cockroaches and termites as well as insects and aphids. You just need to reapply it after it rains.

You are now virtually flea free! Just remember, it’s still better to prevent flea infections early on. Keep your pets clean and healthy and live the life of a carefree pet lover without pesky fleas.