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Home remedies to get rid of fleas in your home

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!

If you feel that you have a problem with fleas around your home or property and you truly want to know how to get rid of fleas, then you should contact the flea control and prevention experts at Ehrlich Pest Control.

The best home remedies to get rid of fleas

While there are many methods for dealing with fleas, several home remedies can help manage an infestation effectively. Here’s how you can naturally get rid of fleas in your home:

Someone spraying a countertop

1. Create a homemade flea spray

Looking for effective home remedies to get rid of fleas? A homemade flea spray can be an excellent, natural alternative. Crafted from non-toxic ingredients, this DIY flea spray is safe for pets and children and works well for treating common problem areas like carpets, furniture, and pet bedding.

To make this homemade flea spray for your house, mix 4 liters of vinegar, 2 liters of water, 500 ml of lemon juice, and 250 ml of witch hazel in a large spray bottle. Before applying the spray, prepare your home by vacuuming thoroughly, washing infested items like bedding or cushions, and disposing of vacuum contents in an outdoor bin. Once ready, apply the spray generously to carpets, furniture, pet bedding, floors, and window sills to disrupt flea activity.

Many people ask, "What is the best homemade flea killer?" This vinegar-based solution is a popular choice due to its simplicity, effectiveness, and safety. However, while this homemade flea spray for furniture and carpet can help manage infestations, it may not provide a complete solution for severe flea problems.

Exercise caution if you’re dealing with fleas on your pets, especially cats. Not all home remedies for fleas on cats are safe, as cats can be sensitive to certain ingredients. Always check with your veterinarian before applying any homemade treatments directly to your pets.

While these home remedies for fleas in the house can be effective for mild infestations, more persistent problems may require additional measures. Consider using Ehrlich flea control for expert flea treatment for the home for long-term protection and peace of mind.

dishwashing supplies next to a sink with plates

2. Use dish soap to create a flea trap.

This home flea remedy involves creating a flea trap using dish soap and some water. All you have to do is fill a plate or bowl with a mixture of warm water and dish soap and place it in the rooms of your house which receive the most flea activity.

The water and dish soap solutions act as glue, trapping the fleas due to the high viscosity of the solution. You should repeat this method with a fresh batch every day.

This flea home remedy should be conducted at night. This is because 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.

woman vacuuming a house

3. Vacuum your carpets with baking soda to get rid of fleas.

If you're struggling with getting rid of fleas, know that one of the most effective flea control home remedies is vacuuming. This helps get rid of fleas by removing them from the fibers of your carpets and furniture. However, there is a way in which you can increase the effectiveness 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 it in an outside trash can.

Baking soda and brush on a white background

4. Sprinkle your carpets with salt to repel fleas.

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 trash can.

fresh lemons in a basket

5. Create a lemon spray to keep fleas away.

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, add to a pint of water, and bring to a boil. Let the citrus solution sit overnight and pour it 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.

An image of a pot of diatomaceous earth

6. Use diatomaceous earth carefully to get rid of fleas.

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 and applying thin layers. Leave the diatomaceous earth to do its magic for 2 days, then vacuum promptly, following the necessary flea prevention methods afterwards.

Proceed with caution - It is important to note that if you are using diatomaceous earth as a natural flea remedy, you should use the food grade option. Although it is non-toxic, the powder can get messy and irritate your eyes and throat. When using diatomaceous earth, it is advised that you wear a face mask.

An image of rosemary

7. Use flea-repelling plants around your home

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

Other DIY flea control solutions to consider:

While the above remedies focus on natural solutions, here are additional flea control solutions that can help manage a flea problem:

Boric acid works as a natural flea control method by drying out fleas and larvae. Use it carefully and keep it out of reach of pets and children.

Apple cider vinegar, when diluted with water, can be applied as a spray on your pet’s fur to make it less appealing to fleas. This will not kill fleas directly but may help repel them.

Certain essential oils, like eucalyptus or lavender, can repel fleas. Always dilute oils and consult with a vet before applying any essential oil to your pet.

Special flea shampoos are designed for pets and can effectively kill fleas on contact. Look for products labeled as safe for your specific pet.

A flea comb can be a helpful tool for removing fleas from your pet’s fur. Make sure to dip the comb in soapy water to kill the fleas removed.

Coconut oil may be used as a natural flea repellent on pets. Rub a small amount on your pet’s fur to help keep fleas at bay.

What to know about flea bites

The main reason fleas are regarded as pests is because of their biting habits.

Flea bites on humans are quite rare. Most of the time, it’s your beloved pets who become victims of flea bites. They aren’t particularly 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.

While cases of flea-borne flea borne disease are very rare (especially in the U.S.), fleas are vectors for a number of diseases.

cat scratching it's due to fleas

How to get rid of fleas

It can be tricky to know how to get rid of fleas, but other measures include washing your pet’s blanket and carrier. You should also remove seat cushions from couches and chairs and vacuum them. Also, vacuum cracks in chairs and couches. Be sure to throw your vacuum bags outside in garbage cans.

Although there is a range of different home remedies for fleas they are not 100% effective. Yes, they can potentially help manage a flea problem, but they cannot 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 flea control

Fleas really like areas where there is a lot of humidity and rain, so they can be found in warm, humid areas​​​​​​. If you think you might have a flea problem, get in contact with Ehrlich today. 

Frequently asked questions

The best homemade flea killer often combines ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, and witch hazel, creating a spray effective for household surfaces. However, while this may prevent or kill fleas on sight, it’s not an effective way to handle a flea infestation – the only way to do that is by hiring a professional pest control service.

To kill fleas on contact, you can use dish soap traps. Place a shallow bowl or plate filled with warm water and a few drops of dish soap in rooms with flea activity. Fleas are drawn to the water, and the soap traps them on contact. Leave the trap overnight and refresh it daily. However, please note, this won’t prevent an infestation.

A semi effective homemade flea spray combines equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water, which can be used on surfaces where fleas are active. 

Vinegar alone may not kill fleas instantly but can be an effective repellent over time. When combined with water in a spray, the acidity helps deter fleas from treated areas, though it may take several applications over a few days to see noticeable results.

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