Control Fleas Naturally with Common Household Items

Flea season is upon us. If you have ever had an infestation, you know you have to combat fleas from many angles to control and eliminate these hopping, opportunistic parasitic pests. One of the most powerful agents in reducing flea populations is one of the most safest: Read on to find comprehensive ways to control these pests from making you and your pet's lives miserable with crawling, biting, itching and scratching!

Step 1 Safe ingredient you have on hand!

Salt. Yes. Regular, everyday, plain old, put it on your fried eggs, salt. Can it be used effectively against large infestations of fleas? Yes. Salting and vacuuming your floors and furniture kills the flea's eggs by dehydrating them. If you take this route-you will be pleased with results. You'll have to be diligent and persistent with treatment to be really effective. But with patience it can be done.
I have also read about using borax. But the down side to borax is it can hold moisture. So using on your carpets can be a risk if you don't get all of the powdered vacuumed up, it can lead to problems later.

Comments

[redstick17]

I came to this board about a week ago frustrated with my flea problem.  Thanks to you guy's the fleas are no longer a problem.  After reading your comments I purchased salt and vinegar.  Per your instructions I sprinkled the salt around all of the baseboards and let it stay there for about three days.  Last weekend we vacuumed, cleaned all the baseboards and sprinkled again with salt.  We also added vinegar to their water, and I hope I wasn't wrong but I sprayed the cats with vinegar also.  As of today we are no longer having a problem with fleas.  Thank you so very mcuh. 

[0ctober]

I want to THANK for whoever posted this. My husband and I were at ODDS end with these pests!! After months of flea collars, sprays, powders, money spent and down the drain yesterday I saw this article (SALT!) Who knew? I wish I would have known this before. I hated putting poison on our pets and in our home. We even spent good portion of money having someone come in and spray, also with the advantage and frontline -NOPE didn't work! So now I have put salt EVERYWHERE! Baking soda too, I got my pan with water (dishsoap) and light. I baked my home made "flea terminator dog bones - which I can give if anyone wants it!) I did it yesterday and the DOGS LOVE THEM! I also added a tablespoon of white vinegar to the water as well. I can't wait until this week is over! I am also getting some lemons and using the lemon peels on the carpet as well. Going to get some oils and some cloth for the dogs. I do have one question - what about cat treat recipe for fleas, also can I use the same method of flea collars on cats? I bathed them as well they had like few on them not lot. My lab seems to have the MOST! The other dog did have alot yesterday (boxer, lab mix) but today he's looks CLEAN! Lastnight he was actually sleeping peacefully, he wasnt stratching every five seconds! I also like the salt idea because when they are bathed they rub everywhere so it just goes on their coats and the fleas hate that! I will let you know how it goes by the 9th day! We are following the instructions very carefully!

[aubrurnhair54]

Boy, do I have battle scars from bathing my cats :/ I just walked through the whole house with the big salt shaker from the stove. I will vacuum tomorrow evening. I want those awful bugs to get a good dose of it. I hate what they do to my little babies. My poor cats have had bald butts for the past two months. I have purchased the whole gammit of flea products aimed at cats. Still, the fleas live and haunt the poor things.
I walked into my carpeted area the other day wearing white socks, white sweat pants and a light grey sweatshirt. Now that was an eye opening experience. Someone else wrote about plucking them off of themself and putting them in water with soap. I found myself doing the same thing. Ever try to crush a flea? It is almost impossible. I even tried rubbing the bottom of a flat bottom glass on one and it jumped after I stopped. We must be missing the boat here. With a hard shell like that, maybe we shoud be experimenting on them for a cure for osteo porosus...I know I probably spelled it wrong...but you know what I mean. I have been doing the white vinegar in the food, not the water on a daily basis. Basically, I put a capful in every 5.5 ounce can. I did a little research on the all natural foods they sell in the refrig section of the supermarket. THEY put white vinegar in there too. At least if I see the food disappear, I know they are getting the vinegar. I hesitate to put it in the water. Cats are a breed all their own. They will avoid the water to the point of dehydration if they do not like what is in it. I know some people asked about giving a cat the same treatment as a dog. Do the research first. Definately commercial flea treatments are species specific. You cannot use "dog" flea treatments on cats. You could kill the poor little thing. Nobody wants to do that.

[lilredcin]

aubrurnhair54:
Let me tell you how I bathe my cat. This is no fluke. I have even taken a cat to a college class and given him a bath as a demonstration. If anything would set a cat off, that would. I have even bathed cats that aren't mine.

Take a big breath and relax. Your state of mind will influence his.

Start with a clean counter next to the kitchen sink. Put towels on it. Don't have them so close to the sink that the cat could grab it. Get your shampoo opened and handy. Consider which hand will be easier for you to hold the cat and which to wash and set up your towels and sinks accordingly.

Now, plug the side of the sink you'll be using to bathe the cat. In the other side, start the water. Get it to the temperature you want. Turn the pressure down to a slow flow - on that side.

Put your cat into the empty, plugged up side of the sink, facing the wall. I have bathed a cat with and without a towel in the sink. Your choice. Let him watch the water for a few seconds. With your washing hand, cup your hand, fill it with water and "pet" your cat with it. Start on his back, not his head. Do this several times. Slowly move the faucet over to his side of the sink but not ON him. Continue "petting" him with water. If he's relatively calm, increase the water pressure so the sink is slowly filling. Remember, you're washing with one hand and restraining him gently with the other.

Put some shampoo on him and water-pet and wash him. Have a little PLASTIC cup handy so you can scoop some of the water from his side of the sink and pour it over him (it has soap in it - might as well use it to the max).

Continue washing until you are satisfied that he is clean. GENTLY remove the plug and let the water drain WHILE you are filling that cup with clean water and gently pouring it over him. Scratch and pet him frequently. Talk to him.

When you are all done, let him drip a little and then put him on the towels and wrap him up gently but quickly. Use old towels. If he has his claws he might snag them a little.

Drying is the hardest because he wants to run away. Dry him as best you can and then release him in a warm room. Don't let him outside until he is dry.

I hope this works for you as it has for me.

[Treasure Tabby]

Currently try this method on little but annoying infestation of fleas. So far it has worked on my kitty's bed. But it takes a few hours.
I will how ever do further testing.

I really hope for further success since natural flea solutions are rather hard to come by where I am. For some reason the poisonous stuff is preferred where I come from. :(

[thegreenchristian87]

Awesome thank you for posting this :)

[praful777]

It is very nice to see this kind of article on your site.I have this Fleas problem in my home and you have give me the solution.You have really given a very important information about treatment against Fleas.Salting and vacuuming your floors and furniture kills the flea's eggs by dehydrating them.I have also read about using borax. But the down side to borax is it can hold moisture.



home remedies for alcohol poisoning

[ChristinaLynn]

can I put salt direclty on my cats AND everywhere else??? I don't have carpet, only a few rugs on hardwood floors. My cats have NEVER been outside but it's "flea season" i hear...This is the first (and hopefully the last) flea issue i've ever had...I used Advantage on my 2 kitties and it seems to have helped, but not much. I've been vacuuming daily (sometimes more than once daily) and it's been a few weeks. They are due to have another treatment on the 20th of this month. Should i do the advantage again??? I am going to sprinkl salt on my rugs and leave it for a few hours (or maybe a day) and then vacuum it up. How many times should this be done? Daily? several times a day??
Should i try the dishwashing soap AND the salt??? PLEEEASE HELP!!!

[Boowiggins]

I had a friend who had a pup who was a fleaherder. She used salt on her carpets and rugs and slaughtered them all... The fleas, not the pup...

When my cat was kittenly she too was a fleaherder and the above tactic worked the first time I tried it. I think that the vacuuming is the most important, even more than the salting, but who wants to spend their instructable time doing chores?

Use the salt - it makes your floors tastier too!

[whisperonthewind]

Better late than never, I guess, but I wanted to tell the whole group that if a friend's dog/cat comes to visit (with them, naturally) and they happen to have fleas, you would be better off to begin preventive treatment immediately on your home. Even if you don't have a pet! It only takes one mama flea, and you will be loaded with them in a week or two. And they will continue. IF there are no pets in your home, fleas will gravitate to the next available source - humans.

So treat. If you don't have pets or small children, you can safely sprinkle boric acid powder - drug store, a couple bucks for a small jar which should be plenty - along the edges of carpet, in furniture, bedding, etc. Anyplace a flea can hide. Leave it there, if you can. If you have kids, try to leave it for a few hours, anyway, before vacuuming up the excess.

You can also dissolve it in water - I use 1 tsp per cup, sometimes a little stronger - and spray it along baseboards, window sills, and on the carpet - after it dries it will be safe. DON'T use this on linoleum or tile floors - it will be slick as you know what, and you could slip and fall even after it's dry.

This will kill ants, too. Quickly. Watch them squirm. Doesn't seem to work on spiders.

[BtheBike]

Powdering the Salt makes it More effective . Put it in the Blender until the grains are dust .
Borax has Boric acid . Its better to just get powdered Boric acid .

I mixed powdered salt and boric acid in an old carpet powder can.
Shake it in the corners ,base boards, everywhere. It will dehydrate
insects . They are toast .

[rcowgirl_6]

I use dishsoap, I spray my yard with it twice a year, I use a miracle grow container that hooks up to water hose, fill it with dish soap (any kind you want) and water yard. For dogs, I bathe them with it, it smells good, doesnt dry skin and kills fleas instantly. For carpets, I use a little dish soap in my carpet shampooer and done, carpets are clean, house smells great and fleas dead, For furniture, I put water and dishsoap in spray bottle and lightly spray furniture, fleas dead. (vacuum after dry) its the same as spraying fabreeze. It does not hurt fabrics at all. For cats I do same thing, spary bottle, lightly spray them and wipe clean, you will see all the fleas on washcloth. I brought home a stray cat once that had fleas and didnt know it, I own 5 cats and 5 dogs, it was bad and fast. Dishsoap on everything and I have never had another flea. That was 4 years ago. Its nice because they make dishsoap in very nice scents now. Nematodes work very well in yard too, you can buy them and any feed store for around 10.00. All animal shelters use dishsoap to kill leas and other skin conditions because its so cheap and easy. One treatment and your done forever.

[dongath]

I like this idea. What ratio of water to dishsoap? I use alot of dishsoap as I am a bus mechanic. It works great in the shower for getting oil and grease out of the hair and I now use it as a total body wash. Also keeps the shower floor cleaner.

[elizk]

You can also put a flea collar inside your vacuum bag or cannister to kill any fleas you vacuum up or eucalyptus peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball or small piece of felt will hold the oil well. If you have to buy vaccum bags this will save on the cost.

[rcowgirl_6]

Spray your house with pure lavender w/water. Fleas dont like that. If you work outside and get jigger bites, put flea collar around bottom of pants one on each leg and no jigger bites. Dishsoap best thing for fleas and other bugs. You can also spray the lavander oil on you and kids and pets and no mosqiuto bites for anyone and you smell good too.

[whyhello2u]

You can also put plain old salt in the vacuum bags to kill the fleas and eggs.

[kmpcarter]

Where do you buy the oil?

[myrrhmaid]

You can get citronella repellent oils at a natural foods store. They often come in a blend. You can also make your own with lavender, eucalyptus and lemon or orange oil. Essential oils are like a solvent and will evaporate. Always use cautions as these are highly concentrated and can be caustic to certain surfaces, like finished wood. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Treasure Tabby]

I've also seen natural essential oils being sold at some pharmacies and bulk food stores.

[kmodek]

 What do I do if I have all cats, no carpet?

[rcowgirl_6]

Read rcowgirl_6 other post in this page. Mop floor with a little water and dishsoap. Dishsoap also works to kill bugs in garden but wont hurt flowers, fruits or veggies, it also kills and keeps away wasp's, hornets, spiders, scopions and many more things you dont want in yard. Dishsoap works great for almost anything and it cleans fabulously.

[myrrhmaid]

Besides the obvious-getting rid of the cats and getting carpeting-haha just kidding!  :)P
Try the rock salt tied off in some pantyhose scattered in various corners where dirt collects, under couch cushions, end tables-any areas the cats inhabit..

[Texasgreenie]

The best remedy I've ever used is beneficial nemetodes.  You buy them on sponges (don't bother with any other kind), mix them in water, put them in a hose end sprayer and spray the yard good late in the evening or early in the morning.  3 weeks later, no fleas.   Doesn't do anything for the ones in the house, but the salt trick works great in the house.  I live way out in the "boonies" and have all sorts of critters passing through.  The nemetodes are the best $20 I ever spent for flea control.  If you think it's your neighbor's animals causing the problem, just over spray into their yard a little.  The nemetodes eat the larva. When they finish your yard, they move to the next one.  Bonus:  no grub worms either!  They love termite larva too.

[Robyn K.]

I don't think Vets realise yet that pets presented to them ill, have been given garlic (well-meaning or even recommended like this forum) - by their owners. I would not be experimenting with any raw or fresh garlic when trying to rid your pet of fleas. The volatile component of garlic is Sulphur, and is the nasty Burning activity if you've ever ingested it.  Literally!  It burns in humans & animals have FAR more delicate stomach lining not made to handle the highest of Sulphur foods - garlic. I'd stick with "milder" forms like dry or oil capsule drops once or twice wk. occasionally, only to be safe as has been suggested. Sadly, I lost my pet giving a clove of garlic not quite cooked enough, meant as a worm deterrent. Vet couldn't help as I didn't relate burning garlic until months later.  Tonight I tried small amounts of Cider Vinegar & Brewers Yeast in my several cats' tuna food. I can tell it HAS worked. I think Vinegar could be dangerous in animals'  only source of water if refused. Cider Vinegar may not be entirely compatible either. It's action is known as "highly acidic". I'd be going it easy, once per week, if that. I've boiled Rosemary leaves as a spray.

[mazinggrace]

I live in Houston and we have fleas of course. My problem, neighbors who have dogs outside who do not take care of them. I have found that feeding my dogs garlic in their food repels fleas. Fleas hate the taste and after you start to feed garlic to your dogs regularly it infuses with the blood to give it a garlic like taste. Another thing I found a recipe for an Herbal Flea Collar. 1 tsp. Alcohol 1 Drop cedarwood oil 1 Drop lavender oil 1 Drop citronella 1 Drop thyme 4 Garlic Capsules 1 Clothe dog collar Mix all the liquid ingredients in a bowl, pop the garlic capsules and mix well with the rest of the liquids. Place the collar in the bowl and allow it to soak all the ingredients and dry. Put on your dog. I suggest repeating this monthly if at all possible. I will say though I love feeding my dogs garlic, although you will notice their breathe will wreak of garlic, but in some cases it beats dog breathe. Just use a pinch of the dried stuff or one capsule in their food.

[byoho]

PLEASE do not give your dogs garlic!  Everyone knows chocolate can kill a dog, but I learned as a former vet tech that garlic, onions, grapes and raisins can also make them sick or even kill them.  Some dogs are more sensitive to these foods than others, so please don't say  "oh, I've fed fluffy grapes for years and she's fine."  Some of the components of these foods slowly accumulate in the system, others have a stronger affect if the animal is feeling under the weather and has a compromised immune system.  Watching a beloved pet suffer/die from pancreatitis is heart wrenching.   

[mazinggrace]

Well I agree, Garlic in large doses digested by your K9 can make your dogs very sick. And it can be fatal after long time exposure. That is why the recipe only calls for the garlic capsules to be soaked onto the collar. Naturally fleas do not like the smell nor the taste of garlic. But after 30 years of raising dogs a small amount in their food, and I mean minimal can help control fleas. It is very natural and I have never had issues applying a small amount of garlic to their food when the fleas get bad in the summer time. None of my dogs have had any issues with fleas nor with side affects of garlic. But again I use it sparingly. 

[myrrhmaid]

Nice recipe! Thanks for taking the time to post!

[manicmonday]

The key is using a chemical called "Insect Growth Regulator". It prevents the sub-adult metamorphosis to adult flea. It's easy, cheap and safe to use with normal common sense precautions.

[ktalex]

cheaplol ur funny.

[kmpcarter]

I would like to know where you found it and what you consider cheap! I am interested in any information you can give me.

[paqrat]

I use a simple method I read about some years back. It only kills fleas, does nothing about the eggs. Take a shallow pan, fill it partially full of water and add a drop or two of detergent to the water. Pllace the pan where it will not be tipped over but where there seems to be a center of flea activity. The fleas are attracted to the water. When they hop in they sink due to the action of the detergent on the surface tension of the water. The more that do not live to bite you and your pets the fewer that will be breeding. I have a tom cat and to the best of my knowledge he has not attempted to drink from the pan. and even if he did the amount of detergent is negligible. I believe fleas are photophobic so if you have strong lighting in the area it probably will not work until the lights are turned off.

[spydyr]

I do something similar with 50% Isopropol Alcohol, except I catch them while biting me and drop them into a bowl full. Averaged about 20 an hour on day 1, then by week 2 It was 1 every couple hours.

[Bean416]

How long should you leave the salt down for?

[greenoakdoc]

Borax is toxic to cats. If a cat gets borax on its coat and ingests it through grooming the result can be a catastrophic metabolic acidosis and death in as little as four hours. Please don't use borax for flea control in environments shared by cats.

[hishealer]

My cats thank you! I was about to use this to kill the roaches... Now on to plan B...

[Christinna]

I didn't know that, thank you.

[shadeaux]

Any flea treatment not completely organic(and even some of those) are toxic in one way or another. And those spot treaments are horrible. Just because the label says it's safe doesn't make it so.A lot of pet owners lose thier pets to cancers that start in the subcutaneous layer of fat where those treatments accumulate. That said, I have to say that the best flea treatment I've ever used(and I use it on ALL of my furry friends) is plain old white vinegar. Not only can they be bathed in it, but if you put a tablespoon of white vinegar per gallon of water, and make that thier only drinking water, you won't see a flea on your pets ever again. I have never had an animal react badly to it, or refuse to drink it- including ferrets and rats. The dog we currently have was given to us so infested with fleas that when we wet him to bathe him, the water immediately turned reddish brown from all the flea feces.We did nothing but give him vinegar in his water, and he was flea-free within a week.

[Scammah]

About how much do you normally put in the water?

[myrrhmaid]

I've been adding a tablespoon apple cider vinegar to about 3 cups water.