Fleas are annoying insects that can cause problems for pets and people alike. If you've spotted them in your home but are concerned that insecticides may be harmful, try some natural remedies. You will have to fight the infestation on several fronts, so clean your house, brush your furry friend and take the necessary steps to eliminate them in the garden. It could take 3-4 months, but if you are patient and persistent, you will be able to kill them without using toxic substances.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Cleaning the House
Step 1. Vacuum your pet's floors, upholstery and bed every day
Focus especially on the areas most frequented by your furry friend, on the spots that are not exposed to sunlight and wherever you have seen fleas, encrustations of blood or excrement. Remove the cushions when you throw it on the furniture, so you can reach every nook and cranny.
- Make sure you vacuum under furniture, behind doors, along baseboards and in tight spots.
- If your home is the victim of an infestation, vacuum every day. Use it at least once a week even if you have never noticed fleas.
- Once filled, close the bag in a plastic bag, then throw it in an outside bin with a lid.
Step 2. Wash the carpets, sheets and fabric upholstery of the doghouse in hot water
In the event of an infestation, put sheets, blankets, pillow cases, kennel covers and smaller rugs in the washing machine and wash everything every week, then transfer it to the dryer. Select the highest temperature allowed by the washing instructions for both laundry and drying.
If the kennel cover is not washable, throw it away as a precaution
Step 3. Use steam cleaning on carpets and furniture upholstery
If you don't have a steam cleaner you can hire one or hire a specialized company. Be sure to test the cleaning solution on a hidden area before using it on carpets and furniture.
Steam cleaning kills fleas and larvae, but some eggs survive. It may take 3-4 months to hatch, so keep vacuuming every day. Use the steam cleaner every 1-2 months until you have disinfected the whole house
Step 4. Try using a dehumidifier to reduce indoor humidity
Eggs need at least 50% humidity to grow and hatch. You could make your home less hospitable to these insects by using a hygrometer and dehumidifier. Keep in mind that you will still need to vacuum, wash the sheets, and take other steps to keep the infestation under control.
Decide how many dehumidifiers you can install considering the size of the house and the layout of the rooms. A medium-sized dehumidifier allows you to absorb about 20 liters of water present in the air within 24 hours, therefore it is recommended in rooms that do not exceed 140 square meters
Step 5. Use flea traps to track your progress
They consist of strips of sticky paper or bowls of water mounted under a light bulb. The heat of the light attracts these insects, which get stuck on the paper or in the water. Since you have taken steps to combat the infestation, this system will allow you to see if the fleas are gradually decreasing based on how many are trapped.
- If 1-2 months pass and the number of fleas caught does not change, you may want to call an exterminator.
- It's a great way to keep the severity of the problem under control, but it only catches adult fleas. This alone is not enough to stop the infestation.
Step 6. Treat your home, pets and garden at the same time
The only way that allows you to handle the problem is to fight on several fronts. If you clean your home without taking the necessary steps to treat your furry friends, you will face a new infestation.
Be patient. It may take 3-4 months before you are able to take control of the situation
Part 2 of 3: Treating Pets
Step 1. Wash your furry friend at least once a week
Use a cat or dog shampoo. Avoid what you use to wash your hair. Start from the head and neck so fleas don't rise to your eyes, mouth, and ears.
Limit yourself to one bath per week so as not to irritate your four-legged companion's skin. An oatmeal-based moisturizing shampoo can prevent excessive skin dryness
Step 2. Use a flea comb every day
Choose one with fine teeth and pass it at least once a day on your pet's dry coat. Soak it regularly in a cup full of hot soapy water or a mixture of equal parts alcohol and water to kill any fleas it has caught.
Watch out for jumping fleas. Even if you need to do this on dry fur, the bathtub is a great place to brush your pet. You will have less difficulty seeing fleas against a smooth, white surface
Step 3. Try spraying a citrus-based solution
Pour 450 ml of water into a saucepan and add a thinly sliced lemon. Bring everything to a boil, then turn off the heat, cover and let it sit overnight. Strain the liquid into a spray bottle, then spray the solution on your furry friend by rubbing it all over his fur.
- You could also purchase citrus spray over the Internet or at a pet supply store.
- Citrus fruits are a flea deterrent, but are effective for up to 24 hours. Also, if applied daily in the form of a solution, they can irritate the skin of the animal. At first, try spraying it every 3-4 days, and if you don't see any signs of irritation, use it more frequently.
- Avoid spraying it near the nose. Stop the treatment if you notice redness or dryness of the skin or if you see your furry friend scratching himself constantly.
- It is always best to consult with your vet before using a home-prepared remedy.
Step 4. Keep it indoors as much as possible
If you have a cat, try not to let him out. If you have a dog, take him outside just to allow him to do his business. When walking, avoid shady and humid areas with lots of plants.
If you limit the time he spends outdoors, he will be less exposed to fleas
Part 3 of 3: Eliminating Fleas Outside
Step 1. Mow the lawn and rake it to remove leaves
Keep outdoor areas where your furry friend has a habit of spending time clean. Mow the grass and pull out the weeds to ventilate the darkest, dampest, and coldest parts and expose them to sunlight. After mowing, remove any grass clippings and collect any leaves and other debris that have accumulated on the ground.
Fleas thrive in humid, shady areas. By mowing the lawn, raking it and removing debris, you will make the garden a less hospitable environment for these insects
Step 2. Spread the beneficial nematodes in early spring
Beneficial nematodes are tiny worms that eat flea larvae. You can purchase them at a nursery or garden supply store. Look for a product specially formulated for flea killing and apply it to your lawn and garden following the directions.
- Focus especially on the areas your pet most frequent. The best time to use nematodes is at the beginning of flea season or when spring begins.
- Dilute a package containing millions of microscopic nematodes with water, then spread the mixture with a sprayer or watering can. During the spring and summer, water the soil whenever it starts to dry out.
- There is no health hazard! These parasites are neither harmful to people nor to pets.
Step 3. Use diatomaceous earth every 7-10 days
Go to a gardening store and buy one that is suitable for plants. Spread it on the lawn by focusing on the most shaded spots and the favorite areas of your furry friend.
- The best time to use diatomaceous earth is in the morning. Avoid applying it on windy or rainy days and do not spread it near pets. If inhaled, it can irritate the respiratory tract.
- Diatomaceous earth (or diatomaceous earth) is a mineral powder that tears apart and dehydrates fleas. Over time it loses its effectiveness, so you will have to reapply it weekly, after a rainy or windy day and after watering the lawn.
Step 4. Try growing some mint in the garden or in a pot
Poleggio is a plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family that has been used for centuries as an insect repellent. Grow it in the garden to keep fleas away or keep it indoors. It is toxic to cats and dogs, so make sure your furry friends don't ingest it.
- Peppermint essential oil is sometimes used as a flea repellent, but it can be harmful to pets. Do not apply it to the skin, food or bed of your little friends.
- If you grow it in the garden, pluck the sprouts regularly to prevent them from invading your garden. Like other plants belonging to the same family, it spreads aggressively. However, by placing it in a pot and planting it in the ground, you can keep its growth in check.
Advice
- If you want to check for fleas anywhere in your home or garden, put on a pair of white socks, pull them up to your knees, and walk around the presumably infested area. If there are, they will jump on the socks and will be visible against the white background.
- If natural remedies aren't effective, consider giving your furry friend a parasite treatment. On the market you can find less aggressive substances; consult your vet to find out which flea and tick prevention products contain safer ingredients.
- Although they are more expensive, flea prevention products based on lufenuron, nitenpyram, or spinosad to be administered orally are safer than topical treatments.
- If a topical treatment is the only solution, opt for a product containing s-methoprene or pyriproxyphene. Avoid those made with imidacloprid, dinotefuran, tetrachlorvinphos, carbaril and propoxur.
