Top 4 home remedies for flea infestation on pets
If you are a pet owner, you probably already know that fleas are a huge source of trouble in your and your furry companion’s life. Not only do fleas irritate your pet and cause excessive scratching but they also lay eggs around your house, becoming a long-term health hazard. If you are wary of using chemical products to get rid of fleas on your pet, try some home remedies to fight flea infestation on pets.
Lemon spray
This citrus fruit can both repel and help get rid of fleas. While there are many ways of using lemon against fleas, one simple way is to make a lemon spray. For this, cut up a lemon, add it to a pint of water, and bring the mixture to a boil. Let the solution sit overnight and add it to a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the sofa, carpet, pet bedding, and even on your pet.
Food-grade diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is a fine, white, silica-based powder made from fossilized remains of tiny organisms called diatoms. Fleas dry out and die on coming into contact with this substance. You can sprinkle it liberally in areas where you see high flea activity, such as carpets. However, make sure to use food-grade diatomaceous earth as it is non toxic to humans and animals.
Rosemary powder
Fleas don’t like the smell of rosemary, making it an excellent repellent. Prepare rosemary powder by placing it with some rue, wormwood, fennel, and peppermint into a mortar and pestle and grinding it into a powder. You can sprinkle this powder on your furniture, carpets, pet bedding, and other places with high flea activity to deter them from coming back.
Dish soap mixed with warm water
If you don’t want to spray anything on your soft furnishings, consider making a flea repellent using dish soap. This is one of the easiest home remedies for flea infestation on pets. You only need to mix warm water and dish soap in a bowl and keep it in the place with most flea activity. The highly viscous nature of this mixture acts as glue, trapping and killing these pests. Since fleas are mainly nocturnal insects, use this remedy at night to trap maximum fleas.
Apart from trying home remedies for flea infestation on pets, you must have a flea comb. This special comb has closely spaced teeth that can remove fleas and even their eggs from your pet’s coat, making it a great solution for preventing flea infestation in the future. It is advisable to dip the comb in soapy water after each stroke to kill all the fleas and eggs the comb catches.
