You know your pet has fleas and the moment you find one you usually swat it out of existence. So, what’s the big deal? Well, consider yourself lucky, if the fleas haven’t already taken over your home.

You’d be astonished to know that had they done so, they’d have produced 222 trillion eggs in just nine months! And these pests are so hardy they can withstand the most frigid winters and can go without eating for months. The bad news is a flea bite can cause anemia, diseases and parasites.

So what do you do for flea control? Well, the first thing you’d do is to reach out for a pesticide and spray it around, unmindful of the consequences. However, as studies have indicated, these strong chemicals can adversely affect the occupants, especially the toddlers. The good news is there are some safe and effective home remedies for fleas available.

Home remedy for flea control

There are a number of home remedies to kill fleas, but to make them lasting, it’s most essential to disinfect your home, so that these fleas don’t find a suitable environment to exist in. The favorite haunt of fleas in your home are your pet’s furnishings. So, wash your dog’s bedding regularly by adding eucalyptus essential oil to the final rinse. This oil is so effective it kills 99% of the house dust mites too! Also, by vacuuming the home thoroughly and sprinkling a fine layer of ordinary table salt over the upholstery and carpets, you can evict these unwelcome guests safely.

Let’s see what other home remedies for getting rid of fleas are:

a. Citrus repellent:

You can make an effective flea repellent from lemon by cutting it into quarters and immersing it in boiling water. This is then steeped overnight to get you the repellent. By spraying this all over your pet, especially behind the ears and generally around the head, and also at the base of the tail and the ‘armpits’, you can rid it of fleas.

b. Aromatherapy repellent:

This repellent is made by adding lavender and cedarwood essential oils to pure almond carrier oil as the base. This is then shaken well and spread over the pet’s skin to keep the fleas away. You can also make effective flea collars by rubbing an essential oil of eucalyptus , tea tree , citronella , lavender or geranium on webbing, rope collar or even a doggy bandanna .

c. Essential oil bath:

If your pet is badly infested, it’d need an essential oil bath. So, draw the bath using a few drops of tea tree or lavender essential oils. An alternative is a herbal flea dip made from fresh rosemary leaf .

d. Internal flea repellents:

Garlic when fed to your dog works wonders. This is because its smell is excreted through the skin making it ‘inhospitable’ for the fleas. Brewer’s yeast tablets also help in controlling fleas. Another good alternative is natural apple cider vinegar that makes the skin more acidic and unpleasant to fleas and ticks.

e. External flea repellents:

Sprinkling diatomaceous earth, generally in the filtration system for swimming pools, all over the yard is an effective way to keep the fleas at bay. You can also put cedar chips along your fence to keep the fleas out. Planting a herb, called tansy, around your pet’s pen will also keep the problem in check. All these external repellents are effective natural home remedies for fleas.

If you have a pet, total eradication of fleas is generally next to impossible, but if you’re diligent and persistent enough, you can control these pests and not only give relief to your pet, but also make your home safe for kids.