How to Naturally Cut Down on Fleas in the Home

More and more people are becoming eco-conscious and looking for ways to cut chemicals out of their lives. The truth is that fleas have been a problem for millennia, and the chemical combinations most often used today are less than a century old. Do you think the people of the past just put up with them? There are a lot of natural home remedies for fleas, but thanks to eco-friendly manufacturers there are also some great products that take out the guesswork. Here are some options.

Dawn and Vinegar

Bathe your pet in Dawn dish soap and rinse with apple cider vinegar. This will kill the fleas on your pet, but it will not repel them. This is only the first step. You’ll have about a day, maybe two, to get the rest of your home treated. Although Dawn is not necessarily “all natural,” it is well established as an eco-friendly product.

Vacuum with Baking Soda

This step can take some time and effort, but it will be entirely worth it. Get plain baking soda and sprinkle it on all of the carpet in the house, doing one room at a time. Take a hard bristle cleaning brush and work the carpet in small circular motions. This pulls fleas out of the depths of the carpet and into the baking soda. Quickly vacuum the entire room, and then move on to the next. 

Citrus Sprays

Some people believe that citrus sprays, made up of at least fresh lemon juice, are effective to kill fleas on fabrics and furniture. Spraying the carpets after vacuuming and spraying furniture well could cut down on the flea population. Keep in mind that too much citrus can bleach some fabrics. 

Natural Herbal Sprays

Over the centuries, wise women and shamans have used herbs for a million different things, including pest repellant. With the surges in demand for natural remedies, many of these herbal mixtures are being combined to create highly effective and all natural herbal sprays that really aren’t that expensive.

If you have questions about how to protect your home and pet from fleas this summer, contact us today for more information.