Got a flea problem? You need natural flea remedies for the home that are non-toxic. Once you actually see one flea, chances are that you have MANY more than that.
And if your pet is like mine, he will bite huge holes as he gets reactions – what is a little flea bite becomes so much worse, so fast! In addition, we have young children. So I need a non-toxic, DIY flea solution that is completely safe for my kids and effective for my pup!
16 Non-Toxic Home Remedies for Fleas
How to Get Rid of Fleas? What products should you use? Are there effective home remedies for fleas?
After reading this post, you’ll be able to get rid of fleas once and for all! Using just items from your kitchen!
Note: We’re not vets or pet professionals, so if you have any concerns with these ideas to get rid of fleas naturally, talk with your vet first.
1. Treat Your Dog’s Fleas First.
Create a Soapy Salt Mixture as a Non-Toxic Flea Solution Shampoo for Dogs as an easy flea shampoo.
This is one of my favorite go-to Dawn dish soap hacks! If you want to get rid of fleas naturally, make a dog scrub flea treatment shampoo out of Dawn dish detergent (the blue kind) and salt. I don’t have exact amounts, we just pour a glop of dawn and add a rounded teaspoon of salt. Mix it with our hands and shampoo our pup. Let the soap sit on your pup for several minutes before rinsing The soap kills the adult fleas while the salt suffocates the eggs.
You may see dead fleas falling off your dog in the bath. The diy flea soap is drying (part of what kills the fleas) so afterwards, consider using coconut oil and tea trea oil (one drop to a tablespoon of coconut oil, make sure its well-dilluted) and make a coat gloss. This will help their skin not feel as dry following the bath.
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2. Sprinkle Your Upholstery to Prevent Fleas
You’ll need a homemade Flea-Killing Upholstery Cleaner. As you know, if your pets have fleas, they’re likely on your furniture, too. Use this homemade upholstery cleaner made with borax, baking soda, and essential oils to get rid of fleas and dust mites on upholstery. Â
That is why you will need to create an upholstry cleaner. Mix 1/3 borax with 2/3 baking soda. Add several drops of essential oils, we suggest using Tea Trea Oil as it is a bug deterent. Sprinkle the solution on all upholstry and carpet. Let it set for about 15 minutes and then vacuum well. Wear a mask so you dont inhale the borax and oils According to the NLM’s Toxicology Data Network, borax can be broken down when either inhaled or swallowed (it is dangerous when swallowed!). BUT its not somethnig I would suggest!! Wear a mask when you’re vacuuming!
It works on mattresses, sofas, chairs, rugs, and dog beds too!
3. What Kills Fleas Instantly and Naturally? Drowning!Â
You can drown fleas with a lamp and a bowl of soapy water!! IT WORKS! Added perk to this Non-Toxic Flea hack is it also gets rid of other small insect issues like fruit flies or gnats. What do you need to do to drown your fleas? Use a Lamp – Yup! For a cheap but effective option, set up a lamp over a bowl of sudsy water overnight. (Make sure your pets can’t drink the sudsy water – so this might be better for crated pets). The fleas will gravitate toward the light and be caught in the bowl and drown. Use this at night and in the morning you will see all the buggers you caught. Dump and re-fill the next night.
Note: This remedy will work in any home but seems to work best in homes without carpet.
4. Treat Your Carpet for Fleas with Natural Flea Powder
Diatomaceous earth is insects’ worst enemy!! We have used them to stop ants from coming indoors, and to get rid of fleas! Use diatomaceous earth to make your own natural flea powder. It’s so amazing that it also repels ticks, ants, spiders, mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs – all that with using only all-natural ingredients. This is one of the best home remedies to get rid of fleas! Put it into a shaker, you can sprinkle it safely in beds, stairs, pet beddings and in all the places where it is hard to treat. You can use the earth outside and inside.
You can brush this into your pet as well, just avoid inhaling the dust. Also, be sure to dispose of your vacuum contents after you are done vacuuming so the bugs don’t escape the vacuum. Remember to vacuum and re-treat your carpets every 7 days for three weeks. The life cycle of the fleas is about 2 weeks, following a weekly vacuuming schedule will help you capture them before they bite.
5. Use Lemon Juice and a Flea Comb
Natural flea repellents are a little trickier for cats than dogs since they are too sensitive for essential oils. Instead of trying essential oils on your feline, opt for natural lemon juice on a flea comb. This home remedy for cats also works on dogs with sensitive skin, or young puppies and the citrus smell is lovely.
The lemon scent helps deter fleas, and the comb will help you remove any adult fleas on your kitty or pup.
6. Keep Fleas Away With TreatsÂ
Normally you think of flea prevention happening externally, but you can also work internally to prevent fleas. Make homemade flea prevention dog treats.
You’ll have no trouble getting your furry friend to eat these flea-prevention dog treats. They use only 2 simple ingredients: coconut oil and brewer’s yeast. Easy! BUT this isn’t a fast solution. Your dog needs to have the food build up in his system, so you will want to start in early Spring so by the time it’s summer your dog has protection.
7. Use a Dehumidifier to Combat Fleas
Fleas thrive in humid environments. If you have a dehumidifier, turn it on for a couple of days to remove some moisture from the air in the rooms where you’re having trouble with fleas. Fleas and most insects thrive in environments with normal humidity levels. When you add a dehumidifier to your home it will make the insects want to seek a different home.
8. Nematodes to Treat Your Yard for Flea Control
This may sound a little strange, but have you thought about applying nematodes to your yard? That’s right… roundworms. You can buy tubs of them from your local garden shop or your hardware store! I couldn’t find them at the big-name stores, they were in the farming center. LOVE THEM!! They’re natural parasites to fleas, and within a month, your yard should be rid of fleas for good. One canister will treat the average yard, AND in time, your neighbors as well because no more flea infestation.
Oh, and added perk!! Ants!! Fire ants!!
9. Will Vinegar Kill Fleas?? YES!! It does!Â
Apple cider vinegar is a flea deterrent taken both internally and externally. You can add a tablespoon (depending on your dog’s size) into their water bowl. The acids and enzymes in Apple Cider Vinegar will help your dog have a healthy gut and become less appealing to pests. Read the Dog Flea Vinegar Cure post for recommendations based on your dog’s weight.
You can also dip your dog in a vinegar rinse! It will kill fleas and your pet’s fur will feel oh. so. soft! Or a spray bottle of water and vinegar solution…
10. Rub Coconut Oil Into Your Dog’s FurÂ
Rub coconut oil into your dog’s fur to kill fleas within just a few minutes. You may want to put a sweater on your dog to keep him from licking it, although it’s safe if he does. The purpose of the oil is to smother the fleas and it doesn’t work as well if consumed! ha! Coconut oil is one of my dog’s favorite treats!! He’ll just eat it by the spoonful!
11. Create Your Own DIY Dog Flea Collar
Make a flea and tick collar yourself by soaking your dog’s cloth collar in a mixture of witch hazel, essential oils like citronella, cedar or rosemary oil. Make sure the oils are properly diluted before use, but essential oils are one of the easiest and safest home remedies for fleas on dogs. As it is on their collar risk of ingesting the oils drops considerably. (Note: Do NOT use this treatment on cats. Purchase a flea collar instead.)
P.S. If you don’t have essential oils or are concerned about using them – you can also dip the color into Vodka let it soak and then dry before putting the collar back on your pet.
12. Get Rid of Fleas with Landscaping Choices
Consider adding some plants that naturally repel fleas to your landscaping. Lavender, mint, sage, and rosemary, lemongrass, they are all excellent choices. These herbs, grasses, and bushes have scents that most pesks avoid. By planting them near the entrance of your home you will protect your home and pets from bugs including fleas – but also bugs like gnats, mosquitos, and other flying nusances.Â
Added bonus: Your yard will smell great, and you’ll have some fresh herbs to use when cooking!
13. Rosemary Dog Dip as a Non-Toxic Flea Solution
If you’ve followed the earlier advice, you have rosemary or sage planted in your yard. Cut several branches of rosemary and boil it in water to make a form of tea. This is perfectly safe for your pet to lap up as long as you avoid the mint and lavender. Pour the tea into a bath and dip your dogs. They will smell fresh and fleas will avoid them as the scent lasts. You should do this daily if you have a really bad infestation.
15. Create Homemade Flea RepellentÂ
Brew a natural flea repellent made of witch hazel, sliced lemons, and lavender. This treatment actually smells really good, and it’s easy to apply to your pet when you put it in a squirt bottle. Use a spring of fresh lavender instead of essential oils, as essential oils are too strong for cats.  If you want to use this flea remedy on your cat, test it first. If your cat runs away, omit the lavender.
16. Use Bug-Repelling Sachets. Â
Half the battle of getting rid of fleas is prevention. The places where you are most likely to have flea eggs waiting to hatch are the bedding and “special sitting places” where your pet would most likely be… the best solution is sachets!! Replace a portion of the stuffing with a small cloth bag filled with one of these pesk-repelling herbs:
- Lemon peels
- Cedar shavings
- Lavender flowers
- Lemon grasses
- Rosemary sprigs
- Peppermint leaves
- Fennel Seeds
How to Get Rid of Fleas Naturally – Final Thoughts
Fleas happen sometimes. It’s just a fact of life but, you can overcome them with these easy home remedies.
Relieve your pet’s misery from the inconvenient little pests with products you already have in your home and that are safe every family member (including the furry ones).
By using home remedies to rid your house of fleas, you will save yourself the hassles and toxic side effects of conventional, chemical-filled flea repellents!
If you have pets, these home remedies for fleas are a MUST! I love that there are so many natural options, too!
what are natural remedies for ring worm on your dog?
I feel that home remedies for fleas is an important thing for all of us homemakers to know- and I love that these are non-toxic ways for how to get rid of fleas, too!
Years ago, we had a horrible flea infestation after our dog picked up fleas from a neighbor’s dog. It was awful! I must have googled How to Get Rid of Fleas 9 bajillion times before I found the Dawn and salt soap hack. That helped so much! Fleas (and lice – ugh!) are my worst nightmares!
Fleas are the WORST for everyone involved and I am always hesitant to start with harsh chemicals. I love how this list of home remedies for fleas offers so many natural options.
You never know when you might need home remedies for fleas–this is a good article to keep handy!
We have 4 dogs – and I love these home remedies for fleas. I try really hard to use environmentally safe products and this will help a lot! thanks!
I really appreciate having less ‘chemical-y’ things to do for fleas.