How to Get Rid of Fleas Without Dangerous Chemicals

The proven method to rid your home of fleas easily, organically, & economically.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• washer & dryer
• vacuum cleaner
• 2 new vacuum cleaner bags
• moth balls
• table salt
• diatomaceous earth

1. Anything that can be laundered should be washed with warm water, with a full measure of detergent, and dried at a warm temperature. This includes pet bedding, your own bedding, scatter rugs, throw pillows, etc.

2. Put 3 moth balls in a clean vacuum cleaner bag and install it on your vacuum. Thoroughly vacuum carpets as well as bare floors. Move furniture to vacuum underneath where fleas and their eggs may be hiding. Vacuum close to baseboards. Use an attachment to vacuum the surface and underneath couch and chair cushions. When finished, be sure to remove the vacuum cleaner bag immediately and dispose of it in the outside trash can.

3. To kill any fleas and eggs missed by vacuuming, lightly sprinkle table salt or diatomaceous earth on carpets, under chair and sofa cushions, on mattresses, and in areas where pets commonly sleep. Diatomaceous earth is more effective than table salt and can be found at farmer's supply stores such as Cenex. It is a fine powder similar to talc and should be used sparingly to minimize inhalation risk for people and pets. To avoid the risk completely, choose table salt. Both are effective in killing fleas by a process of dehydration.

4. Bathe your pet with a good flea shampoo and follow up by giving them continuing protection with a quality flea collar or drops, such as Advantage.

Tips & Warnings

• To prevent future flea infestations, vacuum weekly using moth balls in the bag. Launder pet bedding frequently. Most pets pick up fleas outside. Keep your pet protected with flea collars or drops. Consider dusting your yard with diatomaceous earth or spray with a flea-killing insecticide available in most garden centers.
• Diatomaceous earth is also effective in killing many other household pest such as ants, cockroaches, earwigs, pill bugs, and slugs. Use it around baseboards and outside around house foundations and in the garden.
• Diatomaceous earth with high silica content can be a health hazard for people and animals. Use the "food grade" diatomaceous earth with less than 0.1% crystallized silica to minimize risk.

[jmlarue]

on 9/22/2008 Don't think the mothballs will do much good in the closet because it's such a large space and the fleas can simply move on out of the hostile environment. Inside a small vacuum bag, they're trapped in a small space and the mothball fumes are more likely to kill. More importantly, you're taking that vacuum bag quickly to the trash so that the fleas can't escape and re-infest your carpet. Right?

[jmkempt]

on 9/17/2008 iF i PUT MOTHBALL CAKES IN A CLOSED CLOSET WILL IT KILL FLEAS OR JUST REPEL THEM

[Feather]

on 8/12/2008 I've never heard of the moth ball trick. I'll have to remember that!