How to Use Lavender to Repel Fleas
It’s pretty much a fact of life, that if you have pets you are going to have fleas at some point. Fleas can be both annoying and a health issue for both you and your pet. Controlling the flea population will be an ongoing battle, but one that you can win, if you take the proper steps to avoid getting them in the first place. Rather than use harmful chemicals that can be hazardous to you, your pet and the environment, try taking a more natural approach, by using things with a lavender scent. For whatever reason, fleas don’t particularly care for the fragrance and tend not to hang around.
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Things You'll Need
- Lavender essential oil
- Lavender cleaning products
- Lavender candles
- Rubbing alcohol
- Pet shampoo
- Cloth collar
Instructions
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For Your Home
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1
Wash all areas of your floors with a cleaner that has a lavender scent. If you can’t find one, you can add a few drops of essential oil of lavender to your bucket of soapy water. Dollar stores usually sell a very reasonably priced bottle of lavender scented floor cleaner.
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2
Vacuum the carpets daily. Then mist them very lightly with a spray bottle of water that you have added about 10 drops of essential lavender oil to. You can do the same with all upholstered furniture in your home.
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3
Wash all of the blankets that your pet comes into contact with. Buy a detergent or fabric softener that has a lavender scent. Most brands are offering scented products and lavender seems to be popular. Wash your pet's bed if possible or mist it with the spray bottle.
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4
Buy an all natural lavender-scented lotion to apply to your skin and the fleas will not jump on you as you work to rid your home of them. Washing your clothes in the same lavender scented detergent helps, too.
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5
Burn lavender scented candles in your home, particularly in the area where you seem to have the flea problem. Burn them near your pet's bed area especially. Be careful and do not leave burning candles unattended or get them to close to the bedding.
For Your Pet
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6
Give your pet's coat a good brushing. Put a couple of cups of warm water in a bowl and add 5 drops of lavender essential oil to it. Dip your pet’s brush into the bowl and shake off the excess water. Brush through your pet’s coat of hair, dipping the brush often. This will help remove flea larvae and eggs.
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Shampoo your pet thoroughly, using a natural pet shampoo that contains lavender oil. If you can’t find this, you can add 1 drop of lavender essential oil to the shampoo bottle and mix it in.
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8
Make your pet an all natural and safe flea collar. Buy a cheap cloth collar. Soak the collar in a mixture of 1/2 tsp. rubbing alcohol, 2 drops lavender oil and 1 drop thyme oil. You can also add a few drops of garlic oil, if you can stand the smell. Let the collar dry, then put it on your pet.
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Tips & Warnings
Handle essential oils with caution as they are very strong and may irritate skin if spilled on it directly.
- Photo Credit Gizmo - Copyright: Donna Thacker
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Comments
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Tips for dog days of summer............. With the summer heat comes the invasion of fleas.... icky... anyway, for those of you who are as lazy as I am, using a dollar general brand spray bottle, mix a few drops of lavender oil, and a few drops of dawn dish detergent, and water to top. then spray this around bout everywhere, as often as possible. Keep your animals hydrated, water and please people, occasionally give them some ICE water. old butter dish, freeze it. pop it into water dish in the morning and there ya go, cool water for your friend for most of the day. brush your long haired animals a lot this time of the year. it helps to remove shedding hair... this is normal.the hair loss is to keep the animal cooler in summer. hmm, if you feel the need/want/wish you could, to shave your head in the summer to keep cool, imagine how your dog feels. love your animals, remember, they chose you to love as much as you chose them.
