How to Kill Fleas With Herbs and Incense

Incense and herbs are holistic tools for killing fleas.

Nearly every pet owner has to deal with fleas at one time or another. Even indoor pets can get fleas from open windows or an infested friend at the vet. Many people turn to chemical flea baths, flea collars and chemical powders for the carpet and furniture. However, those with young children and young pets can't use these options, and those looking to reduce their carbon footprint seek other alternatives. Incense and herbal remedies can not only help you kill the fleas in your home, but they can help prevent them from coming back. It takes patience and a little work, but the results are worth it.

Things You'll Need

• Dried rosemary
• Dried peppermint
• Sweet almond oil
• Saucepan
• Mild unscented baby shampoo
• Chamomile oil
• Valerian oil
• Witch hazel oil
• Licorice oil
• Rubbing alcohol
• Spray bottle
• Orange, eucalyptus or lavender incense sticks
• Incense holders

Instructions

1. Bring 1 cup of sweet almond oil to a boil and add 1 tbsp. each of dried rosemary and dried lavender. Simmer the mixture for about 10 minutes until the herbs look pale and bleached.

2. Strain out the herbs and pour the resulting infused oil into a bottle of unscented baby shampoo. Shake gently until the infusion mixes thoroughly with the shampoo. Wash your pets with this herbal shampoo and comb them thoroughly. The herbs should kill any fleas and eggs.

3. Fill a spray bottle about halfway full of rubbing alcohol. Add 1 tsp. each of the following essential oils: chamomile, valerian, witch hazel and licorice. If you can't find the oils, make them with dried herbs and baby oil. Shake the bottle vigorously to mix.

4. Light several eucalyptus, lavender or orange incense sticks and place them in long, flat incense holders that hold them no more than 4 inches away from your carpet. Place the sticks on your floor, staggered evenly around the room. Jumbo sticks, 1/4 inch thick and about 18 inches long, work best. The smoke will make the fleas jump for fresh air and the oils in the incense will cause further irritation.

5. Spray your carpet and furniture thoroughly with the essential-oil spray. As the fleas jump to escape the smoke, they'll run into the spray and die. The spray will also kill most eggs.

6. Vacuum your carpet and furniture thoroughly once the incense burns out.

References

• Maroma:Colibri Incense
• The Whole Dog: Essential Oils as Flea Repellants
• Dummies: Giving Herbs To Pets
• Beyond Fleas: Planting Herbs to Repel Fleas

Resources

• Scent It: Questions and Answers