How to Get Rid of Fleas With Moth Balls, Vinegar & Salt
Dog Breed Info website states that there are over 200 types of fleas in the United States. According to an article written by William F. Lyon for the Ohio State University website, ten adult female fleas can produce over a 25,000 fleas in various life stages in 30 days. With numbers like that, it's important to eliminate fleas as soon as they are detected. Moth balls, vinegar and salt are three inexpensive home remedies that can assist in ridding your home of fleas. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- White socks
- Vacuum cleaner
- Moth balls
- Plastic grocery bag
- Several boxes of salt
- Apple cider vinegar
- Spray bottle
Instructions
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Locate the area with the most fleas in each room. This can be accomplished by walking through the room while wearing white socks and examining your feet every few steps. Also pay special attention to anywhere pets sleep or spend extra time, near food bowls and litter boxes.
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Gather all bedding from any place pets sleep, including people's beds. Wash in hot water and dry.
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Place three mothballs in a standard vacuum cleaner bag. Vacuum all rooms in your home thoroughly, taking special care on carpeted areas. The mothballs will kill any fleas or eggs that are sucked into the bag. When finished, remove the vacuum cleaner bag and wrap it in a plastic grocery bag. Dispose of the bag immediately.
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Purchase several containers of salt and empty them by sprinkling the salt liberally over the carpet and floors, paying special attention to areas with a higher flea population. According to the Flea Control Book website, salt dries out the bodies of fleas. After 12 to 48 hours, vacuum all the areas that have been sprinkled with salt.
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Add a spoonful of apple cider vinegar to your pet's water a few times a week. This will make their skin have an acidic taste that will repel fleas. If your dog will not drink the water, you can pour one part water and one part vinegar into a bottle and spray him with it.
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Tips & Warnings
Bathing your pets in a flea-killing shampoo will help eliminate the fleas on the animal, but not in the home. Use a once-a-month flea and tick preventative for best results.
When flea infestations are truly intense, sometimes it's best to call a professional first, and then follow up with home-product remedies. Have a groomer de-flea your companion animal while an exterminator works on your home.
According to an article written by Lynne Murray for Daily Puppy website, mothballs are made of highly toxic materials and should never be left on the floor or in areas where they can be accessed by children or pets. Gloves should be used when handling mothballs.
Fleas are not just itchy pests, they are the cause of tapeworms and can make you and your pet very sick.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
