How to Prevent Ticks & Fleas

Ticks and fleas naturally coexist with other insects, animals and people outdoors. While they're not always a nuisance, they can quickly become one that poses a health risk or increased infestation. Pets and people are at risk of coming in contact with ticks and fleas and benefit from pest control. There are many commercial products on the market to repel ticks and fleas from you when you're outdoors, but these products contain chemicals. Home remedies prevent ticks and fleas from ending up on you or your pet without the use of chemical ingredients.

Things You'll Need

• Protective clothing
• Lemons
• Cooking pot
• Knife
• Spray bottle
• Vacuum
• Diatomaceous earth

Instructions

1. Wear protective clothing when going outdoors, especially in wooded areas. Tuck long pants into socks and wear ankle boots. Don a long sleeve shirt to add to the protective layer and keep ticks from getting on your skin.

2. 

   Lemons naturally repel many insects including fleas and ticks.

   Squeeze juice from a lemon over your dog or cat's coat. Rub your fingers through the fur to work the citrus juice into your pet's coat. The lemon smell repels both ticks and fleas and is safe for use on cats and dogs.

3. Cut six lemons in half and add them to a pot filled with 1 quart boiling water. Boil it for 10 minutes, move the pot to the counter top and allow it to cool completely. Discard the lemon halves and pour the liquid into a spray bottle.

4. Spritz the lemon liquid on your clothing, over your dog's fur and on outdoor furniture to prevent ticks and fleas from coming. Carry the spray bottle of lemon solution with you on walks in the woods or camping trips.

5. 

   A clean home provides fewer places for fleas to nest.

   Vacuum outdoor furniture and indoor pet areas to keep them clean and avoid providing fleas or ticks with nesting areas. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth over surfaces. The fine powder is safe for you and your pets but kills fleas and ticks.

Tips & Warnings

• Essential oils such as rose geranium, lavender and peppermint are natural flea and tick repellents. Use them on your dog's collar to repel the insects. Mix a few drops of essential oil with twice as many drops of vegetable oil and apply the mixture to your skin to act as a repellent. Avoid using essential oils on cats because they can make the cat sick.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Mosquito and Tick Protection
• Pet MD: Natural Pet Remedies for Flea and Tick Control
• PAWS-Rescue: Dog Tips: Fleas, Ticks, Mosquitoes-Prevention and Treatment
• Anapsid; Natural Pest Control: Ticks & Lice; Melissa Kaplan; 2009