Natural Flea Repellents for the Home
A key to keeping fleas out of your home is keeping them off your pet. These little hitchhikers will take advantage of any free ride or meal and can quickly find their way into your home. If you have a flea infestation, you need to kill the fleas and disinfect your home rather than attempt to make them move out. Trying to repel fleas during an infestation is fruitless and frustrating. Does this Spark an idea?
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Flea Repellent Spray
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Make a flea repellent spray to use in your home and on your pet. Cut a lemon into quarters then put them in a bowl and cover them with boiling water. Let the mixture steep overnight, and then strain and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray your pet. Do not use an orange instead of a lemon if you have a cat. After you've done a test spray on furniture and carpeting to check for possible staining, you can use the spray throughout the house to repel fleas.
Fleas on Pets
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Pet bedding is a place for fleas to hide out and wait until their dinner comes to them. When you wash pet bedding, you can add eucalyptus oil to the final rinse to repel fleas, and it will have the added benefit of cutting down any resident dust mites, too. Use an herbal shampoo formulated for repelling fleas and a flea collar to help keep the fleas off your pet.
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Fleas in the House
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Thoroughly vacuum your house and sprinkle a fine layer of table salt on carpets and upholstered furniture. This will help prevent fleas from moving into your home. Put a couple of drops of an essential oil, such as peppermint, on cotton balls and place them around the house out of reach of pets and children.
Fleas in the Yard
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Keep fleas from migrating from the yard into your home by repelling fleas from your yard. Sprinkle diatomaceous earth throughout the yard. Tansy, basil and other plants planted throughout the yard will help repel fleas. You can make a boundary of cedar chips along the fence line to help keep fleas out of your yard. Keep the lawn clipped short so fleas can't find hiding places.
Killing Fleas
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If you have a severe infestation and decide to use a bug bomb, look for one with pyrethrins or resmethrin as the active ingredient. Pyrethrin is a natural ingredient, and while resmethrin is a synthetic chemical, it is less dangerous than many others, according to Mother Earth News. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions for the best results.
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References
- Photo Credit cats on a bed image by zielas1974 from Fotolia.com
