- Thoroughly clean the home. Wash all bedding, including the pet's beds, in hot water and detergent. This kills any fleas that got into the bedding, as well as eggs, larvae and pupae. Dust surfaces off thoroughly as well, and then vacuum everywhere, including corners and at the edges of furniture and baseboards. Vacuuming is crucial because it sucks up the eggs, larvae and pupae of fleas. The vacuum also excites the fleas into coming out of their cocoons so that some form of insecticide can be used to kill them.
- Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth on carpets and leave it there for 24 hours. Then vacuum the carpets. Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic to both animals and people but highly toxic to fleas because it dehydrates them to the point that they die. Also sprinkle diatomaceous earth on lawn areas that don't get wet to kill adult fleas in the yard. Finally, sprinkle it on your pet's fur and rub it in. Adult fleas living on pets will die within 24 to 72 hours. Buy only food-grade diatomaceous earth; the pool-filter grade is treated with heat and chemicals and is highly toxic.
- Lavender essential oil, because it has a strong odor, repels fleas. A few drops can be put on a pet's bandanna collar to keep fleas off the pet. Also, a few drops of lavender essential oil can be added to a spray bottle with water and then sprayed on the pet's bed to keep it from becoming infested with fleas. It also works for humans. The same spray used on the pet's bed can be used to spray a human's legs to keep them from being bitten by fleas outside and thus bringing them into the home. Bathing in water that has a few drops of this essential oil can make both a human and a pet unattractive to being jumped on and bitten by fleas. Some animals, however, are sensitive to essential oils, and so a veterinarian should be consulted before using them on a pet.
