How to Kill Fleas

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Fleas can be one of the toughest insects to get rid of. They can easily thrive in the moist places of your house, and also on your pets. However, regular cleaning, and some natural flea control methods can help you check the population of this insect.

Fleas are insects of the order Siphonaptera . These wingless insects feed on blood of the warm-blooded animals, and they can thrive in a moist and humid environment. Their presence can be a common nuisance in your house, if you have pets, as dogs and cats are the important carriers or hosts of this insect.

Getting rid of this insect can be a challenging task, as it calls for a lot of patience and diligence. The first step for eliminating this pesky insect is to maintain hygiene inside and outside your house, and keep your pets clean.

Getting Rid of Fleas from Your House

Destroy fleas and larvae with vacuuming and cleaning. Every corner of house, furniture, carpets are vacuumed frequently with vacuum bag sealed properly. Larvae and eggs of the fleas can easily stick to the carpet fibers.

After vacuuming, spray some salt on the carpets and leave it overnight. Next day, vacuum the carpet again. Salt would kill fleas present in the carpet by dehydrating them. Salt can be used for other flea-infested parts of your house as well.

Along with regular vacuuming, keep the bedding and rugs clean by washing them in soapy water. Flea traps can also be used for controlling the population of these insects.

Some other popular choices for controlling flea infestations are, citrus sprays, insect growth inhibitors, pyrethrins, and sorptive dust. However, talk to a professional or expert regarding the safety of such products. The natural remedies for fleas however, do not pose any health hazard.

To kill them naturally, you can use essential oils, eucalyptus leaves and oil, and cedarwood chips. These are the natural flea repellents that can be placed in the areas prone to flea infestations. If placed near the door, they can help prevent the entry of fleas.

You can also use lavender and citronella oil for flea control.

Removing Fleas from Pets

All endeavors to kill fleas inside your house can be futile, if you do not take adequate measures to keep your pets clean. These repelling insects are usually brought inside your house by your pets.

So, give your dog or the puppies a good bath at regular intervals. Use a good shampoo to clean them, and mix a few drops of lavender, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil in the water to be used for rinsing.

Regular baths can help kill fleas on kittens and puppies to a great extent. You can also use some natural flea repellents like lavender, citronella, and cedarwood oil for this purpose. You can mix both the oils with almond oil to make an effective homemade flea repellent.

Even citrus fruits can be an excellent flea repellent. Boil a few pieces of lemon, and keep them soaked in water for the whole night. In place of lemons, you can use orange peels as well. Next day, use the solution on your pet's body.

Flea combs are another simple way to remove fleas from your pet's body. At the same time, be sure to clean your pet's bedding properly. Flea collars can help kill fleas by emitting a poisonous vapor. But this vapor can also affect the health of your pet.

Removing Fleas from the Yard

Along with your house, your yard can also harbor fleas, in which case these insects will reinfest your house no matter how much you try to keep your house clean. To evict fleas from your yard, you can use diatomaceous earth. The sharp edges of diatomaceous earth cut the exoskeleton of insects like fleas, which dehydrates them.

However, diatomaceous earth can be harmful for your pets. Like diatomaceous earth, borax can also be sprayed on your lawn.

If the problem persists for a long time, or if the flea infestation is quite severe, then consider to take some professional help.