As any pet owner knows, fleas can easily infest any cat or dog. Unfortunately, they’re not so easy to get rid of. Before you buy all the heavy-duty sprays and flea bombs you can find, try these natural remedies first:
Vinegar
Vinegar naturally repels fleas. You can make a vinegar shampoo for your pet by mixing one part vinegar and one part mild soap (add a couple drops of an essential oil if you’d like to mask the vinegar scent). Wash your pet regularly with the vinegar shampoo and rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Every couple of days, dip your pet’s brush in a mixture of one part vinegar and one part water. Brush your dog, keeping the brush away from the pet’s head.You also can add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to one gallon of your pet’s drinking water to make your pet’s skin less desirable to fleas. This also helps strengthen your pet’s immune system.Citrus
To repel fleas, make a natural solution to sponge on your dog’s coat. (Do NOT use this remedy on cats.) Score the peel of a sliced lemon, orange or grapefruit. Pour one cup of boiling water over the citrus. Soak overnight, then sponge the liquid on your dog.Garlic
Once a week, give your dog a small sliver of a clove of garlic. Do NOT give garlic to cats, though – it’s toxic.
Vinegar naturally repels fleas. You can make a vinegar shampoo for your pet by mixing one part vinegar and one part mild soap (add a couple drops of an essential oil if you’d like to mask the vinegar scent). Wash your pet regularly with the vinegar shampoo and rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Every couple of days, dip your pet’s brush in a mixture of one part vinegar and one part water. Brush your dog, keeping the brush away from the pet’s head.You also can add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to one gallon of your pet’s drinking water to make your pet’s skin less desirable to fleas. This also helps strengthen your pet’s immune system.Citrus
To repel fleas, make a natural solution to sponge on your dog’s coat. (Do NOT use this remedy on cats.) Score the peel of a sliced lemon, orange or grapefruit. Pour one cup of boiling water over the citrus. Soak overnight, then sponge the liquid on your dog.Garlic
Once a week, give your dog a small sliver of a clove of garlic. Do NOT give garlic to cats, though – it’s toxic.
Plants
Fleas flee from several plants, including chamomile, fleabane, lavender, lemongrass, mint, rosemary, sage.
Clean
Like other insects, it’s important to keep your home clean to eliminate fleas’ hiding places. With fleas, vacuum carpets, curtains and upholstery often to remove eggs. Once you finish vacuuming, change the vacuum bag and take the flea-filled bag out of the house. Also wash your pet’s bedding often – and try to use a cedar-filled pet bed, because cedar repels fleas.
Traps
Trap fleas by placing a shallow dish of soapy water under a shining light. Fleas will be attracted to the light, jump in the water and drown.
Photo credit
pakorn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Hilary Kimes Bernstein is a Christ follower, wife, mama, and journalist. She writes about making healthy decisions that honor God and happen to help the environment at Accidentally Green. Short and sweet - like her writing - Hilary is the author of several healthy living eBooks.
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