Fleas are some of the most annoying pests to deal with because they are tiny and agile. If you are not looking for them, you’ll miss them, and they’ll infest your homes. While loving pets is next to nothing, they bring with them the possibility of a flea infestation. So, as much as you love your furry friends, you need to make sure that they’re free of these little jumpers.
How do you know there are fleas in your home? These are just 2.5 millimeters long, and they can jump as far as 13 inches. Fleas thrive in warm climates, and adult female fleas can lay 50 eggs per day and live up to 100 days. The best way to eliminate them from your home is through a professional exterminator. Flea exterminator cost varies, but a reputable company does the job well.
Thankfully, you don’t always have to rely on professionals to do the job. There are plenty of home remedies and do-it-yourself methods for flea extermination. All you need are products you already have in the pantry or kitchen cabinet.
Dish Soap
The combination of dish soap and warm water is one of the most effective home remedies against fleas. All you need to do is mix warm water and dish soap in a bowl and put that bowl near where you think there are most fleas. Do this at night because that’s when the fleas are most active. They can get trapped in the bowl. They said this is most effective when there’s a candle near the bowl, but that is inadvisable because of the potential hazard.
Herbal Spray
Do you know that you can exterminate fleas using ingredients you can find in your pantry? A herbal spray is made from natural products, such as vinegar, water, lemon juice, and witch hazel. You need to combine these and apply the mixture around your home. But before you use this, clean your homes first and wash anything that could be infested. Spray the mixture before putting back the carpets, furniture, beddings, window sills, and floors.
Baking Soda
One of the most effective ways to get rid of fleas is to vacuum your home. This helps remove the fleas from the fibers of your carpets, beddings, and furniture. But before vacuuming, make the method more effective by using baking soda. You should put baking soda on your beddings and carpets and brush it into the fabric before vacuuming it. Ensure to empty the vacuum bag’s contents in a trash can and tie the garbage bag tightly.
Salt
This is similar to using baking soda. Adding salt to the fabric before you vacuum will make the method more effective. Sprinkle salt all over your mattresses, bed covers, carpets, and furniture. Leave it for one to two days before vacuuming it thoroughly. Remember to empty the contents of the vacuum in a garbage bag and tie the ends tightly.
Lemon Spray
Everyone loves lemon spray. Not only does it smell good, but it has a lot of use around the house, too. You can buy a citrus spray in most home centers, although nothing beats the concentration of actual lemon. To make a citrus spray, slice a lemon and add it to a pot of boiling water. Let the concoction sit overnight before pouring it into a spray bottle. You can spray the mixture into infested areas, such as the sofa, bed, chairs, and others.
Plants
There are at least four common plants that can repel fleas. Penny Royal, Chrysanthemums, Lavender, and Spearmint are flea-repelling plants. You can grow these plants in the flower bed near the entrance to your home, so fleas will be discouraged from entering your home. These plants contain oils and compounds that fleas try to avoid.
Clean Your Pets
Fleas thrive in your pets’ fur. This means that the best way to stop flea infestation in your home is to check your pets for fleas. Make sure to wash them regularly since fleas hate soap and water. Use warm water and anti-flea shampoo on your pets to get rid of these pesky creatures.
The Takeaway
Professional flea control is still the best way to eliminate fleas from your home. However, there are a lot of home remedies to keep your home free of fleas, too. You can try a mix of these methods. If they don’t work, you can always pick up the phone and call a pest control company.