This is a specially designed comb for pets which draws stubborn flea moving around on their skin. Puppies and kittens would love it because these cute babies are not so deft at cleaning themselves as their parents.
You can watch the joy of your pets as they feel this comb moving on their lovely hair, ridding them of the irritating itching.
How much it costs ?
You can get a workable one for about $ 3.
5. Lemon water
Dip your pet in a lemon water solution. Lemon helps to ward off fleas. You can also use limes or any other citrus fruit, but lemon has a strong scent.
( Photo Courtesy: 64148767@N00 )
6. Anti Flea Collar
You cannot keep bathing your pet every now and then. After all, we have got other works to do. So, make a special collar for them which wards off the fleas.
- Ingredients
A nice cloth for the collar
Cedar Oil ( I am obsessed with it )
Lemon juice
- Directions / How to use
Take 1 cup of water. Add 1 oz of lemon juice extracted from the juicer ( with the rind on ). Now, add 6 drops of cedar essential oil. Stir well. Part by part, soak the collar in this solution. Let it dry. Don't worry, the smell won't go away. Then tie this around your pet. It should keep him or her away from the fleas.
- Why it works ?
Obviously, the cedar oil and lemon juice.
( Photo Courtesy: magickevin )
7. Anti - Flea Dusting Powder ( To be used after combing )
Once you have combed your pet, you would want him or her to roam freely. Use this dusting powder remedy to keep fleas away from the pet.
- Ingredients
Cedar chips ( 2 tablespoon )
Rosemary ( 1 tablespoon )
Wormwood ( 1 tablespoon )
Blender
- Directions / How to use
Put all the three ingredients in a blender and turn it on. Churn till it becomes a fine powder. Then mix it with your pet's talc or any other natural powder like cornstarch. Apply in a thin layer on the coat.
- Why it works ?
Wormwood and cedar keeps fleas away from the pet.
8. The ACV for Pets ( Apple Cider Vinegar )
Among home remedy proponents, ACV is the most useful product on earth, not only for humans but also for pets. Feed your pet apple cider vinegar. And then something strange will happen. They will become less susceptible to fleas and ticks for life.
- Ingredients
ACV ( 1 tablespoon for adult pets and 1 teaspoon for the pups and kitties ) ( use raw , unfiltered ACV, if possible )
Water ( 1 quart )
- Directions / How to use
Add 1 tsp or tbsp of ACV to 1 quart of water. Then make your pet drink this water for a few weeks. It will boost their immunity and keep fleas away.
Now, the pets are flea free. Now, all we have to do is to get the flea out of the house. There are many home remedies for getting rid of fleas in the house.
Step 2 : Fleas in the house, lets oust them !
1. Vacuum clean the whole house
This is the easiest remedy against fleas. Use special attachments for vacuum cleaners to clean covers, sofa and crevices in walls and corners. Just don't leave any place where you think fleas might reside.
Use any attachment to siphon out fleas hiding out in accessible areas in your house. Special places to check are :
Floor boarding
Crevices ( very important )
Crown molding
Kitchen ( they seem to like it here )
The basement ( This is their hideout . Exterminate all fleas from the basement )
( Photo Courtesy: glenbledsoe )
2. Diatomaceous earth (DE)
This is a thin layer of a special clay called diatomaceous earth. It is readily available. Spray it on the floor and then on crevices, corners and other places where they may stay. It can also kill the fleas or otherwise force them to move out.
DE is a really powerful flea killer. It looks like talc, but at microscopic levels, its crystals are very sharp. They really rip apart a flea or any other insect. So, all you have to do is spray it around the house and keep it for a day or two. Then broom it out or vacuum it.
NOTE : Use food grade diatomaceous earth, if possible , especially if you have kids. Food grade diatomaceous earth does not cause harm if accidentally ingested, like by a toddler.
( Photo Courtesy: jsjgeology )
3. Neem oil spray
This oil is excellent in killing fleas. This is how you can use it.
- Ingredients
Neem essential oil
Regular floor cleaner
- Directions / How to use
Add a few drops ( 10 -20 ) of neem essential oil into your floor cleaner. Mix well and it forms a nice spray. You can use this spray to clean the floor. Add this oil to other cleaners, like wood cleaners, window cleaners, and other wipe solutions.
- Why it works ?
Neem is a natural , organic insecticide. It kills fleas and any other kind of insects. Neem is extensively used in a tropical region, like India.
( Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia )
4. Place twigs of eucalyptus in the house
The eucalyptus tree has a strange smell. It keeps these insects off.
( Photo Courtesy: aidanmorgan )
5. Salt on the carpet
Sprinkle salt on the carpet. This kills the fleas residing inside the carpet. Prevent water from entering the carpet, or it will become messy with all that salt.
6. Nematodes ( For fleas in your yard )
A brilliant remedy for fleas outside the house. Get some "
nematodes " for the fleas. These nematodes are parasites which can attack fleas in no time and kill them. Fleas will be eliminated from the yard. Nematodes are very small parasites, like 2 mm long and very thin.
But, where to get nematodes from and how to use them ?
Nematodes are becoming hot property these days. Lots of companies are marketing all sorts of nematodes for all sorts of things. And they may trick into buying more nematodes than you actually need. According to Cornell University research data, you need the following nematode species for getting rid of fleas in your yard.
( Photo Courtesy: scotnelson )
Species : Nematode Sc
Concentration : 500 - 100 per square foot. ( So, calculate for your entire yard ) ( If they don't work, you may need to use about 13,000 per square foot for a one time kill ).
Note : It takes time for nematodes to work. They will infect the fleas, kill them and reproduce. Then they will go to find another flea to kill. If you nematodes are able to reproduce , then 500 nematodes per square foot will suffice.
Fleas on Humans
We definitely are not allowing any flea to even dare coming near us. Use these remedies to drive fleas miles away from you.
1. Neem oil massage ( for severe flea infestation )
If fleas keep coming to you ( which is somewhat rare ), then this is the ultimate home remedy for them.
- Ingredients
Neem oil
Olive oil
- Directions/How to use
Add 4-7 drops of neem oil into 1 shot ( approx 60 ml ). Shake well and rub it into your skin. Avoid using on extremely sensitive areas ( that is near the crotch area, you know what I mean ).
- Why it works ?
Neem oil is a potent insecticide. It kills fleas on the spot. And definitely keeps them away.
Caution : Neem oil has a terribly awful smell. So, avoid using it when you may be going outside or meting someone. A single application of this oil should kill all those bugs.
2. Snow or Ice
Rub snow flakes on your skin. You would only feel cold, but those fleas would be frozen dead. It is a simple and quite effective way to kill fleas feeding on you.
( Photo Courtesy: herry )
3. Rubbing oranges
Get some organic, pesticide free oranges. They should generally be orange on one side and greenish on the other half. Then massage the inside of the peel on your skin. Plus, you are going to smell lovely.
4. Rubbing fish oil ( to calm itching )
Flea bites itch a lot. To calm that itching, this is a champion remedy. Rub some fish oil over the bites and itching subsides in 2 - 3 applications.
Note : If you do not like the smell of fish oil, then there are many other remedies. You can skip this one.
( Photo Courtesy: yesudeep )
Flea Exterminator Team ( The last stage option )
For more severe flea infestation, one should consult a pest control team. They can do a complete flea removal in case you do not have time or you are unable to get over the fleas. They can use both natural and chemical methods. So, it is up to you which method to be employed. Many people do not like the use of chemicals because they can be toxic and stay in the house even after proper removal once the flea is gone.
