The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Black Walnut
Posted by vlccairo (Cairo, Egypt) on 05/12/2009
★★★★★
If you have access to a black walnut tree, you can get rid of fleas in the house by putting the leaves around the edges of each room. My mother was told this by a wise old country woman in Georgia many years ago and it worked for her. Much later, I came back after a long absence to a severe infestation of fleas in my apartment (also in GA). Black walnut leaves did the trick again. I left them long after they had dried up, a couple of months, and then swept them up and tossed them out. The fleas were long gone from both the cats and the apartment by this time and never came back. I've often wondered if the thick green/yellow nut cases (not the shells) would also work, as they have the same strong, staining oil as the leaves, but I've never tried it.
Salt and Peppermint
Posted by Miss_D (Pennsylvania) on 07/15/2022 8 posts
★★★★★
I grow peppermint in a large pot on my deck - it comes back like wildfire every spring. It dries by the beginning of June and once it dries, I pull it out of the pot by its roots - throw it all over my fenced in backyard - then mow over it to distribute it more evenly. It keeps the fleas and ticks out the area until August. In March - when it's rainy - we treat the yard with salt. The salt breaks down the outer shell of fleas and ticks. We make sure to put the salt down right before it's going to rain because it could burn your dog's paws if left just lying on the grass. We treat again with salt in August - if there is no rain in the forecast - we just water the lawn really good after we salt. You can buy 20-50 pound bags of salt pretty cheap. I use a lavender spray on the dogs once a week from March through October - which seems to repel mosquitos too. We have been flea free!
I used to use the Soresto collars - but those made my older dog really sick a couple years ago - and the fleas were still biting both my dogs when they had the collars on.I think it's best to find something that repels as well as kills, so our poor babies don't have to go through getting bit.
*Note: this post is geared toward dogs and not cats.
Salt
Posted by Crystal At (Ny) on 10/31/2011
★★★★★
Grind salt in a blender or food processor until its a powder and sprinkle everywhere even on pets. You will see the fleas jump up and then die! Wonderful, fast & cheap! Good luck. I just sprinkled my whole apt. I have 4 month old twins & a 7 yr old and we tried advantage, vacuuming & knockout. When I found out salt worked I had to try it and I watched those blood suckers die lol. They have bitten me all over my body and have started biting my 7 yr old. I was desperate and frustrated. I was about to give up my cat. I wish u the best!
Borax
Posted by Patrick (Deer Park, Wa ) on 12/13/2010
★★★★★
I have two Golden Retrievers that had a serious flea condition. After washing the dogs with flea shampoo and I then went around the entire carpeted house and lightly sprinkled Borax (yes, the 20 Mule Team type)on the carpet. I sprinkled extra on the dog's bedding and areas where they hung out. It was amazing but I got rid of the fleas completely within a week. I later learned that the Borax dries out the flea eggs and they don't hatch. After a week I vacuumed the house and I never had another problem.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Pennie (Indpl, In, Usa) on 10/16/2010
★★★★★
Natural Flea & Tick Remedy
Hi everyone! After almost losing our Baby Kitty to those dangerous advantage medications, I decided to figure out a way to live without using them year after year. So I did searches and found out about, " Diatomaceous Earth". This stuff is miraculous! I found mine at the local True Value Store, but you can also buy online at different retailers. BUY: FOOD GRADE! I spread this in all different areas of my lawn as well, and within 48 hours you have no more ticks or fleas. It harms all insects. I have plenty of flowers bees, and other wonderful insects roaming around, but this gets rid of the fleas and ticks really great. And I put it down on the ground on a NON-Windy day. ALSO: WEAR A MASK TO PREVENT BREATHING THIS SUBSTANCE! It worked great and I will never have to buy pesticide and put it on my animals again!! Late fall I again had fleas on my dog and all I did was put small quantity on his fur and within 48 hours all fleas were dead, then I washed him, the fur was slightly dry, but so well worth it to keep him flea free. After 3 days I washed him and put some good conditioner on him and he felt great. Usually you just have to put the Diatomaceous Earth around their tail and back area. Again in the fall, I put more of the earth around the areas that he lays in and no more fleas, after it rains you will have to put it back down again, but it's cheap. I also put it on all my fruit tree's and surrounding tree's to keep the leaf hoppers off, and my tree's look great too! Hope this works for all of you looking for a natural approach. With carefully placing it on the ground, I did not harm any beneficial bugs that roamed freely on my flowers. Lot's-O-Love to all our Animal Lovers out there! Pennie
Salt
Posted by Erin (Largo, Fl) on 09/16/2010
★★★★★
I've had a bad flea problem for about a week and tried everything but nothing worked. As a last resort I tried salt. Instead of sprinkling it on the carpets I mixed table salt and hot water in a spray bottle. I sprayed all the carpets, furniture and dog bedding. It worked great, as the water dried it left an even coat of salt on the carpets, was easy to spray under beds and couch and was much less messy then sprinkling a layer of powdered salt over everything. Within an hour I noticed that there was a drastic decrease in the number of fleas and it took less than 10 minutes to spray the entire apartment.
Dish Soap
Posted by Carol (Big Spring, Tx) on 09/08/2009
★★★★★
After finding and reading your web site I found the dish soap worked but I hesitate to use it too often. The night light under a pan of soapy water worked for inside the house. The flea comb has been wonderful. He likes the attention and will readily let me comb him.(Male Cat) Now I dip the comb in 7 dust He hated the dust before but he doesn't mind the comb dipped in it. I pick the fleas off the comb and put them into soapy water. They drown. The OVER THE COUNTER flea applications on the back of the neck did not work.
Diatomaceous Earth
Posted by Dewan (Waxahachie, Tx , Usa) on 11/28/2009
In response to doglover in NC, NATURAL diatomaceous earth does not emit a poisonous vapor. All it contains is ground up diatoms (fossils). It is about 86% silicon, so you don't want to breathe the dust (like any other dust). However it can be very drying, and may cause dry skin. It is included in some dog foods at about 2% by volume. Swimming pool DE is another story, it IS toxic. Do NOT use it anywhere except in the pool filters.
Salt
Posted by Fae (Henderson, North Carolina, USA) on 07/01/2009
★★★★★
Table Salt to rid your carpets of fleas--Instantly!! It sounds goofy, but it's true!!! My rugs were infested with fleas!! But this home remedy is not only inexpensive (price of table salt), it works like a charm!!
Just use regular table salt that you buy at the grocery store, or dollar store. Buy the container that is about the size of a small coffee can.
Sprinkle it on your carpets. It should look like it snowed in your living room! Depending on the size of your room, may need to buy several containers. Be liberal with it, it won't hurt.
It's ok. You can walk on it; it won't hurt. No need to leave it on there overnight or anything like that. Just vacuum it up and poof!! No more fleas in carpets!! How cool is THAT?!!
Gotta love grandma and those old remedies!!
Coconut Oil
Posted by John (Orlando, Florida) on 03/19/2009
★★★★★
Flea removal remedy: Our indoor Yorkie got several fleas in her fur and they moved so fast that when we tried to catch and kill them they would scurry or hop away. Finally in desperation I rubbed some coconut oil in her fur and the oil literally reduced the fleas to slow motion where we could easily pick them out and kill them. We found that the oil would cause them to stick to the teeth of a very fine comb making them easier to immobilize and kill. I have only used coconut oil so far but feel reasonably sure that almost any cream would work as well.
Dish Soap and Lamp Method
Posted by Anne (Jacksonville, Arkansas) on 01/11/2009
★★★★★
I recommend this effective flea removal technique that has worked for me in the past. Plug a nightlight in near the infested floor area and using a shallow plastic pan or even a cake pan--a large size 9x13 or so fill with water and dishwashing liquid mixed together. The fleas will jump toward that light during the nighttime hours and fall into the soapy water and die. Empty and repeat several days. Continue this treatment until the fleas are gone. If you have a bad infestation you might want to try in several locations throughout your house. Good Luck
Garlic
Posted by Simon (Panama City, Florida) on 09/13/2008
★★★★★
Yea: It is true garlic is the trick for fleas. Last lear we treated our three dog repeatedly with the usual brands of flea control but they couldn't keep up. This year a friend recomended the garlic. He said they have used this remedy for years. Its safe and it works. We mix the garlic in with their food and they love it. I think it helps with tics and mosquitos as well.
Lavender Oil
Posted by Pamela (Granite Falls, Washington) on 08/02/2007
★★★★★
Yes...to LAVENDER for flea control. I recommend lavender castile liquid soap to bath them in and diluted essential oil lightly applied to their coats between baths. Initially, I started using lavender because I am so sensitive to chemicals. Now, I use it because it works so well.
Garlic
Posted by Arlene (Florida) on 01/26/2023
Hello again. I need to seriously update previous post. The 15 yr old did pass away from old age. We spent most of his life in Ft Lauderdale and have since moved to a semi rural area with lots of woods. Got a new pup and continued with the garlic tabs. However he was itching and seemed a little "off" I brushed him daily and didn't think he could possibly have fleas but took him to the vet and yes indeed under his thick coat was fleas. So my garlic pills were useless in this environment. Vet put him on Simparica and poor dog gets agitated and SEVERE diarrhea. After 2 doses I am NOT giving this poison to him anymore. Am going back to the vet because at 20 dollars a pill and 4 left I want a refund. I don't know what my next step will be but I will find a non toxic remedy. I guess if you live in a city and not the country garlic tabs will work but out here it's a battle. Maybe garlic doesn't work all the time but these poisons will shorten their lives. Maybe you might not notice it right away but ask yourself if you would drink a poison cocktail once a month. Check out petbucket.com/what are the side effects of Simpirica. Best wishes all
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Cindy (Illinois, USAS) on 06/07/2021 523 posts
Yikes!! The only thing I ever used that actually worked was salt. Sprinkle it on the carpet/rugs, the pet's bedding and all around where the floor meets the walls. And around the bottom of furniture legs. If you're a neatnick, you'll want to vacuum first and toss your vacuum cleaner bag. then just get the salt down there - cheapo, iodized table salt is perfect and cheap - and leave it. And by "leave it", I mean skip vacuuming for a few days and let it do its thing.
Amethyst
Posted by Monica (St. Augustine, Fl) on 10/14/2015
★★★★★
I tried the amethyst crystal and it does work! I want to point out I too had the same issue with the stone not working after a period of time. It didn't seem logical for something to just stop working so I experimented and found out what worked for my kitty.
My cat has a horrible time with the fleas in FL. They are unlike any other place I have lived. Frontline doesn't work & just makes my cat sick. The crystal was worth a shot and would cause no harm. Within a week I saw a difference and there were no more new bites. This lasted for about 2 mo. and then the fleas started again. In case anyone is thinking its due to a change of seasons, no that's not the case. There is no down time in FL when it comes to fleas.
I don't believe the stone just stops working but perhaps our pets chemistry changes. Either way I decided to add another stone I had at the house to the bowl. It is blue calcite and once again it worked. It is a complement to amethyst with its metaphysical properties. I was so happy to see it work again, but about 1 1/2 mo. later I was back to square one. It stopped working.
Ok, so this time I bought another amethyst. Yes, now there are 3 crystals in the bowl! I know it's crazy but its working and my kitty is not scratching.
I am going to do as another writer suggested & recharge the stones by moonlight over night. I was doing it by sunlight and I guess that may be wrong in this case.
Anyway, to anyone who says nay, experiment a bit before you give up.
Amethyst
Posted by Milen (Sydney) on 09/06/2016
Hi there, I just read your post about Amethysts in your pet's water. Recharging is what I thought they need. : ) But full moon doesn't come too often, haha. A smudge stick made of sage is the best solution for cleansing not just crystals but your house as well. I use smudge sticks and incense on a regular basis and some crystals not only feel energised and revived but my Lemon Chrysoprases even change their apearance. One can literally see the difference! Another way to cleanse your crystals is with a singing bowl. Crystals respond to sound as well. You can also hold them under runing water. The most important thing is to have a clear idea of the outcome. Intention is what starts the process. : ) Because they are in daily use, I'd make sure that your Amethysts are cleansed at least once a week. Good luck and lots of joy with your animal and crystal friends!
Borax
Posted by Nikki (Yuba City, Ca) on 11/22/2015
For the borax to work on carpet you need to sprinkle everywhere & leave it for at least 3 days. Otherwise it won't do anything. After 3 days or more, vacuum. Then sprinkle it again. The recipe for a spray borax is "Teds Mange Cure". Just search it here on E.C. It 100% works for fleas as well as mange. My dogs get rinsed after every single bath with Ted's recipe. They've never had mange. I've always used it for fleas. Hope this helps. Nikki
Dish Soap
Posted by Erin (Indiana) on 08/22/2013
★★★★★
I have 2 cats that both became infested with fleas. I put frontline on them a little more than a week ago. It did not work. They still had fleas, much to my astonishment, being as frontline is supposed to be good stuff... Not to mention, expensive! I just got done giving them both dawn dish soap baths. Got them wet, lathered them up very good, head toe, very good and thoroughly. Then let them sit for a few minutes in the lather. I almost immediately saw all the fleas dropping off, dead. Rinsed them down the drain and now I have a huge weight off my shoulders!
Dish Soap
Posted by Awesome Person (Texas) on 07/17/2013
★★★★★
I use dawn dish liquid to wash my dogs and it instantly kills most fleas.
