Getting Rid of Fleas without Chemicals

Written by April Reinhardt (last updated June 10, 2009)

Fleas are small parasites with exceptionally long hind legs—about 200 times their own body length—making them excellent jumpers. And for those who might think, "Oh. There're only a few of them, just leave them alone," consider this: not only can fleas procreate at an alarming rate and quickly infest a host, they can infest an entire home if left unchecked, and are carriers of disease. Fleas were the culprit behind the bubonic plague, transmitting the virus between rodents and humans, and they can also transmit tapeworm and typhus fever.

Given those facts, it's wise to eradicate fleas the first time you see one. Here are some ways to get rid of fleas without using chemicals:

  • Since boric acid is extremely low in toxicity to mammals, yet highly fatal when applied to fleas, it is the favored flea control method for carpeted areas. Purchase inexpensive 20 Mule Team® Borax and sprinkle it generously into your carpets. Use a stiff broom to distribute it further into the pile, and then thoroughly vacuum.
  • Steam clean your carpets to get rid of fleas. The water will drown most of them, and the heat will kill the rest, while the suction will remove the adults, larva, and eggs.
  • Mix 1 part salt with 4 parts Borax and sprinkle into the carpet, allowing it to sit for a few days, and then vacuum away.
  • Trap and drown fleas using soap. Place a pie plate into the center of a room and then fill it halfway with water. Add 4 drops of liquid dish detergent, place a goose-necked lamp over the plate as close to the water as possible without allowing it to fall over, and then turn off all of the lights except for that lamp. During the night, the fleas will be attracted to the light, jump into the water, and won't be able to escape the slippery soap. Dispose of the dead fleas in the morning and reset the trap until you can't see any more dead fleas.
  • Don't forget to remove fleas from your pets, their bedding, and all bedding in the house. Wash bedding in hot water and then dry in your dryer on the highest heat setting. Use non-toxic dog and cat flea collars and treatments.

Author Bio

April Reinhardt

An admin­istrator for a mutual fund man­age­ment firm, April deals with the writ­ten word daily. She loves to write and plans to author a memoir in the near future. April attend­ed More­head State Uni­ver­sity to pursue a BA degree in Ele­men­tary Edu­ca­tion. ...

MORE FROM APRIL

Repairing Window Screens

Window screens allow you the pleasure of fresh air through open windows, and alleviate the worry of bugs finding a way ...

Discover More

Cleaning Your Driveway

While you can use dangerous chemicals to clean your driveway, first try simple household chemicals, one at a time. You ...

Discover More

Raised Bed Gardening

Raised bed gardening takes advantage of small space, grows more plants in less time, and overcomes native soil problems. ...

Discover More

Keep Mice Away! Rodent Defense Mice Repellent is a must-have tool for eliminating or preventing mice. All-natural ingredients are nontoxic and can be used safely around children and pets. Create a barrier to mice around your home! Check out Rodent Defense Mice Repellent today!

More Pest Tips

Rid Your Home of Fleas with the Vacuum Cleaner

Use your vacuum cleaner to rid your home of fleas by following this strict regimen. While the process is tedious and time ...

Discover More

Borax can Kill Fleas in Your Home

Preferring a warm and humid environment, fleas make themselves comfortable in homes and their hosts include cats, dogs, ...

Discover More

Kill Fleas in Your Home with Salt

Before you spend a lot of cash on pesticides, flea dips and collars for your pets, or home exterminators to kill fleas in ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five minus 3?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)