Effective Natural Remedies for Flea Control in Pets

Dish Soap and Lamp Method

Posted by Karen (Philadelphia, Pa) on 08/23/2009
★★★★★

I'm using the ACV on my cat and my dog and so far it seems to be working. However, to treat the infestation in my house I found an easy economical fix. First place 2 drops of dish detergent in a bowl of water then sit the bowl on the floor under a lamp overnight.Each morning I awoke to a bowl full of dead fleas. I continued the process until I no longer saw any fleas. Apparently, the warmth of the light attracts the fleas to the bowl and the solution kills the fleas instantly.Of course you need to remove your pet from the room you are treating to insure their safety.

Dish Soap and Lamp Method

Posted by Star (Syracuse, New York) on 08/27/2013

Does it work only at night? Or will it work in the day time to? Also can it be any dish soap?

Essential Oils

Posted by Lilu (Southern California) on 06/20/2026

PLEASE DON'T USE just ANY essential oil, ESPECIALLY on CATS!!!! Check & re-check with ASPCA & other organizations before using even the smallest amount on ANY PET. Peppermint essential oil (just like most other mints) is highly toxic to cats. PLEASE Be CAREFUL!!!!!!

Garlic

Posted by Daphne (Myrtle Beach , SC) on 06/23/2009

I contacted our vet, and was told Garlic was not good for pets, so we never tried it, but I will be trying the ACV in a spray and drinking water.

Dish Soap

Posted by Jana (Livingston La.) on 05/30/2014

Use conditioner just a little, the fleas will come right off. My dogs shake them off in the tub.

Brewer's Yeast

Posted by Kathy (Watsontown, PA) on 04/16/2009
★★★★★

I've used brewers yeast[debittered powder] for fleas successfuly.I sprinkle it on my cats food every day[like cinnamon toast].they like it & their coats are very nice too. does anyone know if "nutritional" yeast flakes work for fleas too? ? it's a little cheaper.

Cedar Chips, Dish Soap

Posted by Jerry (Chillicothe, Illinois/usa) on 03/13/2009
★★★★★

I have had dogs as pets for more than 50 years and they are inside pets, but are let out to a fenced area constantly during all year and I have found that at spring before the first mowing. I will go to Walmart and get 2 large 0.5 cubic ft bags of cedar chips or bedding and sprinkle it throughout the areas where the dogs will be. I do this before the first mowing and after I mow the yard it will scatter the chips even better and finer.
I never have fleas and to check occasionly, I will fill small bowls with water and a few drops of dishsoap , place them under a wall outlet with a nightlight on overnite and in the morning if there were any fleas in the house, they will be dead and in the bowls. I always do this ritual every year faithfully and never have a flea problem in my yard.

Dish Soap

Posted by Brenda (Columbus, Ms) on 01/27/2009
★★★★★

I was told about JOY dish soap for fleas. I have used it several times on my dogs and it worked great. During bath time, I found dead fleas in the water. I haven't noticed any drying of the skin. I only used it 2 times for one week. You can also use lavender oil to keep fleas off your pets and their bedding. Just rub a cotton ball with lavender oil down their back. This works for me and it smells nice too.

Dish Soap

Posted by Jodi (Jones, Michigan) on 09/03/2012

question, on the coconut oil do you mix it with water or just put it on them with a cotton ball, I also have chihuahua's and one has a really bad alligery to anything to do with flea stuff.

Dish Soap

Posted by Mary (NY, NY) on 01/28/2023

The pet store near me sells a flea spray that contains peppermint oil. The clerk said the fleas hate peppermint oil. Or you can make a spray with 1 drop peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle and spray it on your bed and around the rooms in your house.

Dish Soap

Posted by Lou (Tyler, Tx) on 09/14/2013

This is just a hunch--but buy a bottle of Peppermint essential oil. Put a few drops on some cotton balls. Place in a small ramekin or in paper bowls around the house in the corners, under the beds, etc. You can even put some in the air returns (if you have the right kind). It should kill them. It got rid of some pesky bugs we had and they are the toughest to get rid of. I think it will work. Also, there is a pesticide that's natural that contains peppermint oil called EcoSmart or something like that. Good Luck!

Garlic

Posted by Ann Marie (Indianapolis, Indiana USA) on 12/30/2008
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

Garlic (& other onion-like plants) are REALLY NOT that good for cats. It adversely affects their blood cells.

Essential Oils

Posted by Julia (Aliso Viejo , Ca) on 01/08/2013

Thank you for the information. My question is, how many drops of EOs do you use?

Rubbing Alcohol for Flea Infestations

Posted by Tangie (Jefferson City, MO) on 11/13/2008
★★★★★

I have a Chow German Shepard mix & a Lab both are outside dogs. In the summer months we had a problem with the biting flies, which causes bad sores on my dogs. I used (ACV/Water)1 cup of apple cidar vinear to 2 cups water sprayed my dogs every other day and it helped a lot. Don't spray on open wounds.

I also have 2 small dogs and a cat inside the home that have fleas I use 70-90% full strength rubbing alcohol put it in a spray bottle and spray the carpets and all cracks and crevices of floors (carpets and tile) not good on wood. Not good around birds, I saturate one room, close the door and then go to next room.

Important:

* Put birds in a room that isn't being treated.

** Do not stay in the sprayed rooms leave until carpet/floor dries.

Once I had a flea my arm and ankle I spritz the area with the alcohol and the flea died instantly.

Cedarwood Oil

Posted by Jamie (Largo, Fl) on 05/15/2009

How much and how was this used??

Dish Soap

Posted by Celine (Pine City, MN USA) on 10/22/2008
★★★★★

I came to this site looking for a remedy for the three cats we have. For the first time in two years of having them they have acquired fleas. I know I had allergy reactions to the Hartz formula for dogs so I switched to switched to frontline and no longer let the dogs on our bed. But keeping the cats off the bed wasn't going to happen so I needed a remedy that I wouldn't react to so I went to search for a natural one. After all fleas have been around for ages. I found this site to the answer to my prayers and my animals. I first tried dish soap. The cats didn't seem to mind it. I used a flea comb to make sure they really got lathered up with it. I started at the very top of the neck with just the dawn, as a contributor suggested. Because the fleas will move upward to where they can go where there is no soap. Then I wet the cats down. Then I lathered them up real good. The dish soap killed them! The cats have no fleas. I'm going to spray them down with Apple Cider Vinager to make sure they stay off of them before I let them outside. (The dogs are inside with no fleas) I will report back how well the ACV works at keeping them off but I'm confident it will. Thank you for having this site!

Dish Soap

Posted by Stephanie (Ft. Worth, Texas) on 10/16/2008
★★★★★

We just tried the ___ Dish Soap method for getting rid of fleas. It appears that it worked like a charm. In the past, when using standard over the counter flea shampoos, we would see them crawling and have to pick them off by the dozens. With the Dawn, there were NO crawling fleas--only dead ones. And...the best part of all is that the cats didn't seem to mind it nearly as much. My guess is that it didn't sting them like the other shampoo.

Thank you very much for giving us a better and safer alternative for flea removal.

We have used the ___ in a dish with the light for home flea removal in the past. Thanks for the reminder of this "forgotten" rememdy as well. We are about to try it today as well.

Stephanie and 2 grateful cats

Dish Soap

Posted by Amanda (Palmetto, Ga) on 09/14/2010
★★★★★

This method works great... Thanks so much.

Flea Combs

Posted by Lea (Columbia, MO) on 09/29/2008
★★★★★

I have been happy with a mixed approach, using soapy water flea traps, sticky lighted flea traps, baths for cat & dog, having them on a Program & diatomateous earth in the carpet. One thing no one mentioned is flea combs. I have found that my cat seems to enjoy the attention and will sit for a long time in my lap while I flea comb her (and pet her ears, which she loves), dumping the fleas into slightly soapy water (and drying off the comb on a rag). It gets a little messy, but it is worth it. I comb my dog, too, but she is not happy about the proceedure. It works, tho, for those fleas that either escaped the bath treatment, or jumped on later. I have also spent time each day catching fleas on my feet & lower legs, & putting them in soapy water. My husband prefers very sticky tape to get them off of him. We are still fighting them, but sooo much better!

Rubbing Alcohol for Flea Infestations

Posted by Holly (Bellevue, Ohio) on 09/26/2008
★★★★★

We had an absolutely horrific flea infestation on the entire second story of our house (which is uncarpeted, thankfully) and were disappointed by the 20+ flea bombs that failed to kill them, so having heard this from my mom, we filled spray bottles with straight Rubbing Alcohol (just the regular, cheap stuff from any store) and went crazy. We soaked the floor and about two feet up the walls. It worked great, and I mean, GREAT!!! You could watch them die within seconds. Just be sure to open as many windows as possible to provide lots of ventilation while you work; we didn't think it would be safe to use it on our cats or let them (or anyone) in the area for a few weeks until it aired out really well. Oh, and we also laid out ALOT of duct tape (sticky side up) to catch any survivors, of which there were very, very few.

Garlic

Posted by Debbie (Brighton, Uk) on 09/18/2012

Dogs and fleas........ Give raw garlic daily. Half to one clove, depending on dogs size. Also, DE. = Diatomaceous Earth. Must be food grade. Mix in probiotic yogurt and feed. DE can also, be used around the house etc.

Benadryl

Posted by Nancy (Plant City, Fl) on 09/09/2008
★★★★★

My pomeranian can get a sigle flea bite, and itch really bad, my vet gave her predisone, and an antibiotic, also said to use childrens benadryl for her itch, please use according to their weight, just like a child, my pomerain is about 8 pounds, I give her around a l /2 tsp, it is a temporary fix for the itch, believe me, they are in pure torture,

I had a skin problem, I itched for four months, inbetween taking medicine such as benedry, and applying cortozine. You can also apply cortozoine for itch to your dog, really rub in it will temporally releive their itch, and also give them the benedryl. Take to a vet, use flea prevention, I just saw a web site that says use vinegar (diluted), and dawn dish soap. The little animals can't help this skin condition, please do all you can to help them. Remember, we have to speak for them... I know my little dog would do all she could for me.

Good luck to all you pet lovers.....

Essential Oils

Posted by Amanda (Trenton, Ontario) on 08/08/2008
★★★★★

I was reading your site as my cats were going crazy. I didn't have any of the things you recommend to hand. but after reading your shampoo advice, I realized I did have some lavender essential oil so I tried that and a few drops rubbed into their coat did bring immediate relief.

Dish Soap, Garlic and Lemon

Posted by Jami (Largo, Fl) on 05/15/2009

What is the mixture for the lemon juice spray. Where can I get the Neem shampoo, oil

Garlic

Posted by Kathy (Cypress, TX) on 06/13/2008
★★★★★

NO MORE FLEAS. To keep fleas off my 70 lb. dog, I juice fresh raw garlic and add 1/8 teaspoon of it to a raw egg yolk. He eats it joyfully. NO MORE FLEAS. Fleas hate the smell of garlic. I may carefully increase the amount of garlic juice some in the future because he is 70 lbs. He eats his food joyfully. He also loves greens such as Alfalfa powder, Wheatgrass powder, Barley powder, etc. Dogs need greens too!

Dish Soap

Posted by Melissa (Belpre, OH) on 06/08/2008
★★★★★

___Dish soap truly kills fleas! I took in a stray cat and tried using the flea shampoos from Walmart several time and the fleas kept coming back... So my mom told me about it. So we gave the poor cat one last bath and it killed every flea on his body within minutes!! Make sure to avoid the eyes and mouth. A little soap goes a long way. His fur was also soft afterwards!

Dish Soap

Posted by Kay (USA) on 06/05/2008
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

For those of you who are bathing your pets in ___ Dish Soap. I thought you might be interested in a bit of info.

Toxin Detergents.
Detergents are divided into several categories.
Soaps: Bar soaps, laundry soaps, and homemade soaps.
Anionic detergents: Laundry detergents, shampoos, dish soaps, and electric dishwashing detergents
Cationic detergents: Fabric softeners, sanitizers, disinfectants, and rust inhibitors in petroleum products. This category includes quaternary ammoniums.
Non-ionic detergents: Dishwashing detergents, shampoos, and some laundry detergents.

General Information
Detergents come in a variety of forms with each having a different level of toxicity. Every home has these common products in some form, and all family members need to be aware of the dangers.

Soaps: True soaps are usually not toxic.
Anionic: Slightly to moderately toxic; may result in illness but generally not fatalities.
Cationic: Highly to extremely toxic; 1% solutions are damaging to mucous membranes .
Non-ionic: Less toxic than the anionic and cationic detergents

Signs
Soaps: Vomiting and diarrhea.
Homemade soap may cause corrosive GI lesions (burns).
Anionic: Irritated mucous membranes, vomiting, lack of appetite, diarrhea, and GI distention. May have corrosive injuries in the mouth and GI tract. Eye exposure may result in edema around the cornea reddening and swelling of the conjunctiva and corneal erosions or ulcers.
Cationic: Vomiting, lack of appetite, drooling, muscle weakness, depression, seizures, collapse coma, and burns to the mouth and GI tract. Eye exposure may cause redness and severe corneal erosions and ulcers. Skin exposure may result in hair loss and skin irritation. Non-ionic: Vomiting and diarrhea. Immediate Action

DO NOT induce vomiting if ingested. It may cause more harm. Seek veterinary attention. In the case of dermal contact, flush the skin for at least 30 minutes with running water. In the case of eye contact, flush the eye with sterile saline or water for 20 minutes. Seek veterinary attention while you are performing the decontamination. General treatment: Administration of milk or water in the case of soap, anionic, or non-ionic detergent ingestion, or administration of milk, water, or egg whites in the case of cationic detergent ingestion. If dermal (skin) or ocular exposure occurred, the affected areas will continue to be flushed with sterile saline.

Prognosis
Fair to good, depending on detergent ingested. Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children and pets. If you think your pet has been poisoned...Contact your veterinarian or one of the Animal Poison Hotlines (listed below) if you think your pet may have accidentally received or been given an overdose of the medication.

**ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center 1-900-443-0000 ($55.00 per case. The charge is billed directly to caller's phone.) 1-888-4ANI-HELP (1-888-426-4435. $55.00 per case, billed to caller's credit card only.) Follow-up calls can be made for no additional charge by dialing 888-299-2973. There is no charge when the call involves a product covered by the Animal Product Safety Service. **Animal Poison Hotline - a joint service provided by North Shore Animal League America (NSAL) and PROSAR International Animal Poison Center (IAPC). 1-888-232-8870 ($35.00 per incident. The charge is billed to caller's credit card only.) Staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

Borax

Posted by Sharon (San Clemente, Calif) on 09/03/2008

One reader recommended Borax. Can it be used indoors if so full strength on carpets? I see lots of flea/dog remedies. Can anyone help me with cat fleas? Thank you, Sharon

Borax

Posted by Rosy (Orlando, Fl) on 12/23/2008
★★★★★

I use Borax in my carpet for fleas and it didn't hurt my cats, but they didn't like it on their feet. It works best if you leave it on for a while. What I did was sprinkle under furnature and leave it there. I applied to the carpet that we see and let it sit for 5 hours. I just confined the kitties to a screaned porch for treatment. The borax left a film on the carpet, so wear socks after you vacume. Also vacume before and after the treatment. Empty your bag/canister, and spray filter with tea tree or neem oil. That way the eggs in the filter don't hatch and reinfest your house.

Borax

Posted by Pkt2313 (Collierville, Tn) on 05/03/2009

great information, i am going to try these remedies.

Borax

Posted by Amym (Boulder, Co) on 08/01/2009
★☆☆☆☆

NEY-Borax was terrible. Although it did kill the fleas, it got caught in my loop carpet and I could not get it out. I steam cleaned it 3 times, carpet raked and vacumed countless times. It dried out my skin and caused a weird reaction in my ear. I had to stay with friends because I could not stay at my apartment and eventually had to replace the entire carpet so I could sleep there again. Apparently other people have also had a terrible reaction to Borax. Borax came out, took samples but refused replace my carpet because I did not keep the box.

Borax

Posted by Christopher (Brooksville, Florida) on 07/14/2011

Can any tell me where I can buy BOREX detergent? I used it for flea control, but can't seem to find it in my area stores.

Dish Soap

Posted by Marjie (Texarkana, Texas) on 06/05/2008

I am considering using a steam vacuum with dawn soap instead of the usual steam cleaner. I am moving into a home that has a horrible flea infestation (thank you, previous owners!) I hope it works.

Dish Soap

Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 06/05/2008 489 posts

Hi Marjie, I've never checked it out but I read in some hint column or book that if you have fleas in the house and didn't want to use chemicals (who does) that you should place a bright table lamp on the on the floor, place a container filled with water and a few drops of dishwashing detergent in it about a foot to the side of the lamp. I think the idea was that the light attracted the fleas, which came jumping in the light, landed in the water, which dispatched them to the happy hunting grounds.

Dish Soap

Posted by Leslie (Martin, TN) on 07/16/2008
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

re: Flea remedies -- You can't put dawn dish soap in your steam cleaner, it will ruin it. It also will take forever to come out of the carpet.

Dish Soap

Posted by Lawrence (Cebu, Philippines) on 08/19/2008

Re: ___ DISH SOAP - Natural Flea Remedies - To Paul from Oakland, CA - You can try putting a wire mesh or chicken wire on top of the glass pie plate to prevent your cat from drinking the water. Just make sure the weave is dense enough so the cats can't stick their tongues through the spaces.

Dish Soap

Posted by Paul (Oakland , CA) on 08/08/2008

Hi...I really want to try the glass pie plate with ___ liquid and water near the windows..but how do you keep the cats from drinking out of it?..... I'm trying to get the monthly flea med on the cats and they sense my anxiety and they are overdue and scratching ---I can't take it. Paul in Oakland.