It’s tough to watch your dog or cat do battle with fleas. The last thing you want to do is to put a toxic collar on them. They often contain pesticides that can rub off on your pet and you. Instead, Do Your Part to find natural solutions that work just as well. Here are Terri’s Top 5 Natural Ways to Fight Fleas.
1) Borax Can Be Your Best Friend
All natural borax is found in the laundry aisle of most stores and works wonders to kill fleas. Simply sprinkle it onto infested carpets and rugs. Let it sit for an hour and then vacuum it up. Then toss the vacuum cleaner bag. And keep your pets and children away from the area until the borax is removed.
2) Diatomaceous Earth is Effective
All-natural food grade diatomaceous earth is another powder to sprinkle on your carpets, rugs, bedding, and pet crates to rid your home of fleas. It works by dehydrating fleas. Just let it sit on the affected areas overnight and vacuum it up or wipe away in the morning. It’s a cost effective solution that can be found at most home improvement stores and garden centers.
3) Use Safer Flea Shampoos
Don’t use harsh and potentially toxic flea shampoos on your pet until you try a natural alternative. Flea ridding shampoos which contain essential oils such as lemongrass, cedarwood, peppermint, rosemary, and thyme are non-toxic and incredibly effective. Use this guide by Green Paws to type in your shampoo of choice to see how safe it really is.
4) Wash Those Fleas Away
Washing your pet’s bedding in hot, soapy water regularly will help prevent fleas. There’s no need to worry about which soap to use because all soaps kill fleas. A good rule of thumb is to wash the bedding once a week to keep fleas and their eggs at bay.
5) Flea Combs Can Make A Difference
One way to see if your flea prevention techniques are working is to use a flea comb. Not only can you drown the fleas you find in hot, soapy water you will see how bad your pet’s flea problem really is.
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