Getting Rid of Fleas Naturally

Infestation of these little winged blood suckers can be just more than annoying; let's say, 'A pain in the neck!' Having pets around the house is one of the major invitations for fleas to spend a nice and never ending vacation in our house. These parasites prey upon almost all types of warm-blooded vertebrates including dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels, mice and humans too. As the madly-itching sensation which grasps the host is not enough, these parasites also cause allergic reactions and rashes in the bitten area.

Getting rid of fleas naturally is a smart approach when it comes to the concern which is raised due to the side effects of pesticides. The presence and availability of different home remedies for flea infestation, discards the use of harmful and harsh chemicals. Here are some effective steps for getting rid of fleas naturally, of your home and surroundings.

Some Cost-Effective, Natural Ways to Get Rid of Fleas

The first step in getting rid of fleas naturally would be getting busy with your vacuum cleaners. Every corner, cervices, holes on the walls (if any), under bed, rugs, pet beds, carpet and each and every furniture must be vacuumed well and thoroughly. This helps in getting rid of the nasty little eggs, larvae and pupae which hid themselves in nice little dark corners, unseen by anyone. After having vacuumed thoroughly, give a second shot of it again. This makes your work effective and yourself, to be sure that there are no eggs left unattended. Thereafter, seal and dispose off the vacuum bag in a proper manner. Apart from the vacuuming, you can also take the aid of a steamer which is good enough to kill fleas in all life stages.

Washing the pet's bed area, rugs and floor mats with hot water helps in destroying the eggs of the fleas. After having washed, ensure that the things are dry enough so as to avoid a humid environment which favors the growth of these parasites.

Prepare a mixture of diatomaceous earth (a light soil consisting of siliceous diatom remains and often used as a filtering material) and boric acid (3 cups of diatomaceous earth for every ½ cups of boric acid). Sprinkling the mixture lightly, ensure that you cover all the baseboards, over carpets, under beds, closets and in places where your pet sleeps.

You can also use a combination of boric acid and citrus peel extract for getting rid of fleas in the house; after having worked with the vacuuming. Sprinkle the boric acid on the areas, as mentioned above, followed by spraying the extract. Vacuum after 2 days and dispose off the vacuum bags. It is best if the bags are kept in a freezer as the dropping temperature will be too cold for any eggs or larvae to survive.

The yard is the main stop for the fleas to wait for their carriers which would take them to your house; the carriers could be you or most of the time, your pets. Get rid of fleas naturally by keeping the grass short, trimmed and watered. Grasses which are mowed regularly, allow the sunlight to exterminate the flea and offspring.

Treating the yard with agricultural lime is an effective way of flea extermination. Do not forget to treat those areas which are grassy and moist. When the lime comes in contact with these parasites, it works by dehydrating them to death. So, get rid of any dead grass or leaves, which may serve as hiding places for these parasites.

Getting rid of fleas naturally from your pets is something which makes the extermination a foolproof one. As mentioned, your pets may be the major carriers of fleas. So, bathing the pets weekly is a must and so does keeping an eye on any symptoms of a flea infestation. Abnormal scratching and biting, when noticed in the pets, must be suspected as a possible infestation. A vet would be the best choice to be thought about, in such a case. The doctor will recommend various medications or products which will help eliminate and prevent any infestation.

So, following the above remedies and having worked around the house, the yard and your pets, should be good enough for getting rid of fleas naturally. The treated areas might ask for a second shot as there are probable chances of the fleas returning. Keep up with the vacuuming and cleaning, and your house will be completely flea free in no time!