14 Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Fleas

Use these safe and tested techniques to keep your home and pets flea-free

Co-authored by Chris Parker

Last Updated: March 10, 2023 References Approved

Cleaning Your Home

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Grooming Your Pets

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Combatting Fleas Outdoors

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

Fleas are annoying, and they can cause health problems for both pets and people. If you've noticed fleas in your home, but are concerned about potentially harmful insecticides, try natural management strategies. You'll need to combat an infestation on multiple fronts, so clean your home, groom your pet, and take steps to control fleas in your yard. With patience and persistence, it's possible to eliminate fleas without resorting to toxic chemicals.

Things You Should Know

Vacuum or steam clean your floors, upholstery, and bedding regularly and wash all your laundry in hot water during an infestation.
Bathe your pets weekly and groom them daily with a flea comb. Try spraying them with a homemade citrus solution to repel fleas.
Spread beneficial nematodes in your yard in early spring and sprinkle diatomaceous earth every 7-10 days to keep outdoor fleas at bay.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning Your Home

1
Vacuum your floors, upholstered furniture, and bedding daily. Pay special attention to areas your pet frequents, spots that don't get much sunlight, and anywhere that you've observed fleas, dried blood, or flea feces. When you vacuum furniture, remove the cushions so you can hit all the nooks and crannies.^{[1]
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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
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Expert Source

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Expert Interview. 18 February 2021.}
- Be sure to vacuum beneath furniture, behind doors, along baseboards, and in other tight spots.
- During an infestation, vacuum your home daily. If you haven't seen any fleas in your home, you should still vacuum thoroughly at least once a week.
- When the vacuum bag is full, seal its contents in a plastic trash bag, then throw it out in a covered outdoor garbage bin.
2
Wash throw rugs, bed linens, and your pet's bedding in hot water. Machine wash and dry sheets, blankets, pillowcases, pet beds, and small rugs weekly during an infestation. Use the hottest water and dryer temperatures that each fabric can handle.^{[3]
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Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Expert Interview. 18 February 2021.}
- If your pet's bed isn't washable, stay on the safe side and discard it.
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3
Steam clean your carpets and upholstered furniture. If you don't own a steam cleaner, you can rent one from a home improvement store or hire a professional. Be sure to test your cleaning solution on discrete areas of your carpets and furniture.^{[5]
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- Steam cleaning kills adult fleas and larvae, but some eggs will survive. It can take as long as 3 to 4 months for eggs to hatch, so continue to vacuum daily. Consider steaming your home every 1 to 2 months until you've brought the infestation to an end.
4
Try using dehumidifiers to control moisture levels. Flea eggs need humidity levels of at least 50% in order to develop and hatch. You could use a humidity monitor and dehumidifiers to make your home less hospitable for fleas. Keep in mind you'll still need to vacuum, wash bedding, and take other steps to control an infestation.^{[6]
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- The number of dehumidifiers you'll need depends on your home's size and layout. A medium-sized dehumidifier removes 40 US pints (19 L) of water from the air in 24 hours. This size is recommended for areas up to 1,500 square feet (140 m²).
5
Use flea traps to monitor your progress. Flea traps are composed of strips of sticky paper or bowls of water that sit under a light bulb. Heat from the light attracts fleas, which get stuck on the paper or in the water. As you take steps to manage the infestation, you should start to catch gradually fewer fleas in your traps.^{[7]
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- If 1 to 2 months pass and the number of fleas in your trap remains the same, it's time to call a professional.
- Flea traps are a good way to keep tabs on the infestation's severity, but they only catch adult fleas. They won't eliminate an infestation on their own.
6
Treat your home, pet, and yard at the same time. The only way to manage a flea problem is to combat it on multiple fronts. If you clean your home without treating your pet, your home will just get reinfested.^{[8]
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- Be patient; it may take 3 or 4 months to get a flea infestation under control.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Grooming Your Pets

1
Bathe your pet at least once a week. Use a shampoo labeled for cats or dogs; never use shampoo for people on your pets. Begin washing your pet's head and neck first so the fleas don't jump up into its eyes, mouth, and ears.^{[9]
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- Bathing your pet any more than once a week could lead to skin irritation. Using moisturizing shampoo that contains oatmeal can help prevent your pet's skin from getting too dry.
2
Groom your pet daily with a flea comb. At least once a day, run a fine-toothed flea comb through your pet's dry fur. Periodically dip the comb in a cup of hot, soapy water or a 1-to-1 mixture of alcohol and water to kill the fleas you pick from the fur.^{[10]
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- Watch out for fleas that jump off of your pet. While your pet's coat should be dry, a bathtub is a good place to groom it. You'll have an easier time seeing fleas against the smooth, white surface.
3
Try spraying your pet with a citrus solution. Slice a lemon thinly, and add it to pot filled with 1 US pint (470 mL) of water. Bring it just to a boil, then remove it from heat, cover it, and let it sit overnight. Strain the liquid into a spray bottle, then spritz your pet and massage the solution into its fur.^{[11]
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- You could also purchase a citrus pet spray online or at a pet store.
- Citrus can deter fleas for up to 24 hours, but daily applications could irritate your pet's skin. Try spraying every 3 or 4 days, and gradually spray more frequently if there are no signs of skin irritation.
- Avoid spraying near your pet's face. Discontinue use if you notice red or dry skin, or if your pet scratches itself persistently.
- It's always best to consult your pet's vet before treating it with a home remedy.
4
Keep your pet indoors as much as possible. If you have a cat, it's best to keep it indoors at all times. If you have a dog, take it outside for short potty breaks. When you take it out, avoid shady, damp areas with lots of overgrowth.^{[12]
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- Limiting the time your pet spends outdoors will help reduce its exposure to fleas.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Combatting Fleas Outdoors

1
Keep your lawn short and rake up leaves. Keep any outdoor areas where your pet might hang out clean.^{[13]
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Expert Source

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Expert Interview. 18 February 2021.} Trim lawns and weeds to expose cool, damp dark spots to sunlight. After mowing, remove grass trimmings, and rake up any leaves or other debris that collect in your yard.^{[14]
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- Fleas thrive in shady, moist areas. Keeping your lawn short, raking, and removing debris can make your yard a less hospitable environment for them.
2
Spread beneficial nematodes in your yard in early spring. Beneficial nematodes are tiny worms that eat flea larvae. You can find them at a home improvement store or garden center. Look for a product labeled for flea control, and apply it to your lawn and garden beds as directed.^{[15]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
- Pay special attention to areas where your pet frequents. The best time to apply nematodes is at the start of flea season, or early spring.
- Typically, you mix a package that contains millions of microscopic nematodes with water, then disperse the mixture with a hose sprayer or watering can. Throughout the spring and summer, you'll need to water the soil whenever it starts to become dry.
- Don't worry about nematodes making you sick! Nematodes don't harm people or pets.
3
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth every 7 to 10 days. Find diatomaceous earth labeled for yard use at your local home improvement or garden supply store. Spread it in your yard, and concentrate on shaded spots and areas where your pet hangs out.^{[16]
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- The best time to apply diatomaceous earth is in the morning. Avoid spreading it on a windy or rainy day, and don't sprinkle it around your pets. Inhaling it can irritate the respiratory system.
- Diatomaceous earth is a mineral powder that scratches and dehydrates fleas.^{[17]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Chris Parker
  Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
  Expert Interview. 18 February 2021.} It'll lose its effectiveness over time, so you'll need to reapply it weekly, after a rainy or windy day, and after watering your lawn.
4
Try growing pennyroyal in your garden or in pots. Pennyroyal is a member of the mint family that's been used as an insect repellent for centuries. Grow it in your garden to deter fleas outside, or keep potted pennyroyal in your home. It's toxic to cats and dogs, so make sure your pet doesn't try to eat it.^{[18]
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- Pennyroyal essential oil is sometimes used as a flea repellent, but it's not safe for pets. Don't apply essential oils to your pet's skin, its food, or its bedding.^{[19]
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  Trustworthy Source
  American Kennel Club
  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
  Go to source}
- If you grow pennyroyal in your garden, pinch shoots regularly to ensure it doesn't take over your planting area. Like other members of the mint family, it spreads aggressively. Containing the root system in a pot, then planting the pot in your soil bed can help control its growth.

Expert Q&A

Question

What natural things do fleas hate?

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. With over seven years of experience, Chris specializes in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.

Chris Parker

Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Answer

Diatomaceous earth dehydrates and cuts through flea exoskeletons to kill them on contact.
Question

Can I use diatomaceous earth to kill fleas indoors?

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. With over seven years of experience, Chris specializes in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.

Chris Parker

Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Answer

Yes! You can put it on your upholstered furniture, your bed skirt, and anywhere else there may be fleas. If you keep diatomaceous earth down and consistently vacuum and wash everything for about two weeks, you should be able to get rid of the fleas yourself. However, if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, you might need something stronger, like an insecticide.
Question

Can I use essential oils to treat fleas?

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. With over seven years of experience, Chris specializes in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.

Chris Parker

Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Answer

Yes, but I would buy an essential oil that is specifically formulated as an insecticide. Don't buy a bottle of peppermint oil and sprinkle it on your rug. A blend of essential oils designed to be an insecticide will be more effective. But do not put any essential oils on your dog. Essential oils can be toxic to animals. Essential oils are for applications on your baseboards and your carpet, not anything that's alive.

Warnings

Avoid using essential oils on your pets or on their bedding and food. Always ask your vet before trying any home remedy on your pets.^{[21]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}

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