With the warmer weather upon us, and our pets getting outside more, pests such as fleas become a huge problem. Though traditional flea products are very effective, they can contain harsh chemicals that over time can not only cause a negative impact on our pet’s health but can also can be harmful to the environment.

Here are some easy and effective ways to treat fleas naturally:

1. Flea Comb.

   Combing your pet with a flea comb, is a simple chemical-free way to remove fleas from your pet. The fleas will get caught in the comb and you can either kill them on the comb or have a bowl of alcohol nearby to dip them in to kill them. Daily combing and checking for fleas during the flea season is a great idea.

2. Shampoo.

   Any natural pet shampoo will kill fleas during bathing by drowning them. You don’t need to use a special flea shampoo. Bathing once or twice a week during the flea season is a good way to rid your dog of fleas. I recommend my homemade Natural Pet Shampoo or a natural soap such as peppermint castile soap.

3. Lemon Rinse

Lemons can be a safe and easy way to treat skin problems and repel fleas in dogs and cats. You can make an easy lemon rinse (recipe below) in a spray bottle to spritz your pet to help repel fleas and soothe the skin in dogs and cats.

1 whole lemon thinly slice

2 cups of boiling water

Put sliced lemon in a mason jar. Pour boiling water over it. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 24 hours. You can put it in a spray bottle to use as a spritz on your cat or dog’s fur.

**Variation** Use Herbal Tea such as chamomile, lavender, calendula or lemon balm to replace the water and make it more soothing to the skin or more antibacterial and antifungal.

4. Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is a natural powder made from the fossilized remains of a type of plankton called a diatom. These remains have settled into lake beds and are collected and made into a powder. This powder is high in silica which is very drying. When fleas and flea larva come into contact with the powder, they dry up and die.

You can use it directly on your pets, on their bedding, around the house and even in your yard.

It does tend to be very drying, so my Herbal Flea Powder for Dogs and Herbal Flea Powder for Cats is made from diatomaceous earth along with additional herbs to help repel fleas and also decrease the dryness on your pet’s coat. The powder can be used directly on your pets or around the house and in their bedding.

If you prefer, you can use straight diatomaceous earth. You can purchase it here.

5. Flea Free

Flea Free is an all-natural food supplement that controls fleas naturally. Flea Free is made of 100% natural ingredients like vinegar, garlic, citrus and herbs. It’s fortified with vitamins, minerals and enzymes that are beneficial to the overall health of your pet. Flea Free also stops fleas, ticks and mosquitoes from biting your pet. You add 1 -2 tsp to your pet’s food daily.

6. Essential Oil Sprays

Essential oils are a great way to naturally repel fleas from pets. Cats can be extra sensitive to essential oils (see my article, How to Safely Use Essential Oils in Pets), so use sparingly on cats. You can spray these on your hands and pet your dog or cat to apply it.

Some of the products that I recommend are Bug Soother (my favorite because of the pleasant scent), Cedarcide (also works great for mosquitoes), and Wondercide.

7. Borax

Borax is a natural mineral used for cleaning but also is very effective for killing fleas and other insects in the home. The most effective products are 20 Mule Team Borax and Flea Busters.

The way to use borax is to sprinkle it liberally on your carpets and furniture. Allow it to sit as long as possible, preferably overnight. Keep your pets away from the area where it is applied. Then vaccuum it up.

Borax is meant to be used on carpets, furniture and around the house. Do not use it on pets.

8. Vacuum

Regular vacuuming is a simple way to keep fleas from multiplying in your house. The vacuum not only picks up fleas, but also the hard to kill flea eggs. Make sure you empty the canister or discard the bag outside after each cleaning. You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth or baking soda on the carpets and leave it overnight to help dehydrate the fleas, then vacuum it up in the morning.

I hope you find these tips helpful. Please sign up for my Holistic Pet Tips to get my tips emailed to you regularly.