There are a number of home remedies to kill fleas, but to make them lasting, it’s most essential to disinfect your home, so that these fleas don’t find a suitable environment to exist in. The favorite haunt of fleas in your home are your pet’s furnishings. So, wash your dog’s bedding regularly by adding eucalyptus essential oil to the final rinse. This oil is so effective it kills 99% of the house dust mites too! Also, by vacuuming the home thoroughly and sprinkling a fine layer of ordinary table salt over the upholstery and carpets, you can evict these unwelcome guests safely. Citrus repellent: You can make an effective flea repellent from lemon by cutting it into quarters and immersing it in boiling water. This is then steeped overnight to get you the repellent. By spraying this all over your pet, especially behind the ears and generally around the head, and also at the base of the tail and the ‘armpits’, you can rid it of fleas. Aromatherapy repellent: This repellent is made by adding lavender and cedarwood essential oils to pure almond carrier oil as the base. This is then shaken well and spread over the pet’s skin to keep the fleas away. You can also make effective flea collars by rubbing an essential oil of eucalyptus , tea tree , citronella , lavender or geranium on webbing, rope collar or even a doggy bandanna . Essential oil bath: If your pet is badly infested, it’d need an essential oil bath. So, draw the bath using a few drops of tea tree or lavender essential oils. An alternative is a herbal flea dip made from fresh rosemary leaf Internal flea repellents: Garlic when fed to your dog works wonders. This is because its smell is excreted through the skin making it ‘inhospitable’ for the fleas. Brewer’s yeast tablets also help in controlling fleas. Another good alternative is natural apple cider vinegar that makes the skin more acidic and unpleasant to fleas and ticks. External flea repellents: Sprinkling diatomaceous earth, generally in the filtration system for swimming pools, all over the yard is an effective way to keep the fleas at bay. You can also put cedar chips along your fence to keep the fleas out. Planting a herb, called tansy, around your pet’s pen will also keep the problem in check. All these external repellents are effective natural home remedies for fleas.

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As summer begins winding down in late August and September, the flea and tick season is still going strong. In fact, September is often the worst time for pets when it comes to fighting off these pests. For pet owners wary of putting chemicals on their pet's coat (or in some cases having their pest ingest a chemical insecticide), there are some effective natural alternatives. The effectiveness of these methods will vary according to your pet's lifestyle, health, and coat but with patience and perseverance, you should be able to find one that brings relief to your pet - and you'll feel better knowing that ifs all done naturally. Your most basic tool in fighting fleas and ticks is the underrated flea comb. It is simple to use and very effective in catching not only fleas and ticks, but flea eggs as well. You can get one at a pet supply store for as little as a dollar. During the heavy season, you may need to comb your pet daily; at other times, comb her once a week or anytime she's been in contact with another animal that might have fleas. For tick control, comb her after she's been in the woods (try to do so fairly soon afterwards, before the ticks have time to attach themselves). You can turn combing into a bonding ritual by doing it at a regular place and time, and giving your pet a special towel to lie on. It needn't be a chore! Talk to your pet in soothing tones while working and you'll both enjoy this time together. Periodically dip the comb in a glass of water mixed with a few drops of liquid dish soap to kill the fleas you've caught. Nature provides us with a number of parasite repellents such as citrus. You can make a citrus spray by boiling the skins and fruits of sliced oranges, grapefruits and lemons in a large pot of water. Use at least one fruit per pint. Let it steep for several hours, strain, and pour it into a spray bottle. You can spray this both on your pet and around the house, such as on bedding. This suggestion is primarily for dogs, as many cats find citrus smells unpleasant. (Some people who have sprayed this on their furniture, in fact, have found that cats stay away from it and stop clawing at it!) Commercial powders, collars and dips are often made with a variety of harsh chemicals. You can make your own versions of each of these with ingredients from a health food store. To make an herbal powder, combine as many of these powdered herbs as you can find: eucalyptus, rosemary, fennel, yellow dock, wormwood and rue (one part of each). Apply it several times a week by brushing your pet's hair backward and sprinkling it on the roots, especially on the neck, back and stomach. In place of a flea-dip, add a few drops of eucalyptus or pine oil to a pet shampoo and apply to your wet pet. Massage it into the fur and skin, rinse and repeat. Herbal collars can be made by soaking an ordinary fabric collar in at least three of the following natural oils: French basil, cedar, cinnamon, citronella, dove, lemon, lavender, pennyroyal, or palmarosa (good for tick protection). Use one part of each, and dilute in an equal amount of grapeseed or almond oil. Soak the collar and drain on a paper towel. Dab on fresh oil every few days in the summer. (Note: don't use this on pregnant animals who should avoid some of these oils.) Having a flea-free pet is only half the battle. For every one flea you see on your pet, there are probably hundreds lurking in your home. Vacuum the house and launder your pet's bedding at least once a week. (If you know fleas live in your carpets, put your vacuum cleaner bag in a zip-lock bag after vacuuming and either throw it out or put it in the freezer to kill the fleas. Otherwise, they'll hop right back out.) You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth in cracks and crevices around your house and under furniture. Diatomaceous earth is fossilized remains of algae that kills insects. Though ifs not toxic, you should wear a dust mask while applying it, and try to keep your pet from directly inhaling it. The dust can irritate nasal passages. Do not use this type of diatomaceous earth used in swimming pools. The sort you want to use is sold in many pet supply stores. Keep in mind that a healthy pet will naturally repel pests to an extent. The healthier your pet, the less of a problem you'll have. ____________________ Nancy Crowley, DVM owns the Beverly Animal Natural Health Center in Beverly, MA. She is certified by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy. For more info contact: BANHC, 409 Cabot St., Beverly, MA 01915 or call 978-927-3622. This article was originally published in Spirit of Change Magazine—not to be confused with OfSpirit.com Holistic "Internet" Magazine & Resource. We thank Spirit of Change, New England's Premiere Holistic "Print" magazine, for allowing us to give new life to this article and share it with OfSpirit.com visitors for education, entertainment and empowerment.

Not a "home remedie" but put frontline on as many of your animals as you can afford to. You get it from your vet.It has to be frontline not the stuff you can buy at the store. It's not cheap but it will get rid of your flea problem quickly and it works 100% even in the yard. Also, Frontline says to reapply every month,but, it works much longer 4-6 months or longer. You will need to vaccum your carpets often to remove dead fleas and larva. I would also wash your throw rugs and bedding. Within a couple of days you should be rid of the little boogers. Good luck!!

first you spray around outskirts of rooms with flea spray from wilkinsons, 1tin small 3 bed house 2tins large 3 bed house or 4 bed house,you must wear a mask and wear rubber gloves and remove any fish or birds until its dry, find out the hotspots where they keep jumping on your legs, could be near pet bedding or places where cat goes,then buy about 4 or 5 cat flea collers you can get packets of 2 in some shops like morrisons,attach the collers to nearby things like pipes or furniture legs or place them in the areas. after a while you should be flea freeeeee.i thankyou.

Was just wondering when getting the lavendar and cedarwood oil, is it the same stuff you that you use when using an oil burner or is some sort of special oil??

Garlic, cider vinegar and brewers yeast may work for pets...... but why am I getting bitten when I take all 3 as a matter of course every day, and have done so for several years!! Anyone have anything to offer a lady who lives in the depths of Africa, and has recently realised that there are fleas taking a fancy to her ankles???

Get rid of the animals for starters.