Anyone who has pets knows the problem: fleas not only torment dogs or cats, they also like to jump on humans. The bloodsuckers leave behind very itchy bites and are also difficult to fight. With these home remedies you can successfully contain the plague.

Diatomaceous earth is very effective in fighting fleas

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Home remedies for fleas
  3. fight fleas
  4. detect flea infestation
  5. frequently asked Questions

    6. the essentials in brief

    • Good home remedies for fleas are rosemary and lemon, diatomaceous earth, vinegar and lemon and essential oils such as tea tree, lemon or eucalyptus.
    • Good hygiene and washing infested furniture and objects prevent fleas and help with infestation.
    • Constant itching, flea bites and traces of faeces are indications of a flea infestation.
    • Fleas do not survive temperatures above 60° or below -18°C.

    The best home remedies for fleas

    "Who goes to bed with dogs, rises with fleas." (proverb)

    Sprays, shampoos and other flea control agents are available in specialist shops in large numbers, but you don't always want to go straight to the chemical club. Grandma's old household remedies are sometimes no less effective, but at the same time much gentler - not for the fleas, but for people and their pets. When using it, please note that a one-off measure will unfortunately not lead to the desired success. Fleas could still survive, which continue to multiply diligently - after all, a female flea lays up to 50 eggs a day! - and so don't let the problem get any smaller. With this procedure, however, you will definitely get rid of the annoying little animals:

    • Spray dripping wet on body and coat once a day
    • do this for at least ten days
    • at the same time thoroughly clean and wipe the apartment every day
    • Change bed linen every two days and wash at a minimum of 60°C
    • Put cuddly toys and the like in a plastic bag in the freezer - or wash them at at least 60 °C
    • Wash cat or dog beds weekly at 60 °C

    In pets and humans

    Cat fleas are also transmitted to humans

    In Germany, two types of fleas are quite common. However, cat and dog fleas are not tied to their respective main hosts, but also look for other hosts when there is a lack of food. Cat fleas in particular like to spread to humans, so pet owners are familiar with the problem from their own experience. A large number of recipes for old home remedies against these pests have been handed down, with each family probably swearing by their own mixture. However, most of the mixtures have one striking thing in common: rosemary and lemon are found in almost all home-made anti-flea sprays. This is not surprising, because the strong essential oils of these plants are not particularly popular with the little bloodsuckers.

    rosemary and lemon

    A tried and tested recipe for a spray against fleas is this:

    • Fill a liter of water in a saucepan and boil it.
    • Cut up a lemon with the peel and throw it into the boiling water.
    • Add a handful of fresh rosemary needles.
    • If you don't have fresh rosemary, dried rosemary will also help - as long as it smells intense.
    • Let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes and then cool for at least two hours.
    • Strain out the coarse components from the brew.
    • Add a few drops of geranium or tea tree oil.
    • Pour the mixture into a spray bottle (such as those used for spraying house plants or ironing clothes)
    • Treat yourself and/or your pet with it.

    Leave the brew on for about 20 minutes and only then rinse it out again.

    Fleas don't like the smell of lemon and rosemary at all

    vinegar and lemon

    A suitable spray can also be made from normal household vinegar and lemon, with which you can not only treat living beings, but also furniture, clothing, carpets, etc. To do this, mix

    • 750 milliliters of water
    • with 1.5 liters of household vinegar
    • and 150 milliliters of freshly squeezed lemon juice

    right in the spray bottle.

    Essential Oils

    In addition to the recipes mentioned, which have been known in this or another form for a very long time, home remedy mixtures based on various essential oils come from other countries. In the fight against fleas, for example, have proven themselves:

    • tea tree oil
    • geranium oil
    • Lemon oil / citronella oil
    • eucalyptus oil

    You can use these oils on their own - about 25 drops in a quarter liter of water - or as a mixture. The main advantage of an oil mixture is that it simultaneously restricts the movement and breathing of the fleas and thus kills them safely. Fragrant for your own nose, but still extremely unpopular with fleas, for example, is the following mixture:

    • 10 drops of tea tree oil
    • 10 drops of eucalyptus oil
    • 10 drops of lemon oil
    • 1 squirt of dish soap

    Mix thoroughly with 250 milliliters of water and apply.

    kieselguhr

    By far the best, however, is diatomaceous earth. This remedy is the finely ground shells of fossil diatoms, which is why it is also known as diatomaceous earth or mountain flour. Fill the powder into an atomizer and dust your dog / cat, their bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture with it. But be careful: The fine dust can irritate the respiratory tract and mucous membranes, which is why the eyes, mouth and nose - including your four-legged protégé - must be protected when using it. Leave the powder on for at least 20 minutes and then rinse or vacuum thoroughly.

    digression

    Chickens and other poultry are also affected

    Chickens often have fleas too

    Incidentally, fleas are not only found on dogs and cats, but basically on all furry creatures: rabbits, guinea pigs and other pets can also suffer from this problem. Furthermore, fleas are a frequent problem, especially with chickens and pigeons, which is why experienced poultry farmers regularly clean the pens of the animals thoroughly and then sprinkle them with diatomaceous earth.

    Fight fleas - hygiene is important!

    However, it does not help to tackle the fleas with only home remedies. Most fleas don't stay on the object of their desire most of the time, instead hiding around it. Cracks and cavities are the most popular hiding places, but also carpets, curtains, bed linen, mattresses, upholstered furniture and clothing. Therefore, be sure to include all of these things in the cleaning process by

    • brush thoroughly every day
    • vacuum and wipe with a damp cloth
    • then immediately dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag outside in the garbage cans
    • Machine wash fabrics at 60°C if possible
    • Treat fabrics (e.g. the sofa, the bed mattress…) with a home-made anti-flea spray

    Hygiene is particularly important in the fight against fleas, as these little creatures survive best in an unsanitary environment.

    digression

    Rat fleas were once responsible for plague epidemics

    Surely you have heard of the serious plague epidemics of the Middle Ages and modern times, in which large parts of the population were regularly wiped out. Even today there are outbreaks in particularly poor parts of the world, in which - then as now - mainly rat fleas act as carriers of this terrible disease, which leads to death within a very short time. In general, fleas can transmit a whole range of infectious diseases, which, however, only rarely happens in today's hygienic conditions.

    How do you even recognize a flea infestation?

    Frequent scratching is a sure sign of a flea infestation

    If you suspect a flea has infested you or your pet, acting quickly is important. The animals reproduce rapidly, so hesitation only makes things worse. In this section, we will tell you how to recognize an infestation with certainty.

    Typical signs of a flea infestation

    If you and/or your pet show these signs, you should act quickly. These signs clearly indicate a flea infestation:

    • frequent itching and scratching
    • recognizable flea bites (see table)
    • traces of feces
    • sometimes larvae
    • rarely live fleas

    The animals are difficult to catch alive, after all they hide for most of the day and are also extremely quick. The following article explains how to identify them based on their droppings:

    youtube

    Distinguish flea bites and insect bites

    If it itches and scratches, it doesn't have to be a flea bite. In fact, there are some species in the insect kingdom that leave bites or stings quite similar to those of fleas. In particular, the bite marks of bed bugs or mites are very similar to those of fleas, so that no precise distinction can be made on the basis of the marks alone. In addition to the distinctions listed in the table below, you should pay particular attention to these notes:

    • fleas: also bite during the day, often several times, bite marks are possible all over the body, otherwise they hide in carpets, upholstered furniture, curtains, etc.
    • bed bugs: only bite at night, bite marks only on uncovered parts of the body, like to hide in cracks, carpets, upholstered furniture, etc. during the day.
    fleas bed bugs mites mosquitoes
    Look often multiple bites in close proximity to each other often multiple bites in close proximity to each other red swelling, similar to an insect bite usually only a single, slightly reddened or whitish swelling
    characteristics little red or swollen little red or swollen sometimes with burrows under the skin (scabies / scabies) Swelling about two to five centimeters in size, no blood spot in the middle
    itching severe itching, often in all bite sites at the same time Itching occurs later and can last for several days severe itching, absolutely in need of medical treatment! Itching often occurs immediately, strong irritation that can last for several days

    frequently asked Questions

    At what temperature do fleas die?

    Fleas feel most comfortable at temperatures between 25 and 30 °C, but are still active at cooler or warmer degrees. You can only kill them with certainty at a minimum of 60 °C in the washing machine or minus 18 °C in the freezer. Pack all non-washable textiles in here and simply freeze them for several days in the event of a flea infestation.

    How long can a flea survive?

    The fact that a flea can only survive for a very short time without a blood meal definitely belongs in the realm of fairy tales. On the contrary: the animals can survive for up to a year without food, which is why they can be infected without any pets. This is the case, for example, if you take over an apartment from previous tenants or owners who had pets. If their animals have had fleas, they can survive unnoticed in cracks and corners.

    How old does a flea get?

    Fleas don't get old: It takes around a year and a half from the egg to becoming an adult, with the adult flea only lasting around five to six weeks.

    tips

    Since prevention is always better than cure, your pets - especially outdoor ones - should! - Always wear a flea collar.

Category:

Animals in the garden