Flea Prevention Tips (10 Amazing Cheap DIY Methods)

I don’t know about anyone, but my pets mean the world to me. They are my brothers, sisters, comrades, and confidantes. There is no gold nor money in the world that could make me trade them for anything. That is why we wanted to give you guys a list of flea prevention tips to protect your love ones.

As a responsible pet owner, it is my duty to give them the life they deserve. This includes providing them with shelter, food, comfort, and water. The most difficult to control among all these needs is comfort.

Unlike humans, they cannot say what they feel. You need to be more keen in observing what they truly need. One of the many things that can disrupt their comfort is a flea infestation. These are small, fast creatures that feed on their blood.

Tips for Flea and Tick Preventives

Fleas are known to cause skin diseases, rashes, and allergies. In some studies, they have proven that a flea infestation can cause anemia. This usually happens when the number of fleas is beyond the use of DIY pest control methods.

Applying a proper flea control procedure is necessary. We need to consider our own and our pet’s safety. So, what defines a safe pest control for pets? Pets are curious creatures. They tend to go anywhere they have access to.

Even if it is harmful in the eyes of humans, they almost never follow the rules. They sniff objects, eat objects, and roll on objects. They all are like happy children without no care at all as long as they are happy.

From these activities, they could eat pest control granules intended for rats. They could sniff the fumes coming from a recent pesticide application. Plus, the residues could accumulate on their skin and fur. It could lead to poisoning and other harmful reactions.

If you suspect any signs of poisoning, go to the nearest veterinarian or animal hospital immediately. The symptoms could show days after the contamination. The symptoms include one or more of the following: vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and salivation.

The Need for Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a safe and environmentally-friendly approach. It applies a variety of pest control methods that focuses on prevention, monitoring, mechanical control, and biological control. The IPM approach lessens the use of harmful pesticides as it exhibits more natural ways of pest management. Hence, this is the perfect pest control for pets.

In a 2009 study that focused on the effectiveness of Integrated Pest Management Intervention, the researchers compared its effects with the traditional pest control approach using insecticides. Their findings show that IPM is more effective than the application of pesticides. In addition, it decreased the probability of allergic reactions and poisoning from the harmful ingredients of pesticides.

Tip: Checking your pet regularly is a good way to treat and prevent other skin diseases on your love ones.

DIY Guide to IPM Methods to Prevent Fleas and Ticks

1. No food, No Infestation

As a responsible homeowner, your first line of defense is your place itself. If it is attractive to pests, then these pesky creatures are likely to infest. Most pests such as roaches, fleas, mice, and ants look for warmth, shelter, and food. Your home is their number one target, especially if they have everything they need.

In dealing with fleas indoors, it does not necessarily mean that you need to get rid of your pet. It just means to make their fur undesirable to fleas. You could apply some spray-on or upgrade their shampoo. We’ll get to that later.

Fleas do not only dwell on your pet’s fur. They actually go into hiding after feeding. Fleas can live in crevices, cracks, unused cabinets, attics, flea dirt and basements for three months without feeding. This is the time they mate and lay eggs. You need to keep your place from being a breeding site of these pests.

Humidity and Clutter

Keep the humidity as low as possible. Fleas thrive in moist. They need it for survival. Plus, they love warmth. It is one of the main reasons they infest homes. If you can decrease the temperature as low as you can, do so. This will inhibit any fleas from harboring inside your home.

Fleas love clutter. They do not like to be seen by humankind. To make your place unattractive to these pests, declutter your garage and storage areas by removing magazines, newspapers, boxes, etc. to prevent any signs of nesting.

Furthermore, fleas are very good at high jump. They can jump 100 times their size. With their minute body, they can get into your home through even the smallest cracks. You need to seal every crevice to avoid giving them an access point.

2. Know Your Facts

To effectively eliminate fleas, you need to know what they are and what they can do. There are different kinds of fleas. You need to know which ones you are dealing with, so you can assess the proper ways you can get rid of them. Check with your vet If you notice any blood loss or hair loss caused from flea bites.

Acquaint yourself with the most important information, such as their life cycle, their habits, their preferences, and dislikes. Knowing their life cycles will give you an idea of what stage is more vulnerable to various methods. Knowing their habits and preferences will tell you where they hide and nest. Lastly, knowing their dislikes will tell you what to use against them.

3. Wash the Pet Bedding Regularly

This is a common and effective method to prevent flea infestation. Fleas usually dwell along with areas where your pet lounges. Also, to prevent any eggs from hatching and larvae from developing, wash the bedding and toys regularly. Washing the bedding will reduce the changes of skin infections and flea allergy dermatitis. Most simple of all the flea prevention tips out there.

4. Dish Soap

Create a trap using dish soap and water. You can just fill a bowl with a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Place it in areas where there is the most flea activity. The dish soap acts as a glue. It traps fleas until they drown in a pool of water.

This method works better during the night because fleas are more active during those times. However, if your pet is playful and ill-trained, this is not advised due to the fact that they could drink from the solution. Great way to help a furry friend and prevent your pet from flea allergy dermatitis or other skin infections.

5. Herbal Sprays

Natural sprays are one of the best and most practical flea pest control methods. All you need to do is purchase Neem oil, Orange oil or Coconut oil. It’s quite easy. Mix a significant amount of oil with water. Put it in a spray bottle and use it as a spray-on to your pet.

You can also use this to treat your floors and your carpets to prevent fleas from breeding. Check your dogs skin before using any flea tick sprays or any flea and tick products.

Be careful in using oil sprays. Some animals are allergic to some oils. Better consult your vet first before employing this kind of method. However, check with your vet be using any flea and tick preventives products.

6. Vinegar – Lemon Combination

There is another way you can create a flea spray using vinegar, lemon, witch hazel, and water. Just mix 4 liters of vinegar, 2 liters of water, 250 mL of witch hazel, and 500 mL lemon juice. Mix it in a container that could accommodate the whole solution. Put some in a spray bottle and spray it along areas where pests are common. It could be on the bedding, toys, patios, floors, and walls. One of the best tips for flea prevention, and it is a natural way to treat and prevent your pet from flea infestation.

7. Baking soda Trap

To use baking soda as a means to eliminate fleas, all you need to do is sprinkle baking soda all over your furniture, bedding, and floors. Let it stay there for a whole day, then vacuum the powder out. Repeat this method two or four times a week for better results. This is one of the best and cheapest tick and flea prevention tips.

8. Salt Trap

Indeed, salt has so many great uses. It is also used to repel fleas at home, and works mechanically to kill pests. Also, It dehydrates them, killing them when they get in contact with it. Sprinkle salt on your carpet and furniture where your pet usually stays. Let it stay for 1 to 2 days before vacuuming.

Diatomaceous Earth works the same way. This is composed of fossilized algae called diatoms. It is a non-toxic powder that can readily kill various kinds of pests such as fleas, roaches, bed bugs, and many more. Also, this is a simple way for pet owners prevent other skin diseases like Lyme Disease.

9. Rosemary Powder

That’s right! You can make your flea powder using rosemary. Place the herb with rue, wormwood, and peppermint. Crush it using a mortar and pestle. Grind it until it is homogeneous in nature. To use, sprinkle it on your bedding, carpets, furniture, window sills, and any place where you suspect flea activity. This is an amazing method to treat and get rid of fleas without having to use tick medication.

10. Repel Fleas and Ticks Using Plants

One of the most basic ways to repel fleas and ticks is the use of flea repelling plants. Put some pennyroyal. Chrysanthemums, lavender, and spearmint around or inside your home to repel fleas. The scent of these flowers may be heavenly to human beings, but it is irritating to fleas.

These are only ten of the most common ways to get rid of pests — link in to learn more. By applying this fleas and ticks tips you can reduce the chances of Lyme Disease, and other bacteria type of transmitted disease caused by ticks. Keeping your home clean, and using a preventive kill flea control product would be enough protection or tick prevention for dogs.

You can also try tick collars as a natural flea and tick prevention if you don’t want to use any chemicals. All the above preventive measures would be excellent to apply during flea and tick season. Also, treat your yard for flea dirt, flea eggs, or flea larva as long as you keep your pet safe. Avoid walking your dogs on tall grass during flea season even if you dog has a strong defense system.

Wrapping It up

Our family dogs mean so much to us that we need to provide them with the best care. These animals give so much love and support. It’s apparent we do the same. To be a fur parent is not as easy as it looks like. We all have different duties to uphold. Let the prevention of pests be one of our priorities to give our fur babies a comfortable life. A combination of these tips are a spot-on treatment for fleas or ticks.

Check with your vet and read the label directions before using any products on your pet to treat and prevent fleas and ticks. Also, keep checking your pet regularly for flea bites, and hair loss. Hope you like our DIY flea prevention tips and guide, also make sure you tune in in our newsletter subscriptions for more adult fleas parasite prevention, flea control pet guides, and german shepherd training tips.

Last Updated on 16/12/2023 by Karen Snow