Evict wildlife. Animals like opossum, mice, and squirrels can all carry fleas. It’s possible to repel these animals from your yard without trapping or killing them. The Humane Society recommends “gently harassing” animals to get them to move. This can include setting up barriers in the yard, putting up bright lights, playing loud music, and leaving rags soaked in cider vinegar. Employ a steam cleaner for carpets and upholstery, including pet beds. The combination of high heat and soap is the enemy of fleas in all stages of life. Pay special attention to any spots where your pet usually lies down or spends a lot of time. Caution: Do not inhale product. Keep out of reach of children. Do not use if tamper evidence seal is missing or broken. Fleas can infest an animal’s entire body. This causes widespread itching and discomfort. If left untreated, your pet may develop skin infections or a rash from constantly breaking their skin while scratching. The advent of topical flea treatments for pets have made insecticides pretty outdated. Topical prescriptions stop or augment the flea’s reproductive cycle and rapidly kill an infestation.

Lemon Spray - Lemon it is said, can be used in a lot of ways around the house, but aside from being a way to treat wasp stings, it’s also said to be an 'old wives' natural home remedy for fleas. To make this natural lemon remedy flea spray, slice a lemon thinly and add to a pint of water and bring to the boil. Let the citrus solution sit overnight and pour into a spray bottle. Then spray the citrus solution on the infested areas in your home – sofas, pet bedding, chairs etc. Do not soak, only dampen. It may make your home smell fresh and appealing but it is very unlikely to remove a flea infestation . Baking Soda - For this flea home remedy to work, the saying goes that you need to lay down baking soda along your carpets and furniture, take a hard brush and rub it into the fabric. After that, vacuum your home thoroughly and empty the contents of the vacuum into a bag and place securely in an outside rubbish bin.In fact, with both the baking soda and the salt 'old wives tales' the factor that actually does have a positive effect on removing fleas, is thorough and persistent vacuuming throughout your property. It is important to be aware that if using diatomaceous earth as a natural flea remedy you should use the food grade option . Although it is non-toxic, the nature of the powder can get messy and irritate your eyes and throat. When using diatomaceous earth to treat your home it is advised that you wear a face mask and gloves.In the worst cases they can make your pet seriously ill. Fleas feed on your pet’s blood so a very young, old or unwell pet can become dangerously anaemic if they become heavily infested with fleas. If you do aim to use an insecticide or other chemical cleaning treatment, please proceed with caution. Many are toxic to humans, pets, and the environment. Fleas that stealthily sneak into your home may remain unnoticed for a while. During this time, they will be breeding and rapidly multiplying in numbers. So, when you do spot evidence of these pesky intruders, the infestation may have already spread throughout your home. Aerosol sprays are recommended over foggers, as you can direct the spray under beds or other places that the foggers may be unable to reach. To do this, you must treat your pet and its living environment at the same time. Depending on your pet’s boundaries, this may include your whole house or yard.

Wash the bedding: Wash your pet’s bedding in hot water every few days. Wash your bedding in hot water, too, especially if your pet sleeps with you. Dry the bedding on the highest heat setting.

What are fleas and how are they spread?

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Direct sun-exposed areas can get too hot, so you probably won’t find many fleas there. Problem areas will likely be found by observing where your pet likes to lie down. It can be difficult to get rid of a flea infestation and fleas can cause your pet real discomfort. It’s always best to prevent fleas by regularly giving your pet a suitable flea treatment. Antihistamines: Antihistamines are a popular flea bite treatment. Histamine is a chemical created by your immune system. Your body releases histamine after it encounters an allergen. Histamine is what makes flea bites itch. You can take an antihistamine as a pill, or you can apply it directly to your flea bite as a cream or ointment.