Anyone who has pets knows the problem: fleas not only torment dogs and cats, but also like to jump to people. The bloodsuckers leave very itchy bite marks and are also difficult to combat. With these home remedies you can successfully contain the plague.
Which home remedies help against fleas on animals and humans?
Effective home remedies for fleas include rosemary and lemon, diatomaceous earth and vinegar and lemon. For humans, essential oils such as tea tree, lemon or eucalyptus can be used. Note: Essential oils should not be used on animals. Hygiene and washing infected items are also important.
The best home remedies for fleas
“If you go to bed with dogs, you get up with fleas.” (Proverb)
Sprays, shampoos and other flea control products are available in specialist shops, but you don't always want to jump to the chemical route. Grandma's old home 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-time measure will unfortunately not lead to the desired result. Fleas could still survive and continue to multiply diligently - a female flea lays up to 50 eggs a day! – and so don’t let the problem get smaller. However, with this procedure you will definitely get rid of the annoying little animals:
- Spray body and fur dripping wet once a day
- do this for at least ten days
- At the same time, clean and mop the apartment thoroughly every day
- Change bed linen every two days and wash at at least 60 °C
- Put cuddly toys etc. in a plastic bag in the freezer - or wash at at least 60 °C
- Wash cat or dog beds weekly at 60 °C
In pets and people
Cat fleas also pass to humans
Two types of fleas are quite common in Germany. However, cat and dog fleas are not tied to their respective main hosts, but instead look for other hosts when there is a lack of food. Cat fleas in particular also like to pass on to humans, so pet owners know the problem firsthand. There are a variety of recipes for old home remedies against these pests, with each family probably swearing by their own mixture. However, most mixtures have one striking thing in common: rosemary and lemon are found in almost all homemade anti-flea sprays. This is not surprising, as 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 one:
- Pour a liter of water into a pot and bring it to the boil.
- Cut a lemon with the peel into small pieces and throw it into the boiling water.
- There are also 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 the coarse ingredients from the broth.
- If you are only going to use the spray on yourself, add a few drops of geranium or tea tree oil. Cats and dogs should not be treated with essential oils!
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle (such as the one used for spraying houseplants or ironing)
- Treat yourself and/or your pet with it.
Let the decoction take effect for about 20 minutes and then rinse it out again.
Fleas can't stand the smell of lemon and rosemary
Vinegar and lemon
A suitable spray can also be made from normal household vinegar and lemon, which you can use to treat not only living things, 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
directly in the spray bottle.
Diatomite
However, diatomaceous earth works best by far. This product is the finely ground shells of fossil diatoms, which is why it is also called diatomaceous earth or mountain flour. Fill the powder into a sprayer and dust your dog/cat, their bed, 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 friend - must be protected when using it. Leave the powder on for at least 20 minutes and then rinse it off thoroughly or vacuum it up.
Excursus
Chickens and other poultry are also affected
Chickens often have fleas too
By the way, 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 common problem, especially on chickens and pigeons, which is why experienced poultry farmers regularly clean the animals' stables thoroughly and then sprinkle them with diatomaceous earth.
Fighting fleas – hygiene is important
However, it doesn't help to just use home remedies to get rid of the fleas. Most fleas don't stay on the object of their desire most of the time, but instead hide in the surrounding area. Cracks and cavities are particularly popular as hiding places, but also carpets, curtains, bed linen, mattresses, upholstered furniture and clothing. Be sure to include all of these things in your cleaning by
- clean thoroughly every day
- vacuuming and wiping with a damp cloth
- then immediately dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag outside in the garbage can
- If possible, wash fabrics in the machine at 60 °C
- Treat fabrics (e.g. the sofa, the bed mattress) with a self-made anti-flea spray
Hygiene is particularly important in the fight against fleas, because these little animals survive best in a less hygienic environment.
Excursus
Rat fleas were once responsible for plague epidemics
You have certainly 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 - rat fleas are the main carriers of this terrible disease that can lead to death in a very short time. In general, fleas can transmit a whole range of infectious diseases, although this rarely happens given our current hygienic conditions.
How do you even recognize a flea infestation?
Frequent scratching is a sure sign of a flea infestation
If you suspect that a flea has infected you or your pet, it is important to act quickly. The animals are multiplying rapidly, so hesitation will only make things worse. In this section, we will tell you how to reliably recognize an infestation.
Typical signs of a flea infestation
If you and/or your pet experience these signs, you should take action quickly. These signs clearly indicate a flea infestation:
- frequent itching and scratching
- identifiable flea bites (see table)
- Foot marks
- sometimes larvae
- rare live fleas
The animals are difficult to catch alive, as they hide most of the day and are also extremely agile. The following article explains how to identify them based on their droppings:
Hat mein Hund Flöhe? Flöhe ganz einfach erkennen!
Distinguish between flea bites and insect bites
If it itches and scratches, it doesn't necessarily have to be a flea bite. In fact, there are some species in the insect kingdom that leave bites or stings that are quite similar to fleas. In particular, the bite marks of bed bugs or mites are very similar to those of fleas, so an exact distinction cannot be made based on 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 generally possible on the entire 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.
Comparison of the bite of a flea, bed bug, mite and mosquito
| Fleas | Bed bugs | Mites | Mosquitoes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | often several bites in close proximity to each other | often several bites in close proximity to each other | red swelling, similar to an insect bite | usually just 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, definitely requires 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 temperatures. You can only kill them safely at at least 60 °C in the washing machine or minus 18 °C in the freezer. Put 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. Quite the opposite: The animals can survive for up to a year without food, which is why they can be infected even without any pets. This is the case, for example, if you take over an apartment from a previous tenant or previous owner who has pets. If their animals have had fleas, they can survive unnoticed in cracks and corners.
How old does a flea get?
Fleas don't grow old: It takes around a year and a half to go from egg to adult, although the lifespan of the adult flea only lasts around five to six weeks.
Tip
Since prevention is always better than treatment, your pets - especially if they are outdoor animals! – always wear a flea collar.
