Fleas are often part of owning any dog, including a schnauzer, but it is probably healthier to use natural flea control at home than to expose your dog, yourself, and your family to toxic pesticides.
There’s no doubt that fleas can be little pests, but if you’re trying to keep your home eco-friendly finding the right way to get rid of them can be tricky.
Here’s how to get rid of fleas naturally:
#1 – Clean and Dust. Fleas like dust mites are attracted to fabric and dusty or damp areas. One way to stay on top of these little critters is by stripping your home as much as possible of “fabrics” – install wooden flooring, get rid of excess cushions, install blinds instead of curtains and so on.
The less fabric material in your home, the easier it is to maintain its cleanliness. It also makes it that much more difficult for fleas and other bugs to lay eggs and multiply.
#2 – Clean your pets thoroughly. This can be difficult to stay on top off but give your pets a good wash using a natural pet shampoo and dry them fully. Then keep your pet away from flea-infected areas for a few days to avoid recontamination.
There are many natural pet cleaning products and flea repellent products on the market. It’s just a matter of finding the right one for your pet.
#3 – Wash in hot water. All flea-infested fabrics such as bedding and cushion covers should be washed in very hot water and ideally be hung outside to dry under the sun. If you have carpets in your home also wash these with a soapy hot water mixture and a scrubbing brush.
You’ll need to ensure there is plenty of ventilation to avoid creating the damp environment which fleas thrive in. You can also opt to have your carpets pressure cleaned and this will reduce the drying time and give you a more thorough cleaning.
#4 – Use Boric acid. This can be found in your local supermarket. Simply sprinkle the boric acid onto your carpets and leave it for a few hours. Then thoroughly vacuum any infested areas. Make sure you change the vacuum bag each time and dispose of it outside. It’s easy for the fleas to get out of the bag and infest a new area in your home. Ideally you can place the vacuum bag in another plastic bag and seal it tightly, then dispose of it.
Repeat the boric acid, vacuum treatment everyday until the problem is resolved.
And if you need even more to treat your dog, try this natural flea and tick shampoo and/or use a natural flea and tick spray.
