If you are suffering from flea infestation, it is time to find the remedy once and for all.
Hydrogen peroxide has been used for many years to kill fleas, however, there are other options to get rid of these parasites.
Fleas do not carry disease-causing organisms but their bites can cause people and pets to itch. If dogs are affected, you will see patches of hair loss and reddened skin.
They can also spread parasites such as tapeworms to your pet. A flea bite will cause itching and pain in human beings.
Your home should be flea-free to avoid its bites. In this article, we will focus on six methods of eradicating fleas. Let us dive in!
Contents
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Kill Fleas?
Hydrogen peroxide is known for its effectiveness in killing fleas. You can also consider it if your home is infested with fleas. Don’t wait until it is too late for you before acting on it.
Fleas
Fleas have four stages in their lifecycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The time it takes to complete the life cycle varies, depending on the environmental conditions.
It can take weeks or months to complete the lifecycle. That strategy is to improve survivability.
Fleas lay eggs on carpets, rugs, floorboard cracks, pet bedding, upholstery, cushions, and other hidden places.
Flea eggs are oval-shaped, smooth, and sticky when freshly laid. They, however, quickly dry up and dislodge from the host even without grooming.
Fleas are found around the neck region on cats and hips in dogs, and you will notice the loss of fur and reddening of the affected areas.
The pet will be scratching itself on objects to dislodge the parasite or ease the irritation on its skin.
Amazon Brand – Solimo Hydrogen Peroxide
- 32-fluid ounce bottle of first aid antiseptic
- First aid to help prevent risk of infection from minor cuts, scrapes and burns
- Active ingredient: 3% hydrogen peroxide (stabilized)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Winning the battle against fleas is a daunting task because of the different life stages.
If you want to eliminate them, just disrupt their life cycle by either destroying eggs, larva, pupa, or the adult. Female fleas can lay between 20 to 50 eggs a day.
Hydrogen peroxide is the ultimate solution to get rid of fleas. This chemical kills fleas by drowning them or destroying the protective skin that prevents them from dehydrating.
It is also effective in destoning the flea eggs, making it the best remedy for washing a pet’s house or bedding.
Using hydrogen peroxide in the laundry will destroy eggs, eliminate odors, and remove blood stains. It is, however, very aggressive and may discolor a pet’s hair.
As a result, you may consider other mild but effective options, which we will discuss in this post.
Hydrogen peroxide can be bought in a nearby chemical store or online store. It is readily available and affordable.
How To Use Hydrogen Peroxide To Kill Fleas
Hydrogen peroxide should be used cautiously in killing fleas because it has side effects on pets.
You can use it to control fleas on your pets by cleaning the pet or doing the pet laundry. Let us see the details on how to do that.
Pet Cleaning With Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can be damaging to tissues and cause burns on pets. It should, therefore, be mixed as recommended to form a safe solution.
Dilute hydrogen peroxide with water or saline in the ratio of 1:1.
Make a skunk bath for your pet using hydrogen peroxide to eliminate fleas.
To do that, mix one quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide with one-third cup of baking soda and one teaspoonful of dishwashing machine liquid. Pour the mixture on your pet and rub it in.
Allow it to sit for a few minutes and then rinse it off. You may need to repeat the process as necessary. Once done, give your pet a regular follow-up bath.
When rubbing the hydrogen peroxide solution on your pet, be gentle around the ears and paws. Also, protect the eyes.
Fleas and Fabric Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is recommended for removing fleas in the fabric. Apart from killing adult fleas, it destroys eggs, making it more effective than many other control methods.
Hydrogen peroxide is used as you use any cleaning agent such as chlorine.
However, the two should not be used at a go because it is not economical. The cleaning capability doesn’t double.
Pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide into the water and soak the fabric in it for about 10 minutes. You can then wash your fabric as usual to remove the stains and odor.
Pros and Cons of Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is effective in eliminating fleas, however, it also comes with disadvantages, as highlighted below:
Pros:
- Effective in killing fleas.
- Effective in destroying eggs.
- Removes stains and odor.
- Easy to use.
Cons:
- Can cause burns.
- Acts by bleaching.
6 Other Safe Flea Removal Options
If you are worried about the burns and bleaching caused by hydrogen peroxide, you can try these alternatives. There are six safe flea removal options to choose from, which include the following:
- Keeping your pets healthy and clean.
- Using natural topical preparations.
- Using dietary additives reputed.
- Using diatomaceous earth.
- Removing fleas in the outdoor environment.
- Sterilizing your indoor environment.
- Restricting pet to areas flea problem exists.
Prevention is better than cure, and that’s what most alternatives listed focus on. Let us get all the details.
Keep Your Pets Healthy and Clean
Fleas don’t usually stay in a clean environment. If you clean everything, then you can keep them at bay.
You can keep your pets and their surroundings clean by frequently vacuuming, washing all bedding often, and doing regular pet checks.
Make it a habit to check your pets as regularly as possible to identify any signs of a flea infestation before they become too many to deal with.
Regular cleaning, as mentioned, will help remove dirt and disrupt the life cycle of fleas.
Treating fleas early on will help you prevent your pets from tapeworm and other flea-related infections.
Keeping everything healthy and clean is preventive but will not eradicate fleas once your pet is attacked by them.
Using Natural Topical Preparations
You can control fleas from your pets through natural preparations such as diatomaceous earth, apple cider vinegar, essential oils of cedar, tea tree, etc., and lemon rinse.
These solutions are used as a pet bath and rubbed into the skin.
Natural remedies are recommended for killing fleas because they are eco-friendly and have no side effects on your pet.
Herbal shampoos, such as oil or oregano, are also effective alternatives. You can use them to wash your pets as often as possible, usually weekly.
They are better than flea-pesticide shampoos and dips that are dangerous and toxic. Natural tropical preparations are also easy to make and materials readily available.
Using Dietary Additives Reputed
Food and plant-based substances are the best healthy alternatives to the chemical flea control method. But how effective are they in eliminating fleas from your pets?
Using a nutrition approach helps to boost your pet’s immune system by supplying the right amounts of nutrients needed in the body.
If your dog or cat is affected by fleas, it indicates a health problem, which can be addressed by feeding it properly.
Consider including fresh, whole, raw foods in the diet to improve the pet’s overall health. You can also buy nutritional supplements such as Nupro for dogs.
Other essential additives include herbal multi-vitamin powder, omega 3 oils, probiotics, and plant enzymes.
Using Diatomaceous Earth
This method is effective after sanitizing your home. It involves applying small amounts of diatomaceous earth to your home, especially areas frequented by fleas.
The Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is made with fossilized skeletal remains of unicellular plants. It looks like a powder but has a lethal property to insects.
In fleas, the diatomaceous powder cuts the protective outer skin, leading to death.
You can apply the diatomaceous earth on the pet’s bedding, carpet, couch, or any other commonly affected areas. Its effect can last for so long, but you may need to reapply it after vacuuming.
Diatomaceous earth is effective on carpets, tiles, or wooden floors. The powder can penetrate through the cracks to hide spots of fleas.
You just need a light dusting to cover a large area. It can also be used outdoors, but only when the wind is calm. Remember to turn off the indoor fans before dusting the floor.
HARRIS Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade
- Natural Product - Composed of 2lbs of 100% ground freshwater diatomaceous earth with absolutely no additives or fillers.ground freshwater diatomaceous earth with absolutely no additives or fillers.
- OMRI Listed - Listed with the Organic Minerals Research Institute, a non-profit organization that reviews products against organic standards.
- Powder Duster Included - Powder duster in the bag for easy and efficient application of diatomaceous earth on animal feed
Remove Fleas In The Outdoor Environment
Fleas will most likely infest the outdoor environment before advancing indoors. Controlling fleas outdoors can be challenging because of the vastness of the area.
You can think of natural means as highlighted below:
- Using nematodes to feed on the flea larva, keeping the fleas’ population down.
- Planting flea-repelling plants, including Penny Royal, Chrysanthemums, Lavender, Spearmint, etc.
- Spray your lawn or pet playing areas with herbal flea sprays.
Sterilize Your Indoor Environment
Sterilizing or sanitizing your indoor environment is another alternative to eradicate fleas and all their eggs. You can do that by sprinkling salt on the pet houses or your floor.
Salt dehydrates adult fleas to death. You can also consider baking soda to make removing fleas from fabrics for easier vacuuming.
Keeping your indoor environment clean and flea-free improves the health of your pets. There are many sanitizing liquids you can use for this purpose.
Restrict Pet To Areas Flea Problem Exists
It is sometimes challenging to control the pets’ movement. However, if you can, you should avoid taking it to flea-prone areas.
That sometimes means not interacting with pets in the neighborhood, which might be affected.
If you know hot spots in your home with fleas, you should restrict your pets from visiting them.
How To Check The Presence of Fleas
When your home or pets are infested with fleas, you will notice it from how the pet behaves.
An adult flea bites the pet, releasing saliva that causes allergic reactions. That will itch and cause frequent scratching.
If you check your pet, you will see scabs, flea dirt, and red spots. You will also notice some particles similar to salt and pepper on their bedding.
The presence of tapeworm and diseases such as typhus, plague, and cat-scratch disease may indicate the presence of fleas in your home.
These parasites can also bite you, resulting in itchy welts on your skin.
FAQs
What immediately kills fleas?
Nitenpyram is a product that has been used to kill fleas instantly on dogs. You may get it in the market as Capstar. It is a single tablet that is put into the dog’s mouth.
If you don’t want to use it, hot water can. Wash the pet bedding or carpet in hot water to destroy eggs and adult fleas in seconds.
Can you put peroxide on my dog for fleas?
Hydrogen peroxide kills fleas but should never be used to wash dogs if not diluted. You need to dilute it with saline to avoid burning the pets’ skin and bleaches on the fur.
Prepare the solution by mixing one quart of hydrogen peroxide, a quarter cup of baking soda, and one teaspoonful of liquid soap.
Can baking soda kill fleas on cats?
Yes. Baking soda dehydrates and kills flea larvae and eggs but not adult ones. This process breaks the life cycle, thereby preventing an outbreak.
Wrapping Up
Don’t let a flea infestation compromise the health and happiness of your pets.
You can effectively eradicate them using hydrogen peroxide or prevent an outbreak using other methods described in this article.
Keep your indoor and outdoor environment safe from fleas.
Thank you for taking your time to read this article at the Em Offgrid. Please share the information with other pet lovers in your cycle, and don’t forget to check out other posts.
