Fleas can affect both pets and people.
Fleas are irritating, blood-sucking insects that feed primarily on cats, dogs and other animals. However, fleas can feed on humans as well, resulting in rashes, swelling, hives or itching. Fleas also can pass along disease. It's important to get rid of fleas as soon as possible, but many people do not want to use chemicals around themselves, their pets and their children. The good news is there are home remedies you can use to get rid of the bugs.
Garlic
Garlic is thought to be an effective remedy against fleas.
Garlic has long been used as a natural way to control and eliminate fleas. People and dogs seem to benefit from adding garlic to their diets to drive away the insects. Unless they consume a huge amount of garlic, the cloves should pose no problems in humans,. However, dogs should be given only one to three cloves of crushed garlic mixed in their food each day. Cats should not be given garlic at all.
Citrus
You can easily make flea repellent from citrus fruits.
Another home remedy against fleas is citrus. Spraying concentrated citrus repellent on your pet, yourself or your home might help drive away fleas. You can make a citrus repellent cheaply and easily with lemons; cut one lemon into fourths and let it boil in two cups of hot water. After a few minutes of boiling, let the lemon quarters steep in the water overnight. The next day, take out the lemon parts and put the liquid in a spray bottle. Spray the affected areas. If you use the spray on a pet, be sure to get the areas around the ears and head, where fleas like to gather, but do not spray the repellent in your pet's eyes.
Boric Acid
Sprinkling boric acid into carpets and rugs can help control fleas.
Boric acid is a very mild acid often used in products as an insecticide, as well as an antiseptic. You can find boric acid in many stores as Borax, a white powder sold as a laundry additive. Homes with carpeting provide an easy place for fleas to hide and breed, but sprinkling rugs and carpets with Borax helps kill flea larvae. Dust carpets with a light coat of borax, and then work the powder in with a broom. Let it sit for 24 hours, then vacuum up the powder. It's best to keep pets and children away from the area while the Borax sits. You might want to wear a mask while applying the powder and vacuuming, even though Borax has a low toxicity to humans.
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