A flea infestation is uncomfortable for you and your pet and opens your family up to other parasitic infections or infectious diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You certainly don't want to use harmful chemicals that may cause injury to your pet or family in an effort to protect them from fleas. Fortunately, there are easy organic solutions that will safely eliminate the flea problem from your home.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming alone is enough to rid your home of a flea infestation, according to a 2007 study published in "Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata." At Ohio State University, researchers found that one session of vacuuming killed 96 percent of adult fleas and 100 percent of non-adult fleas. Of the results, lead researcher W. Fred Hink says, "Vacuuming is a great strategy because it involves no chemicals and physically removes the problem." The study did not cover the effect of vacuuming on unhatched eggs, however, so it is recommended that you repeat vacuuming furniture and carpeting every day for two weeks to ensure you capture all hatched fleas. Be sure to cover all areas where your pet spends time, including underneath, behind or on furniture and beds.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth, or DE as it is commonly labeled, is not actually from earth but rather from the sea. It is the fossilized remains of single-celled organisms that lived in the sea millions of years ago and is an all-natural way to control flea infestations, according to Joe Keyser, environmental program director and TV show host for "The GreenMan Show." Keyser states that DE is so safe that it is approved for use as a food additive by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but cautions that only food grade DE is approved for that use. Pet owners can use it indoors by sprinkling the powderlike substance on carpets, furniture, pet bedding and behind and under home furnishings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends wearing goggles and a mask while spreading DE because the fine powder can irritate the skin, eyes and lungs.
Parasites
If you wish to prevent your home from being re-infested with fleas, it's important to treat your yard at the same time so your pets don't track in new fleas. One natural and organic treatment you can use in your yard involves parasitic organisms called nematodes that infect fleas and kill them from the inside out. This treatment only works outdoors and requires soil and moisture to be effective, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
References
- Science Daily: Cat Fleas' Journey into the Vacuum is a "One-way Trip"
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Integrated Pest Management for Schools--A How-to Manual, Chapter 8--Fleas
- Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection: An Ancient Solution to Modern Pest Problems
- CDC: Healthy Housing Reference Manual, Chapter 4--Disease Vectors and Pests
