Homemade flea repellents are easy to whip up and lower your pet’s – and your family’s – exposure to synthetic insecticides, so why not give them a try?
1. Lemon spray
Cut 2 peeled lemons (no rind) into small pieces, put the pieces into a saucepan of 1 litre water and boil till pulpy. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture stand overnight. Strain the liquid into a spray bottle and spray your dog or cat almost all over, especially under the “armpits”, behind the ears and around the head, taking care to shield the eyes. When you spray at the base of the tail, avoid spraying your pet’s genitals. You can also dip a brush into the mixture, and run it through their coat.
2. Vinegar repellent
Repel fleas with a solution made from 10 parts water to 1 part apple cider or white vinegar. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray your pet as with the lemon spray.
3. Draw a line in the salt
Pour table salt around all the crevices of the kennel to keep fleas well away from your dog’s cosy abode. You can also kill flea eggs with salt; when fleas infest your home, they can get everywhere. As adult fleas jump from animals to the carpets, they can lay eggs. Sprinkle salt on your carpets to kill flea eggs or larvae; let it sit for a day, then vacuum. Repeat the process a few days later to make sure you haven’t missed any flea eggs. Each time you vacuum the salt, tie up and discard the vacuum cleaner bag that you’ve used.