Attack of the Fleas

Ok environmentally savvy tree lovers. Here it is. The big leagues. How do you cure a flea infestation without killing all the good bugs in your yard? Better yet, how do you get them out of your house and off your dog when you are pregnant and can't touch flea shampoo? Here are a few of the "green" ways to keep your pet and house flea free!

Borax your carpet: Borax can be found in most laundry aisles at the store. You sprinkle the powder on all your carpetted surfaces and leave it there for 24-48 hours. Use a broom to brush it into the carpet for best results. Then, vaccuum it up! Fleas apparently like the taste of Borax, but it's poisonous to them. (NOTE: it is also poisonous to pets, so please make sure you keep your dog/cat/baby out of the room while it is being Boraxed). After vaccuuming, throw the bag out (like outside) to keep eggs from hatching in the bag and babies from reinfesting your home. Vaccuuming everyday is a big part of keeping the flea population from springing up. You can repeat the borax treatment a week later too. (NOTE: Borax also seems to make my carpet smell fresh and look cleaner too).

Apple Cider Vinegar: One teaspoon in your pet's water dish. Apparently this will make your pet taste/smell bad to fleas and keep them from bringing them in as much or being bitten. Completely safe product.

Tea Tree Oil: This is the money maker right here. We have a tea tree oil soap that we use on our dog. It soothes existing bites and works as a natural flea repellent (repels lice as well, FYI). We wash our dog with it daily right now (we will cut back when there are no more fleas). It's also something you can bathe in at night if, like me, you are worried that you could potentially get bit by the stupid things at night.

Launder EVERYTHING: All fabrics that you can...drown those fleas and their larva and eggs. Make sure to wash pet bed fabrics daily.

Vaccuum daily: This keeps those eggs, larva, and cacoonish thingies from staying in your carpet and settling in.

We did have our house sprayed a few weeks ago. I'm a bit OCD about bugs. However, since then, we've been trying to be as green about this as possible, without letting our house get infested or our dog eaten completely.