With three dogs and a cat, we’re always looking for ways to save on pet products. Unfortunately, one of our dogs did contract Lyme disease several years ago in our back yard. Since the collars are so expensive ($15 per pet/per month), and we would be forking out $45 per month, we decided on an all-natural homemade solution for flea & tick repellent for our pets that we spray and comb through their fur each day. While this is more work, it definitely puts more money back in our wallet!
Read our Essential Oils for Beginners post to learn about the different ways we use essential oils in our home to add to our frugal lifestyle. Read more about our Pet Collars and our Pet Bed Spray! Also, remember that washing pet bedding weekly and vacuuming on a regular basis will also help keep these pests at bay.
Ingredients:
- 8oz. apple cider vinegar
- 4oz. warm water
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 20 drops of Citronella essential oil
- 15 drops of Purification essential oil
- I have also added Palo Santo oil at times, Lavender, and Thieves as well.
Tools:
- Spray Bottle
- Funnel
Directions:
1. Pour all ingredients into spray bottle.
2. Apply to pet and brush daily to every other day.
3. Comb through fur.
4. Still do a daily check for ticks/fleas whether or not you spray that day or not.
Here are some other tips from our readers:
- If you have a flea infestation all you have to do is sprinkle salt on the carpet and it a day or so it will kill the fleas. Just vacuum and reapply!
- Suzette says, “you can also sprinkle Borax laundry detergent on you floors and rugs, along where the pet sleeps. Leave it there for a couple days then vacuum is sweep up. The fleas will eat it and blow up have been using for years.”
Check out our other DIY/Frugal Posts!
DIY Hair Detangler
DIY Baby Wipes
50 Uses for Vinegar
DIY Ice Melt (Safe For Pets)
Hydrogen Peroxide Miracle Cleaner
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Homemade Fabric Softener Crystals
Hydrogen Peroxide & Dawn Miracle Cleaner
DIY Homemade Window Cleaner
DIY Homemade Fabric Softener
DIY Homemade Febreeze Spray
DIY Foaming Hand Soap
How to Reuse Your Swiffer Wet Jet Bottle
How to Reuse Your Windex Touch-Up Pump
Organize Your Home in 30 Minutes or Less: 35 Days to an Organized Home
FREE Bathtub Toy Scoop
Homemade Ice Pack
Also keep in mind that if you do happen to get a flea infestation all you have to do is sprinkle salt on the carpet and it a day or so it will kill the fleas. Just vacuum and reapply!! TADA!!
you can also sprinkle Borax laundry detergent on you floors and rugs, along where the pet sleeps. Leave it there for a couple days then vacuum is sweep up. The fleas will eat it and blow up have been using for years
We used flea collar on our angora (long hair?) kitty. all of the fur under it was gone when we checked it a year or so later. It never grew back. last time for flea collar.
Hi, Steph. You didn’t mention in your post, how long did it take you to see results from this flea treatment? I’m collecting people’s experience for a research I’m doing on flea removal methods and their effectiveness. I’d love to include your report, for now it seems like the apple cider vinegar method is in the lead for DIY flea control methods 🙂
Just an FYI, citronella oil as is peppermint oil, very toxic to dogs. Try substituting lavender or cedar oils. Best yet repellents along with the vinegar, salt and baking soda mixture.