How to Kill Fleas with Baking Soda

There is no magic formula for controlling ticks and fleas on your pets. No matter how much manufacturers advertise their formulas as safe and 100% organic, no chemical compound exists that can control fleas while leaving your pets and household truly safe and healthy. However, there are ways of natural flea control. These simple yet holistic alternative programs not only work; they also cause less trouble in the long run.

If you have been continually spraying or administering toxic materials and poison to your pets or on your property, then I have some wonderful tips for you to change all that. In this guide, I will explain how to kill fleas with baking soda naturally.

Can you kill fleas with baking soda?

If you are wondering whether it is possible to kill fleas with baking soda, then the answer is yes. The secret behind controlling fleas is getting rid of their larvae and eggs. This is where baking soda comes into the picture.

Very few products are successful in treating adult fleas as well as their eggs. But baking soda used along with common table salt can do this job successfully. This is an inexpensive yet an effective and safe method that will not harm your pets or children. Additionally, both the ingredients are also readily available in most households, so one need not go out of their way or purchase these items.

Important point to note when using baking soda to kill fleas

If you use baking soda to kill fleas, you have to ensure that the product is still active. To test if your baking soda is active, add it to a few drops of vinegar. The mixture should bubble instantly and continue to bubble up for a few minutes. If this is not the case and the bubbles are forming rather slowly or not forming at all, then it is time to replace your existing batch of baking soda.

Steps for killing fleas with baking soda

To kill fleas with baking soda, you must treat the carpets, bedding as well as the furniture in the household. Failure to do this will render all other flea control products (particularly those used on the pets) ineffective, as the fleas will simply continue to multiply on these breeding grounds.

1. Start by purchasing baking soda and salt by the gallons. This is especially needed when the infestations are huge or when you are planning on treating all the rooms of your home.
2. It is best to keep the pets outdoors when treating the home. Salt and soda can be irritating to pets’ skin especially if they have open flea wounds or sores.
3. Mix the salt and baking soda together and fill the mixture in an old shaker bottle. You can also apply the soda and salt separately to the carpets.
4. To kill fleas with baking soda method, liberally sprinkle the salt and baking soda on the entire carpeted area.
5. You can now use a brush or a broom to ensure spreading the mixture uniformly to all areas.
6. Now leave the mixture of salt and baking soda on the carpet overnight. The product works by dehydrating the fleas and eventually killing them.
7. Next, vacuum the carpet thoroughly. This will help you get rid of dead and dying fleas. If you are using a bagged vacuum, seal the disposable bags and get rid of them outdoors.
8. Repeat the process every 3 to 4 days since flea eggs hatch within this period. This will make the treatment more effective and help you get rid of remaining fleas.
9. Repeat the entire process every few months.

Can you put baking soda on your dog or cat?

Yes, baking soda can be used on your dog or cat. In fact, it deodorizes the pet’s fur between baths and also stifles the fleas and other parasites that may be living in it. You can also make a wonderful and inexpensive pet shampoo using baking soda (many shampoos made specifically for pets contain baking soda). Baking soda can also be used on other household pets such as rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas and guinea pigs.

You can also liberally sprinkle baking soda in your pet’s hair between baths to keep the fur shiny, healthy, odor-free as well as ‘flea-free’. Use the above baking soda flea bath once a week in case your pet is heavily infested. Do not forget to treat all your pets as well as the entire house. This is necessary to prevent re-infestation.

Get rid of fleas with vinegar mixed with baking soda

In order to make the baking soda remedy even more powerful, you can use a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Here is a simple homemade flea spray recipe with vinegar and baking soda:

Ingredients

• 8 oz apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 4 oz warm water
• ½ tsp salt

Mix the dry ingredients first and then slowly add vinegar and water. The mixture will react a bit. Fill the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray down your pets, taking care not to get the mixture into their eyes.

Treating fleas on carpets, rugs and hardwood floors with borax, salt and baking soda

Borax is another natural ingredient that literally rips fleas apart. When mixed with salt and baking soda, you have a powerful solution for your rugs, carpets and hardwood floors. Here is the recipe for an effective Borax, salt and baking soda cleaner:

Ingredients

• ½ cup Borax
• 1 cup baking soda
• ¼ cup salt

Mix the ingredients and fill the mixture into an empty bottle with a lid that has holes in it. Sprinkle the mixture on your rugs, pet’s bedding, carpets etc. Let it sit for a few hours. Then vacuum thoroughly. You may repeat this treatment every 3-4 days to get rid of newly hatched eggs. You can also use the mixture for hardwood floors and vacuum after a few hours.

When you choose to kill fleas with baking soda, you are not only saving money but also ensuring a safer and more natural method of controlling these pests. Try it out for yourself and see just how effective this is for killing fleas. If you are out of baking soda, you can get it here.