Don't Laugh...
Flea Control ... that really works!

Deborah J. Carter
Canterbury Labradors
Veterinary Technician
Copyright 2001

Fact: A single female flea can lay between 300 and 765 eggs in her lifetime.

INDOOR USE

There’s no doubt about it. Flea control is expensive! However, the following tips could save you a lot of money. First, thoroughly vacuum your house, then tape the vacuum bag shut and get it out of your house. You have removed the number one source of fleas. Next, take a quart Mason jar and punch 15-20 holes in the lid. Fill the jar with 20 Mule Team Borax. Do not use Borateen. Liberally shake Borax on all carpet surfaces. Be sure to include areas under beds, couch cushions, and around baseboards. Then sweep with a broom to get the Borax deep into the carpet fibers and into the baseboard areas. Do not vacuum these areas for at least seven days, but 10 days is better. After this time frame, vacuum as you normally would. Repeat the Borax treatment every three to four months, or more frequently if you vacuum more than once a week.

Borax works in the three ways. Its number one ingredient is Boric Acid, which is a dehydrator that drains the adult flea’s bodily fluids; As new larvae hatch and crawl around in the carpet, the Borax also dehydrates their outer tissues and they dry up. Finally, it contaminates the food source left behind by the adult flea for their larvae. So whatever larvae somehow missed crawling through the Borax in the carpet will now be killed internally by eating this contaminated food. You’ll still see adult fleas around for about two weeks, but they’ll start looking transparent and acting very sickly.

Use Borax on carpet surfaces only. Do not use Borax on pets or in their bedding!

OUTDOOR USE

For outdoor flea control, you will need two items: Original Palmolive Dishwashing Liquid (the green kind) and a dial sprayer. I use an Ortho Dial sprayer. Palmolive Liquid is PH balanced and will not harm anything in the environment, when used as directed. For patios, decks, windowsills and around the foundation of your house, set the dial sprayer to dispense Palmolive at the rate of three to four ounces per one gallon of water. When spraying around bushes, roses, and lawns, set the sprayer to dispense Palmolive at the rate of two teaspoons per one gallon of water. Allow areas to dry before returning pets to area.

Because Palmolive liquid is a petroleum distillate, it suffocates the flea. It also kills aphids, ants and grasshoppers. If ants or crickets are a problem entering you home through doorways or windowsills, try squirting a fine line of Palmolive liquid (straight from the bottle) at the baseboard of the doorway. You don’t need a lot. A fine line will do.

Do the above in early morning or as the sun is going down. For fleas, repeat at 10 days to two week intervals. Do not use this method in the heat of the day. You’ll burn your plants up. Do not use Palmolive dishwashing liquid on your pet! These flea control tips are very effective when used as directed. Be sure to include regular bathing and standard flea control prevention on your animals.