If you prefer natural remedies over harsh chemicals, you have many homemade options available.
Kill Fleas on Dogs
You can slow the infestation of fleas in your house by ridding your pet of the pests. Use a flea comb designed to trap the fleas on your dog. Comb the pet, dip comb in bucket of hot soapy water, and comb through pet’s fur again. After combing, use the homemade flea shampoos below to kill any remaining fleas
Kill fleas immediately with a solution consisting of rubbing alcohol and a drop of dish detergent. Put 1 cup of rubbing alcohol in pint size jar, add dishwashing soap, and fill jar with warm water. Put a lid on the jar and shake to mix. Use the mixture to bathe the dog. For soft fur, use a cream rinse on the pet after bathing.
Citrus fruit makes a flea-killing shampoo. Squeeze the juice from grapefruits, oranges, lemons or limes into container. Boil the rinds in water, then turn down the heat and simmer for two to three hours. Cool rinds and squeeze out liquid. Return the liquid to pot and simmer for two to three more hours. Combine liquid with juice and use to bathe pets.
Make another flea-killing shampoo with items from the drugstore by combining 1½ pints of water, 3 ounces each of dishwashing liquid and glycerin and 1 ½ ounces of white vinegar in a plastic container. Shake to mix. Use once a week as a flea shampoo until fleas are gone.
Use Dawn dishwashing soap to kill fleas and their eggs. The soap kills the fleas while the oil in the soap prevents the eggs from sticking. Soap the pet's neck area first to prevent fleas from swarming and hiding around eyes, noise and ears. Work Dawn into a rich later and allow to remain on dog for at least 5 minutes before rinsing.
Kill Fleas on Carpets, Bedding and Furniture
Other home remedies for killing fleas work on carpets, pet bedding and furniture. Borax, the laundry detergent, is also good for killing fleas. Fill a large sugar shaker with Borax and sprinkle liberally on the fabric areas. Allow to set for about 15 minutes and vacuum thoroughly. Immediately empty vacuum contents into a garbage bag sprinkled with Borax. Tie the bag closed and dispose in an outside trash container.
Use light to attract fleas and dish washing soap to kill them. Fill a paper-towel-lined pan with soapy water on the floor under a small lamp. The fleas will jump toward the light and drown in the soapy water.