Does Salt Kill Fleas? {How to Kill Fleas with Salt}

Fleas.Such tiny creatures. But they prove to be one of the biggest headaches. They can sneak into your house from yards and your pets. They drive your poor pets crazy and don’t leave us alone either. Before you know it, a couple of fleas have magically turned into a hundred!

You don’t need to fret anymore because we will show you a salt remedy that will help you in getting rid of fleas before they take over your home. And what’s better? You can get rid of them in a way that is safe for your family, the pets, the home, and the environment! Let us show you how you can start killing fleas with salt and why a swim in the ocean is good for your dog.

Does Salt kill fleas?

You’ve seen salt every day in your life. You may think that the salt can only help you make food tastier. Turns out, salt can also come in handy when you want to get rid of that flea infestation.

Salt is a natural desiccant. It will absorb moisture from its surroundings. This property of salt has landed it firmly in every old wife’s recommendation for household pesticide. The salt, when dusted onto the flea, penetrates the exoskeleton of the flea and absorbs oils from its cuticle. The cuticle layer is essential to protect the internal fluids of the insect. When this gets sabotaged, the flea is vulnerable to external conditions. It would die due to the dehydration of its fluids.

Does saltwater kill fleas?

Saltwater is excellent for killing fleas, just like how you can use salt to get rid of fleas. The water helps to distribute the salt more evenly over the surface you wish to treat.

Does Epsom salt kill fleas?

Epsom salt, also called magnesium sulfate, is different from table salt. It is as equally effective as table salt against fleas.

How long does it take salt to kill fleas?

The salt treatment becomes effective only when it comes into contact with the fleas. If you manage to dust the salt directly onto the fleas, they would die within a couple of hours. But, since it is not practically possible to dust every single flea in your home, you would be relying on the fleas to wander into the traps that you set up strategically while laughing like a diabolical antagonist seen in kids shows. Quite understandably, it would take more time when relying on this path.

You will need to clean the areas every 2 days and reapply the salt for at least 3 weeks.

Can you put salt on your cat to kill fleas?

If you’re looking for a safe and natural alternative to get rid of fleas, this salt remedy is just for you. Bathing a cat in saltwater would help to kick those fleas to the curb. However, most cats absolutely loathe water. If your Furry Highness looks downs its nose at the very idea of going near water, you’re in luck because I know just what to do.

Finely powder the salt and brush it onto your cat. Make sure to get near the skin. Don’t forget to focus on the tail, the area between the shoulder bones and the back as this is the safe haven for fleas. Leave it in for a couple of hours and brush it out. The dead fleas will be removed from the fur. You will have to subject your cat to the salt therapy for a few weeks to make sure the fleas are out for good. Your cat must not lick the salt though since this can act as a laxative and can also cause poor coordination.

Can you put salt on your dog to kill fleas?

Take your dog for a quick game in the sea or ocean to kill those fleas. It has been observed that dogs are less itchy and have fewer fleas after getting soaked in the salty waters of the ocean.

If you don’t have access to the beautiful waves or if you would rather treat your dog at home, we have just the thing for you. You can simulate your own ‘ocean’ in your bathtub. Mix a teaspoon of Epsom salt to every 6 cups of water. Soak and wash your furry friend in this mixture. (You can use powdered table salt instead of Epsom salt if you like.) Don’t rinse all the salt off. Salt residue on the coat is necessary to kill any fleas that escaped.

Again, make sure the salt is not ingested by the dog as salt is a laxative.

How to get rid of fleas on a carpet with salt

Fleas gravitate towards dark and moist areas. Killing fleas in carpet can be challenging, but it is not impossible. Parts of your carpet that don’t see the light of day and are hidden under furniture are perfect for the fleas to camp at. Due to the size of the flea, it is easy for them to get between carpet fibers. In such a wonderfully ideal environment, the fleas have a field day and raise the next generation of blood-sucking pests. All this happens in a matter of weeks. If your carpet has fallen victim to a mob of fleas or if it is on its way there, follow these instructions to chase them out of your carpet.

Finely powder salt. Larger salt granules would not be able to penetrate the exoskeleton of the flea to do the damage. You can add baking soda to your salt. Killing fleas with salt and baking soda is more potent. Dust the mixture all over your carpet. Don’t miss any nook or cranny. The more it penetrates into the carpet fibers, the better. Brush the carpet to spread the powder evenly. Let the powder sit for 3-7 days. By now, most of the fleas living in the carpet would have come into contact with the salt and would have reached flea heaven by now (or hell, if you’re not feeling particularly generous at the moment). Use a vacuum cleaner to methodically go over every square foot of the carpet. The fleas can survive for four days away from the host. The cocoons can survive for nearly five months by entering a dormant state. In the chance that you vacuumed a live flea or a cocoon, the dust collection bag in the vacuum must be disposed of carefully. It must be sealed tightly and put in the trash. Repeat the salt treatment for at least a month to get rid of all fleas. To prevent another dramatic episode of a flea infestation, make sure your carpet is well-aired and dry. Ample sunlight on the carpet will send the fleas scuttling away.

Dust your yard with a fine layer of salt to make sure fleas don’t hop into your house through the yard. Locate any flea hotbeds in your homes. Look for places that are dark and moist like the space between sofa cushion, your pet’s bed, your bed, upholstery, carpet, and clothes. These areas must be treated before you can let out that sigh of relief.

Final words

The past decade is proof of how the planet will be affected by the use of synthetic pesticides. This 2020, a decade is presented to you where you can make more environmentally friendly choices. With the help of this article (and a bag of salt), you are now fully equipped to tackle that flea infestation in your yard, on your pets, your home or your family.