Home Remedy For Repelling Ticks & Fleas

It is that time of year again!! Fleas and ticks are starting to be reborn just to terrorize us and our beloved animals.

However, there is good news!! You do not have to go broke treating your animals, yourself or your yard to repel these nasty boogers.  You can make your own using natural ingredients at half the cost.  Below are a few ways to keep the ticks off you, your pets and your yard.

Garlic;

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  Ticks HATE Garlic so as my Grandmother and Ben Franklin use to say…. “An ounce of prevention is greater than a pound of cure.“ Plant garlic in your yard, around your yard or anywhere you do not want the ticks to live.  Not only will these deter them from your yard, you will also have fresh garlic when you need it.  You can also eat raw garlic or take garlic tabs so it is in your blood. They can smell it and will not attach themselves to you if garlic is in your system. (Garlic tabs are safe for your dogs as well.

Neem Oil;

• You can either use neem oil or soak neem leaves in hot water and then apply this on the skin.


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  For Pets; Prepare a general flea and tick spray by mixing 2.5 ml (1/2 ounce) of organic neem oil with 1-2 ml (1/4-1/2 ounce) of mild soap or detergent and 2 cups water. For a stronger solution if there is a problem or the dog will be going into deep bug country, mix 5 ml neem oil, 2 ml mild soap or detergent and 2 cups water. Use warm, not hot, water to dissolve the oil. Mix water and soap first and then slowly add neem oil for flea and tick control. Add to sprayer and use immediately. Discard after use. Neem oil is unstable and breaks down after 8 hours. Mix new each time.


• Place a few drops of neem oil on palms and simply rub hands through your pet’s fur for effective flea and tick control. Neem oil is best used this way for dogs, only, not for cats. For sensitive dogs, dilute the neem oil 1:10 in a light carrier oil like almond or jojoba and rub palms first. Then run hands thoroughly through the dog’s coat for natural, effective flea and tick control.


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  Warnings
  Caution is advised when using neem oil on animals that are breeders or about to be bred. Use neem oil at half strength for flea and tick control.
  Do not treat cats with concentrated neem oil that is left on the skin. Using neem leaf tea is far safer for felines.  

Tea Tree Oil; 

• Tea Tree oil is a great repellent. Once mixed, you spray it on the skin or fur and rub in.  I also make sure and pray it on our shoes and pant legs if we are going camping or into the woods so we don’t carry home any piggy back riders.


• To make; Mix two ounces of tea tree oil in water and pour it in a spray bottle. Spray this regularly on your skin.


• You can also Spray your yard area with this mixture.

Other effective natural remedies:

• Natural herbs; Lavender oil, Lavender plants, Lemon Grass, Peppermint or citronella are all very effective in keeping fleas off your yard. We make sure to have some every year and we have not had to use chemicals on our yard/ house or body for fleas, ticks or mosquitoes in 3 years now. 


• A few more ways to repel fleas and ticks; eucalyptus, myrrh, rosewood, or Lemon.


• Lemon; Take 6 lemons and cut in half. Boil these in a quart of water and steep for a few hours. Strain the solution and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the pet’s fur but avoid the eyes.

These are just a few of the simple ways you can prevent an infestation of fleas or ticks in your living area and make the family pet a happy go lucky Fido instead of a miserable, itchy one.

Please feel free to leave ideas and other remedies in the comment section below!!