Homemade Organic Flea Shampoo

From LoveToKnow Organic

If you don't want to expose your pets to the harsh chemicals in many commercial flea shampoos, try using homemade organic flea shampoo.

dog and cat

Making Homemade Organic Flea Shampoo

Every pet lover knows that fleas aren't simply a nuisance for pets (and people), but they can also transmit a number of diseases, the most common being tapeworm. To prevent flea infestation and to try to fix the problem once their pets have fleas, many people turn to commercial flea and tick medications and flea shampoos.

Many of these flea shampoos contain harsh chemicals that are not only irritating to pets, but irritating to humans as well. They come with warnings on the bottles to wear gloves and to not allow the shampoo to sit on the animal's skin past a certain period to avoid skin reactions and irritations.

So, what's a pet lover to do? The answer to that question is to bathe your animals in a pet friendly, non-irritating homemade organic flea shampoo. Here are a few recipes.

Using Store-bought Organic Shampoo

Here are a few ingredients you can add to store-bought (read below if you would like to make your own shampoo) organic shampoo to use as a flea shampoo for your pets:

Essential Oils

Choose one or a combination of the following essential oils. Essential oils are available at your local health food store and online.

  • Lemon
  • Lavender
  • Rosemary
  • Geranium
  • Citronella
  • Lemon Grass
  • Peppermint

Combine two or more different oils for differing scents. Be sure to split the amount of essential oils you add to the shampoo accordingly.

Add six drops (total) of essential oil to every two ounces of shampoo. After you add the essential oil, mix thoroughly. If you have an eight-ounce bottle of shampoo and you are using peppermint oil, for example, add 24 drops of the essential oil.

If you want to use two different oils, just divide the total number of drops by two. Using the example above, if you want to use lemon and lavender, just add 12 drops of lemon and 12 drops of lavender.

Directions

  • Wash your pet thoroughly.
  • Let the shampoo sit for five to ten minutes.
  • Rinse thoroughly.

Making Your Own Organic Shampoo

Making your own organic shampoo as a base for your homemade organic flea shampoo is simple, it just takes a few more ingredients and a little more time. Here is a easy organic shampoo recipe:

Organic Shampoo

This recipe yields eight ounces:

  • Two cups of distilled water
  • One and a half teaspoons of soapwort root. You can find dried Soapwort at your local health food store.
  • Two teaspoons of essential oil, chosen from the list above.
  1. Bring the water to a boil and add the soapwort root
  2. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes
  3. Remove from heat and cool for 40-60 minutes
  4. Add essential oil and mix thoroughly
  5. Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days

When you go to use this shampoo for your pets, you will need to remix the ingredients again as the oil will rise to the top. If you don't want to use essential oils, get dried lavender, lemongrass, peppermint or citronella and add it to the pot while it is cooling.

Final Tips

Here are some final tips when bathing your animals in your homemade organic flea shampoo:

  • Always rinse thoroughly to avoid skin irritation.
  • Use a flea comb. If your pet already has fleas, use a flea comb while they are lathered up to pull the fleas and the eggs away from the skin.
  • Avoid the face. Most animals do not like their faces getting wet. Instead, lather up your hands and gently wash over their faces.
  • Remember to get the hard-to-reach areas. Don't forget about washing in between your pets toes, their tails and their "armpits."
  • Try a rinse of organic apple cider vinegar. Fleas and ticks apparently don't like the smell or the taste of apple cider vinegar. If you want a little added protection, rinse your pet off with the vinegar and then rinse with water..
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Comments

Thank you, that is interesting!

-- Contributed by: Marye Audet

I have also read that using boiled lemons and putting that on them with cotton balls helps and using rosemary that has been simmered and cooled works but you dont rinse the dog just let them airdry. I have used the lemon treatment and Iam not really convinced of it.

-- Contributed by: c

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