Knife Fork Large pot with a lid Strainer Large bowl Funnel Large spray bottle

The active ingredient in citrus fruits that deters and kills fleas is found in the rinds, and juicing the fruit with a fork will also help to break up the rinds.

Once the lemons have been strained, you can discard them.

The best vinegar to use in this recipe is either distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

When you dry the loads, use the highest temperature settings to ensure you kill everything. [4] X Research source

Carpets Furniture Beds Floors Cracks between hardwood floors Along walls

For the first week, spray the house in the morning and in the evening. Once the fleas are gone, continue spraying the house every few days to deter them from coming back. [6] X Research source Be thoughtful in deciding where and how much of the lemon flea spray to use, because components of lemon rind can can be toxic to animals if ingested. Limit or avoid spraying areas and especially items that your pet might lick or chew. Lemon juice is often used as a stain-removing ingredient, but it’s best to test the spray on an inconspicuous area of furniture and drapes to test for color-fastness. If the area isn’t discolored by the lemon juice, spray the mixture liberally.

You can also help prevent fleas by maintaining your yard, keeping the grass short, and not having bushes and shrubs near doors and windows.

Spray a small patch of fur near the head and ears with the flea spray. Use the flea comb to comb through that section of fur, working in the spray and picking up fleas as you go. Swirl the comb around in the soapy water any time you pull off fleas in the comb. [8] X Research source Work your way from the head to the tail, spraying and combing in small sections as you go. When you get to the tail, repeat the spraying and combing. Hose down the area when you’re finished to kill any fleas that jumped away. If you combed inside, vacuum the area thoroughly. Repeat these steps daily until there are no fleas left.

Limonene can cause liver damage in animals, but it’s only found in the rind of citrus fruits. Lemon juice itself isn’t toxic to your pet, but it’s best to err on the side of caution with the flea spray. [9] X Research source

Spray all the bedding with the lemon flea spray and hang it to dry. Run all the bedding through a hot cycle in the washing machine, followed by a hot cycle in the dryer. This will ensure the fleas are gone and all traces of the lemon spray are removed.

Toys such as tennis balls and stuffed animals can be washed in the machine. Avoid using the lemon flea spray on pet toys, or anything else they might ingest.