Keep Fleas At Bay With This Impossibly Easy DIY Repellent

Fleas are a nightmare, capable of infesting yards, pets, and homes. The insect feeds off blood like their flying friend mosquitos, causing itchy and irritating bites. Fleas also spread germs that spawn flea-borne typhus, plague, and cat scratch disease, according to the CDC. You don't want these bugs anywhere around your home or pets. However, the feeling isn't mutual.

Fleas love to hitch a ride on your dog or cat. Even if you don't have an animal companion, they can still enter your home with the help of local wildlife like raccoons or squirrels. A natural and easy-to-make repellent is a safe way to ward off these pests. The main ingredient for this pesticide is a herb perfect for growing in your backyard garden — rosemary. It contains camphor, which is a chemical deadly to fleas if ingested, and the smell of the toxin keeps the critters away. It also repels ticks, aphids, mites, and flies. To make this flea-be-gone spray, you need water, fresh rosemary leaves, and a container.

Rosemary is one of the best ways to get rid of fleas in your home. To create nature's flea repellent, first, bring 2 pints of water to a boil. Next, add 2 cups of fresh rosemary and continue boiling for 30 minutes. Then once the water cools, strain the leaves, and pour the liquid into a spray bottle. This solution is safe for your dog, cat, and furniture, and while it won't kill the fleas, it'll keep them from infiltrating. Plus, you're left with a fresh, herby smell. Store the rosemary-infused water inside the refrigerator and use it when needed.

For your furry friend, you can bathe them in the rosemary water to prevent fleas too. After their regular shampoo, saturate their fur in the flea repellent and comb through before air drying. You can spritz your pet every day with the solution for continued protection.

You can also create a rosemary powder by crushing the leaves into fine dust. Sprinkle the herbal powder onto your pet or around your property's threshold to ward off fleas. You get the best of both worlds with no chemicals or fleas.