Safe for people flea and tick solution?

[lorelei]

We were out in the yard for a couple hours this evening, and tonight during bath time I found 2 fleas on dd2. Our cat also had a couple on his head, so I'm figuring we're bringing them in since he's an inside only cat.

There is a huge stray cat population in my neighborhood, one neighbor has had animal control bring over cages to try to catch them. What sparse and pathetic bit of grass we have isn't high, but the vacant house next to us has a lot of flowerbeds that are really over grown, and there are vacant lots down our street. Sorry if I am rambling, I'm just trying to give an idea of what we're working with (or against!) here.

So, what can I put out on the yard that will help get rid of fleas, without being toxic to us or really bad for the environment? I've heard diatomaceous earth will work on carpeting, but would it work outside?!

TIA!

[lorelei]

No one?

[rouserstrousers]

I've heard you can sprinkle Borax (in the laundry aisle) all over your yard for fleas.

[Semi_Crunchy]

Some drops of Lavender Oil in a spray bottle filled with water. No idea why it works but it works. Plus the added bonus of the lovely smell

[number572]

Hi, we're battling fleas here too. After much research I've found that food grade diatomaceous earth is one of the best natural remedies for fleas. I've read that anything but FOOD GRADE DE is toxic, so be sure not to just pick some up at the pool supply house. I'm trying to find a local supplier now b'c the shipping is crazy. The cheapest online I have found as of tonight is www.earthworkshealth.com, they have a 50lb bag for $28 but the shipping is around $40 where I am. crazy.

DE (food grade) can be used in the yard, swept into the decking around your home, pathways - as long as it stays dry it is effective but if it gets wet it needs to be reapplied. Also for use (lightly) on carpeting, furry toys & bedding, wood floors & the actual animal (rubbing it thru their fur) & also feeding it to them directly as most animals that have fleas eat them & may have tapeworms as well as fleas... DE kills tapes plus othere parasites. It even kills parasites in humans. There are different amounts per day for treatments of different sized animals but many sites from googling should give you the correct amt to feed/use. Google FOOD GRADE DE and a ton of info comes up. I was just reading that it has helped people with cancerous tumors & liver spots!! I need to read more but this stuff sounds awesome.

Good luck! I had just come on here to try to find a good local resource for DE... to avoid shipping costs. If you find a local source (anyone) could you list it here please, I'll do the same. May the force be with you in your flea war!

And this link is pricey but has great info:
http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/p...1&idproduct=39

[lorelei]

Thanks, mamas!

[lorelei]

I just found out that we have fleas in the in-law apartment; again! We have been months trying to get rid of the little suckers, I finally broke down and called Orkin, they've been out twice. I thought after the 2nd spraying that the bugs were gone. They came on Monday last week of june, and I didn't see any... until Thursday night when my brother shows up with his dog. My mom was driving up to the panhandle to see my sister, and my bro had to bring his dog because he didn't have anyone where he lives to feed/walk her while he'd be out of town all weekend. So my mom never mentioned the fleas to my brother, I think because she didn't want to give him any reason not to come up, they'd had a trip planned in June for her birthday, and he didn't come up at the last minute.

So now I'm really pissed off. Because we have fleas- again. And she's trying to tell me it's not because of the dog. My fat ass. We don't have fleas in my house, only in her apt where the dog was. Hmmmm... Yeah, it's not because of the dog.

I don't want to have to take all the baby stuff out of the house again, leave the house for 4+ hours so Orkin can come back and spray some more nasty crap in my house. I had been planning/hoping to try to encourage labor today but I really don't know if it's a good idea if we're going to have to have the exterminators come back.

I have spent the last 4 frickin weeks washing, vacuuming, etc everything in my house and am damn sick of it. I'm really really perturbed with this whole situation, especially my mom trying to tell me it's not the dog. I'm not retarded, I can put 2+2 together. Hmmmm... fleas where dog was, no fleas where dog did not go. That's a toughie.

GAHHHHHH!

It's just so frustrating- and with babe #3 on the way, I don't want to be putting any more yucky stuff in and around our house than I absolutely have to. On the other hand, we can't have a house full of fleas with a new baby, either.

[Lemon Juice]

This is suppose to be great, and repell ticks, mosquitos, fleas, etc. We dont have this problem but my MIL has a place in New Hampshire that we really need this at. We're getting some for next season (as summer is in full force and most are gone by now). Good luck, and HTH