How to get rid of fleas at home using wormwood? - briefly
Apply a mixture of dried wormwood powder and water to carpets, pet bedding, and floor seams, let it dry, then vacuum thoroughly. Repeat the application weekly for three weeks to disrupt the flea life cycle.
How to get rid of fleas at home using wormwood? - in detail
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) contains compounds that repel and kill fleas when applied correctly. The plant’s essential oil disrupts the insect’s nervous system, while its dried foliage acts as a contact insecticide.
To prepare an effective home treatment, follow these steps:
- Harvest fresh leaves or purchase dried material free of pesticides.
- For a spray, steep 30 g of dried foliage in 1 L of hot water for 15 minutes, then filter and add 10 mL of vegetable oil as an emulsifier.
- For a powder, grind dried leaves to a fine consistency and sift to remove stems.
- For a steam diffusion, place 20 g of crushed leaves in a pot of boiling water and allow the vapour to fill the room for 30 minutes.
Application methods:
- Spray the liquid solution on pet bedding, carpets, and upholstery, ensuring thorough wetting without oversaturation.
- Distribute the powdered form lightly on pet sleeping areas, under furniture, and in cracks where fleas hide; leave for 24 hours before vacuuming.
- Use the steam method after cleaning floors; the hot vapour penetrates crevices and kills larvae and eggs.
Safety precautions:
- Test a small, inconspicuous area before full application to avoid discoloration.
- Keep pets and children away from treated surfaces until they are completely dry.
- Store the prepared solution in a sealed container, away from direct sunlight, to preserve potency.
Follow‑up actions:
- Vacuum daily, discarding the bag or cleaning the canister immediately to remove dead insects.
- Repeat the spray or powder treatment every 5 days for two weeks to break the flea life cycle.
- Wash pet bedding in hot water weekly to prevent re‑infestation.
Consistent use of wormwood‑based preparations, combined with regular cleaning, reduces flea populations without resorting to synthetic chemicals. The described protocol provides a comprehensive, plant‑derived solution for household flea control.