How to make a shampoo for fleas?

How to make a shampoo for fleas? - briefly

Mix a mild pet‑safe cleanser with a few drops of flea‑repelling essential oil (e.g., lavender or eucalyptus) and a small amount of diluted apple cider vinegar; stir until uniform. Apply to the animal’s coat, lather, let sit for five minutes, then rinse completely.

How to make a shampoo for fleas? - in detail

Creating an effective flea‑control shampoo requires precise ingredient selection, correct mixing procedures, and safety precautions. The following sections outline each step in detail.

Materials

• Distilled water – 500 ml
• Mild surfactant (e.g., potassium cocoate) – 30 g
• Natural insecticidal oil (e.g., neem or eucalyptus) – 10 ml
• Essential oil with repellent properties (e.g., lavender, peppermint) – 5 ml
• Chelating agent (EDTA) – 2 g
• Preservative (phenoxyethanol) – 1 g
• pH adjuster (citric acid solution) – as needed to reach pH 5.5–6.0
• Clean mixing vessel, magnetic stirrer, thermometer, graduated cylinders, and sterilized bottles for storage.

Procedure

1. Prepare the aqueous phase

   • Heat distilled water to 70 °C while stirring.
   • Dissolve the chelating agent and preservative completely.

2. Incorporate the surfactant

   • Slowly add the surfactant to the warm water, maintaining gentle agitation to avoid excessive foaming.
   • Continue stirring until the mixture becomes homogeneous and clear.

3. Add insecticidal and essential oils

   • Cool the base to 40 °C.
   • Introduce the natural insecticidal oil, followed by the essential oil, mixing thoroughly after each addition.

4. Adjust pH

   • Measure the pH with a calibrated meter.
   • Add citric acid solution dropwise until the pH falls within the 5.5–6.0 range, optimal for canine skin and effective for flea toxicity.

5. Cool and package

   • Allow the shampoo to reach ambient temperature while stirring intermittently.
   • Transfer the final product into sterilized containers, seal tightly, and label with batch information and expiration date (typically 12 months).

Application Guidelines

• Wet the animal’s coat thoroughly.
• Apply a generous amount of shampoo, lather, and massage for at least two minutes to ensure contact with fleas and larvae.
• Rinse completely with lukewarm water.
• Repeat the treatment weekly for three consecutive weeks to break the flea life cycle.

Safety and Compliance

• Verify that all oils are diluted to concentrations below 1 % to prevent skin irritation.
• Conduct a patch test on a small skin area 24 hours before full application.
• Store the product in a cool, dark place to preserve oil stability.
• Ensure compliance with local veterinary product regulations, including labeling of ingredients and hazard warnings.

Quality Assurance

• Perform a microbial limit test on a sample from each batch.
• Measure viscosity (target 5–7 cP at 25 °C) to confirm proper flow characteristics.
• Conduct a flea mortality assay using standard laboratory strains to validate efficacy.

Following this protocol yields a stable, effective flea‑killing shampoo suitable for home use while adhering to safety standards.