How to Make Lemon Flea Spray (+ Other Homemade Flea Sprays)

Lemons can help to repel and kill fleas in your home, and making a homemade lemon flea spray is super quick and easy! We’ll walk you through the simple steps to make a lemon flea spray, as well as other homemade flea spray ideas and additional (natural) methods for killing fleas in your home.

Note: Lemon sprays are toxic for cats. If that’s your intent, we recommend trying a different method to treat your pet for fleas.

How do you make a lemon citrus spray for fleas?

Slice 3 lemons into thin rounds and place them in a large pot.
Lightly smash the lemon slices with a fork.
Fill the pot with water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for at least 8 hours.
Strain the lemon water into a bowl and discard the lemons.
Add 1.5 cups (356 ml) of distilled white or apple cider vinegar to the lemon water.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake before each use.

Section 1 of 4:

Making a Lemon Flea Spray

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1
Cut 3 lemons into thin slices and lightly mash them in a pot. Take three ripe lemons and cut them into disks that are approximately one-eighth inch (3 mm) thick. Place the lemon slices into a large pot (with a lid, which you’ll need later). Then, use a fork to slightly smash the lemons so that some of their juices are released.^{[1]
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- Does lemon juice actually kill fleas? Lemons and lemon juice don’t directly kill fleas, but they have been shown to repel fleas (although this method may not be suitable for severe infestations).^{[2]
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Add water to the pot with the lemons and put the pot lid on. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. When the water comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and let the lemons simmer in the water for 30 minutes.

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Once the lemons have simmered in the water for 30 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and set it aside. Let the lemons soak in the water overnight, or for at least eight hours.
Once the lemon water has cooled and steeped for at least eight hours, remove the lemons from the water. Place a strainer over a bowl and pour the lemon mixture through the strainer. Once the lemons have been strained, you can discard them.
Pour your 1 ½ cups (356 ml) of distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar into the bowl with the lemon water.^{[3]
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Shake your bottle before each use, then apply it to any flea-ridden surfaces. For the first week, it’s recommended to use your lemon spray around the house twice a day—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.
- To apply lemon spray to a dog, spray a small patch of fur near the head and ears, then use a flea comb to comb through that section of fur, working in the spray and picking up fleas as you go.
- Work your way from the head to the tail, spraying and combing in small sections as you go. When you see fleas on the comb, swirl the comb around in the soapy water. Repeat these steps daily until there are no fleas left.^{[5]
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- After you finish, hose down or vacuum the nearby area. Then, shampoo and rinse your pet to wash away excess lemon spray, as the ingredient in citrus that repels insects can be toxic and harmful to animals.
- Do not spray your lemon flea spray onto cats or areas accessed by cats, as it is toxic to their health.
  - While lemon spray isn’t as toxic to dogs, limit or avoid spraying areas and items that a dog might lick or chew, and rinse any residual juice off your dog after combing.

Section 2 of 4:

Other Natural Flea Spray Recipes

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Other DIY flea sprays include apple cider vinegar, essential oils, and more. While lemon flea sprays are effective and easy to make, there are other options for natural, homemade flea sprays that you can use around your house. Here are some other quick recipes for natural flea repellent ideas: ^{[6]
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- Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix 1 cup (240 mL) ACV with 1 US-quart (950 ml) of warm water, and 1 ounce (28 g) of castile soap.
- Witch Hazel: Mix ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) witch hazel with ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) water.
- Dish Soap: Mix 1 tsp dish soap with 1 cup (240 mL) warm water and 1 cup (240 mL) white vinegar.
- Oregano Oil: Mix 2-3 drops of therapeutic-grade oregano oil with 2 cups (470 mL) water.
- Rosemary Essential Oil: Mix 2-3 drops of rosemary essential oil with 1 cup (240 mL) water.
EXPERT TIP

Chris Parker
Pest Control Specialist
Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. Since 2016, Chris has been specializing in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.

Chris Parker
Pest Control Specialist

Do not put essential oils on your animals. Essential oil sprays, like peppermint or rosemary oil, can be effective as an insecticide. But essential oils can be toxic to animals, so this is only for applications on your baseboards or carpet—not anything that’s alive.

Section 3 of 4:

Other Ways to Kill Fleas Around the House

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Fleas, eggs, and larvae can be found all over your house, and one of the best ways to get rid of them is by washing everything. “Use a washing machine to hot wash all bedding, rugs,” and anything else you can put in a washing machine, says pest management expert Luke Lewis.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Luke Lewis
Pest Management Expert

Expert Interview} This also includes linens, blankets, pillow cases, couch covers, drapes, clothing, and more. After washing these items in hot water, dry them in a dryer on the highest heat possible.
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Vacuum carpets, furniture, and anything else you can’t wash. “Because flea eggs are activated by warmth and vibration,” notes pest control specialist Chris Parker, “vacuuming will often trigger a large hatching, which can speed up any flea treatment process.”^{[8]
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Expert Source

Chris Parker
Pest Control Specialist

Expert Interview} Vacuum carpets, furniture, mattresses, floors, and walls thoroughly every day. Use nozzles and attachments to get into nooks and corners, and dispose of the vacuum bag immediately after vacuuming.
- Pest control specialist Kevin Carrillo also recommends “purchasing whatever kind of steam cleaner that you can afford…Steam cleaning will probably be the most effective, non-professional method of” removing fleas from carpets and similar items.^{[9]
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  Kevin Carrillo
  Pest Control Specialist
  
  Expert Interview}
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Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on flea-infested areas. “Diatomaceous earth is…a desiccant…[or] a very sharp drying powder,” explains Parker. “Sprinkle it on your carpets or anywhere else…and it will essentially physically kill the fleas by cutting up their exoskeletons. Get yourself into a routine of putting down diatomaceous earth, and your house is going to look like a dust bowl, so it’s not going to be fun. But it will be organic and completely safe, unless you have asthma, because it’s dusty. You can put it on your upholstered furniture, your bed skirt, or anywhere else…If you can vacuum and use diatomaceous earth in your house for several weeks, you should probably be able to get rid of the fleas yourself.”^{[10]
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Chris Parker
Pest Control Specialist

Expert Interview}
- Warning: While it’s technically safe to use food-grade diatomaceous earth around pets and children, it can cause respiratory or skin irritation if inhaled or touched in large amounts. Avoid applying diatomaceous earth to areas that are accessible to pets and children. And, never use pool-grade diatomaceous earth; only use food-grade diatomaceous earth.^{[11]
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  National Pesticide Information Center
  Organization run by Oregon State University providing objective, science-based information about pests and pesticides
  
  Go to source}
  - To be on the safe side, it may be best to first try other, safer methods against fleas if you have pets or children in your home.

Section 4 of 4:

Other Ways to Treat Your Pets for Fleas

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Thoroughly wash your animal’s bedding, toys, and bowls. When your pets get fleas, it’s important to treat everything they come into contact with, including their beds, blankets, bedding, rugs, toys, dishes, and bowls. “Run the bedding of your pet” (and any other washable items they hang out on) “through the washing machine and a [hot] dryer cycle,” advises Parker.^{[12]
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Chris Parker
Pest Control Specialist

Expert Interview} Collect all of your pet’s toys, dishes, and bowls, and wash them in the dishwasher or in the sink with hot, soapy water.
- Place fabric toys in the washing machine with the bedding, and hand-wash all other toys.
- 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.
“If you have an animal that spends time outside…trim your grass,” instructs Parker. Keeping your grass short and low will help to repel fleas and reduce the chances that your pet will bring fleas in from outdoors.^{[13]
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Chris Parker
Pest Control Specialist

Expert Interview}
3
Treat your pets with a flea medication. If your pet has fleas, the best remedy is to visit a veterinarian and get a prescribed anti-flea treatment, says Parker. “Fleas cannot survive without their host, so if your pet is treated correctly, you don’t have to do much of anything else.”^{[14]
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Chris Parker
Pest Control Specialist

Expert Interview}
- Follow the instructions on your prescribed anti-flea treatment to apply it to your pet.

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Question

How do I store homemade lemon flea spray?

Community Answer

The vinegar in the recipe will help to keep the spray stable, so you don't have to refrigerate it. Store the spray in the pantry or cupboard, or in the fridge if you prefer.

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How much apple cider vinegar is added to the lemon mixture?

Community Answer

3 lemons + 3 cups (711 ml) water + 1 ½ cups (356 ml) vinegar. So, for every 3 cups of water and 3 lemons, you need 1.5 cups of distilled white or apple cider vinegar.

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Can I use bottled lemon concentrate instead of boiling real lemons?

Crystal031305

Community Answer

Only if it's 100 percent lemon juice with nothing added. If it isn't, it won't be natural, and might harm your dog.

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Things You'll Need

3 lemons
Large pot with lid
Fork
Water
Strainer
1.5 cups (356 ml) of distilled white or apple cider vinegar
Spray bottle

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Warnings

Lemon juices and rinds are toxic for cats, so do not use lemon sprays on or around your cats. Lemon spray is okay for dogs, although it may cause skin irritation with continuous use.

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Don’t use essential oils in any flea sprays that you'll be using on pets, says Parker. Many essential oils are toxic to animals.^{[15]
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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.

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