Household Pet Cleaning Products: How to Deflea Carpet with Peppermint

Buying pet cleaning products is an important part of pet ownership. Caring for your pet goes beyond simply feeding them, picking up after them, and scratching them behind the ears. As a good pet owner, you also know that you need to provide your furry friend with a clean living environment.

This can get expensive, especially if you end up with a flea infestation. Even the most caring of pet owners can find themselves with a flea problem if their pet comes into contact with another animal that’s infested, so you need to be prepared. Before turning to expensive shampoos and carpet cleaners you will want to try a tasty treat that humans love and fleas hate: peppermint.

Step 1 - Prepare Peppermint

Buy at least one peppermint stick for each carpeted room you are going to treat. Even if you have hardwood floors, you will want to treat bedding and curtains in rooms where your pet spends even a part of their day, as fleas can live in any fabric. Using a cheese grater, grate the peppermint stick into fine shavings into a cereal bowl. Remember that the finer the peppermint shavings, the easier they will be to spread.

Step 2 - Treat Rooms

Sprinkle peppermint shavings liberally throughout carpeted areas in rooms where your pet spends their day. Pay particular attention to places where your pet sleeps. Remember to also treat curtains and bed ruffles. Leave the peppermint shavings to sit for a few hours. For the best results, use a carpet steam cleaner to remove the peppermint and dead fleas. A thorough vacuuming will work just as well. If you can, it is best to keep your pet in the yard while you are treating the house.

Step 3 - Treat Pet Bedding

Fleas will also hide in the seams and stuffing of your pet’s bedding. When washing your pet’s bedding, add ½ cup of peppermint shavings to the water. Use laundry detergent as you normally would, also adding ½ cup of bleach to the wash water. Hot water will offer the best results for killing fleas. Dry pet bedding in the sun or on hot temperatures to ensure any knits are also destroyed.

Step 4 - Treat Your Pet

There is no point in treating your carpets and pet bedding for fleas if you do not treat the source itself, your pet. Massage peppermint shavings through your pet’s entire fur. Pay particular attention to places where fleas like to hide, such as under the tail, under earflaps, and around their nose.

Leave the peppermint for 30 minutes before shampooing it out of your pet. Use flea shampoo if you can, but regular pet or human shampoo will also work. Repeat the process once your pet dries. Once you have treated both your home and your pet, keep your pet away from the flea source to prevent further infestations. If the flea problem continues, contact your vet about a more aggressive treatment.