Recommended Flea and Tick Prevention Products
With a strong focus on chemical-free products for homes, it’s only natural that pet owners are seeking chemical-free flea and tick prevention options too. While many skeptics assume chemical-free options don’t work as well as chemical-laden pesticides, that’s simply not true.
Personally, I’ve found newer chemical-free pest control products work much better than their chemical-based counterparts and I’ve used both options before. Chemical-free flea protection works the quickest and lasts the longest. After years of testing flea control products in moderate and severe flea infestation areas—we live in the South—here are the best chemical-free indoor and outdoor flea products available in 2017.
Application is Key
The key to using chemical-free pest control products is to spray weekly for 4-6 weeks. While it’s tempting to focus on adult fleas because we see them, it’s important to know adult fleas are just the tip of the iceberg. Unhatched flea eggs account for 50% of a home’s flea population while the larvae and pupae stage account for an additional 45% of a flea’s life cycle (Understanding the Flea Life Cycle, 2017).
Plus, it takes 30-45 days for fleas to hatch from eggs into cocoon-spinning larvae, then pupae and finally into adult fleas. This is why natural flea and tick prevention applications, indoors and outdoors, are vital. Set frequent reminders on your smartphone. Most flea infestations return when pet owners forget to spray or skip a week.
Best Indoor Chemical-Free Pest Control Products
Over the last 20 years or so, I’ve tried dozens of chemical-free, organic and natural pest control products and many did not perform well. When searching for an effective product, look for one that repels or kills fleas and ticks within 24 hours and that lasts at least a week.
During heavy infestations, longevity may be shortened a bit with most lasting 4-5 days. Interestingly, chemical products (i.e. major name brands) took 2-3 days to become effective and only lasted 5 days during moderate to slight infestations. Hum, I found that extremely interesting.
By far, my new favorite indoor chemical-free pest control product is Wondercide Flea & Tick Indoor Home spray. Because cedar oil has an overwhelming scent, Wondercide added a bit of lemongrass essential oil into the mix for a lighter scent.
My other favorite is Vet’s Best Flea & Tick Home spray, which contains peppermint and clove oils. Oh, this one smells heavenly and works quickly!
While Wondercide products cost more than Vet’s Best, they seem to both work effectively. Vet’s Best is easily an excellent option for those on a budget. For best results, alternate between both products to help prevent pest control resistance.
WATCH: Indoor Chemical-Free Pest Control Products
Best Outdoor Chemical-Free Pest Control Products
Spraying outdoors weekly is so important. Fleas ride into your backyard on squirrels, feral cats and many other furry critters that creep around at night. For best results, mow the grass and then use a hose to spray flea and tick prevention. Really saturate shaded areas, sidewalks and patios. Rain won’t dilute the effectiveness of the chemical-free product, but instead help the natural product penetrate deep into packed dirt and mulch.
My new favorite outdoor chemical-free pest control products are Wondercide Flea & Tick Yard spray and Vet’s Best Flea & Tick Yard spray. Wondercide is a bit pricier than Vet’s Best, but it’s concentrated. You’ll need to purchase a hose attachment to dilute it during applications.
Vet’s Best is less expensive, has a hose attachment on the bottle, but goes really fast during outdoor application. Both products will repel mosquitoes too, so spray an hour before guests arrive, and you’ll enjoy an amazingly scented backyard without flying pests.
WATCH: Outdoor Chemical-Free Pest Control Products
You can’t go wrong with either chemical-free product! What natural products have you used that worked wonders at killing fleas and ticks?
