Cleaning powder & table salt to kill fleas in home?

white cat lover

white cat lover

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I ran across this, just wondering if anyone has any experience!

Try an alternative recipe using 8 parts cleaning powder to 1 part table salt. Follow the above procedure, except you should vacuum after 1 week. These powders work by drying out the fleas' habitat and dehydrating both the larvae and adults.

Comes from http://www.ehow.com/how_4033_rid-home-fleas.html It is "Step 6" there.

As I am having a hard time finding DE locally & I've been avoiding ordering it.

My questions are:
Anyone heard of this method before?
What exactly is "cleaning powder"?

I plan to ask my vet, but it'll be a few days before I can pop in to show them the article.
 
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diego

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Originally Posted by white cat lover

I ran across this, just wondering if anyone has any experience!

Try an alternative recipe using 8 parts cleaning powder to 1 part table salt. Follow the above procedure, except you should vacuum after 1 week. These powders work by drying out the fleas' habitat and dehydrating both the larvae and adults.

Comes from http://www.ehow.com/how_4033_rid-home-fleas.html It is "Step 6" there.

As I am having a hard time finding DE locally & I've been avoiding ordering it.

My questions are:
Anyone heard of this method before?
What exactly is "cleaning powder"?

I plan to ask my vet, but it'll be a few days before I can pop in to show them the article.
Click to expand...
Sounds good in theory, but I wouldn't use it on carpet. The reason is that some cleaning powders a harsh and undiluted with water, the can in fact eat through carpet and other fabrics.

Cleaning powder, is just a powdered cleanser, in NZ the only place you can find them in, in this day and age is kitchens and other commercial outfits.
 
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Anything put in the carpet is something a cat might breathe in. I can't imagine any powdered cleaner that would be safe. In fact, I can't use any cleaning powders (such as comet or powdered laundry soap) as they trigger my asthma due to irritating the lungs.
 
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goldenkitty45

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I thought I read in here the someone tried plain table salt in the carpet and couch and it really worked. Don't think it was anything other then the salt they used.
 
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white cat lover

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OK. Well, if cleaning powder is something like Comet, I'd never dare use it!!

I should just quit hemming & hawing...and order DE!
 
laureen227

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Originally Posted by white cat lover

OK. Well, if cleaning powder is something like Comet, I'd never dare use it!!

I should just quit hemming & hawing...and order DE!
Click to expand...
i know boric acid [a powder] is safe around pets, & good for roaches... don't know about fleas.
you called around to feed stores in your area? that's where i found the DE locally...
 
arlyn

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The only cleaning powder I've ever heard of using for fleas is Borax, and it's pretty safe, you don't need the salt and it works in about 24-48 hours.

I've used it myself when the previous tenant of my last house left a nice infestation for me.
 
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white cat lover

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So, I could safely use Borax in my carpets? Even around Damita(who is always ill) & 10 week old kittens? What if someone licks the carpet(I know one of the dogs will)?

Then...I sprinkle the borax on the carpet, sweep it in....then vacuum in 2 days?
 
arlyn

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It would take a rather large amount to be toxic.

I would confine them, spread it, sweep it well into the carpets then let them out.
 
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white cat lover

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Next question!


Do I need to sprinkle it everywhere?
Like....the fleas do not seem to be on anyone upstairs...do I need to treat like the guest bedroom where no pets are allowed? What about like carpeted closets, do I need to move everything out of them? And move everything out from under beds?

I assumed I'd spinrkle whatever I use in all the rooms....but was not sure what to do about carpeted closets(like walk in large one full of junk)?
 
arlyn

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try just sprinkling where you know they are first, when I did it, I only had to treat the two rooms that wre infested.
 
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Yeah, it can be overwhelming with all the theories to battle fleas. I did try the table salt thing and it did not work at all (but I'm sure it did for that particular person). I've had no luck finding DE but I am going to try the Borax mthod - the only conflicting thing I keep reading IS THIS - once you sprinkle it on the carpet and broom it in - HOW LONG do you keep it on the carpet BEFORE you vacuum it up? And would borax work on a hardwood floor or should I just mop it in hot water and hope for the best re: hardwood surface???
 
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