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We are all aware of why people use Vicks products. It relieves congestion, sore throats, and other cold and flu-related illnesses. This product is highly safe and beneficial for humans. What comes to my mind is, does Vicks repel fleas on humans?
Yes, Vicks repels fleas on humans. It also kills fleas and serves as an insect repellent. Vicks contains a significant ingredient that can be used to repel fleas in addition to treating upper respiratory diseases.
However, it is not as efficient at avoiding bites as a commercial flea repellant. Dab a little on your exposed skin areas to keep fleas at bay. Read the complete article to know more.
Contents
- 1 What Is Vicks?
- 2 Does Vicks VapoRub Kill Fleas?
- 3 Do Fleas Like The Smell Of Menthol In Vick’s?
- 4 How Can I Repel Fleas From Humans Other Than With Vicks?
- 4.1 Use bug spray
- 4.2 Herbal flea repellent
- 4.3 Diatomaceous earth (DE)
- 4.4 Repellent plants for fleas
- 4.5 Baking soda
- 4.6 Salt to remove fleas
- 4.7 Set up flea traps
- 4.8 Use boiling water to wash your bedding
- 5 Conclusion
What Is Vicks?
Vicks VapoRub is a mentholated therapeutic ointment that is a component of the Procter & Gamble line of over-the-counter medicines under the Vicks brand. VapoRub can be used on the chest, back, and throat to relieve coughing or on the muscles and joints to treat mild aches and pains. VapoRub users frequently apply it right before bed.
Nasal congestion is not relieved by Vicks, a throat and chest rub that contains camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol. However, the strong menthol scent of VapoRub could deceive the brain, so try to breathe normally.
Just dab a little Vicks behind the ears, on the inner elbows, neck, inner wrists, and inner ankles. The menthol in it has a strong scent that will keep fleas away. It will soothe itching from any flea bites that may already be present.
Does Vicks VapoRub Kill Fleas?
Vicks Vapor Rub can kill fleas and eliminate them from the house while protecting people. Vicks VapoRub is among the most commonly used household products in the world. One can be found in any home, and it’s more common if residents have pets and need to keep them all warm and comfortable.
Even so, it’s still a great item to have on hand, even if they don’t. This is because this little lotion keeps your nose warm throughout the winter and prevents virtually any animal—including fleas—from visiting it.
Camphor is a component of Vicks. Pet dogs may become ill even if they merely breathe this poison.While some individuals may think these treatments are excellent for keeping dogs flea-free, they threaten them. Vick’s should not be used on the pet. This is highly dangerous and will make a pet dog or cat very ill.
Do Fleas Like The Smell Of Menthol In Vick’s?
No, the menthol smell in Vick does not attract fleas. This item is known to be a part of numerous flea-repelling products. It is a part of the anti-flea defense that does more than keep fleas away; it also kills them. Understanding how to use menthol-containing products properly is the key.
The product Listerine is one of them. Excellent mouthwash with menthol, though. Even though mouthwash helps eliminate fleas, your dog may experience harm or danger.
Menthol, eucalyptol, and thymol are harmful to dogs and cats yet kill fleas. Spray the toys, blankets, and other items your dogs use before giving them back to them if you use Listerine and these chemicals to eliminate fleas.
How Can I Repel Fleas From Humans Other Than With Vicks?
It is simple to get rid of fleas by contacting a pest control company. However, there are methods to make the elimination possible if that’s what you want to do. Here are the top eight simple home remedies for fleas that will help you permanently resolve flea issues.
Use bug spray
Use bug spray every time you are outside if you are attracting fleas. DEET is highly effective against most bugs, so experts advise applying it. Since fleas prefer to bite most frequently on feet and ankles, use the bug spray there.
If the fleas are outside, they often reside in long grass or beneath big shrubs. You should use bug spray if you intend to stroll through any overgrown woodland regions.
Most people are familiar with and use citronella and citrus oils like limonene as insect repellents. According to studies, citronella helps keep fleas away.
Herbal flea repellent
A herbal flea spray is recommended for quick home treatments to keep the fleas away in humans. This all-natural flea remedy is safe to use around pets, kids, and other household items because it is manufactured from non-toxic ingredients.
- Mix vinegar.
- 1/2 of water.
- 1/4 of lemon juice.
Make witch hazel in a big spray container to make a flea spray.
People should vacuum thoroughly and wash any bedding or cushions that may be contaminated before using the product around the home. Once this is done, use a solid spray to administer the natural flea remedy to the house.
Diatomaceous earth (DE)
Diatoms, an algae fossil, are what make up diatomaceous earth. It is in a fine powder that is non-toxic to animals and humans and is an excellent natural flea cure since it dehydrates fleas.
How to use it to treat a flea problem by applying thin layers of diatomaceous earth over areas that are thought to have high flea activity. After letting the diatomaceous world DE work for two days, vacuum immediately and use the appropriate flea prevention measures.
It is essential to remember Despite being non-toxic, the powder’s composition might make a mess and irritate your eyes and throat.
Repellent plants for fleas
The final natural flea treatment is to use certain plants to deter these biting insects. Fleas hate certain oils, chemicals, and compounds that some plants contain, so they will strive to avoid them.
Numerous plants are effective flea repellents. An excellent using these plants in flower pots and flower beds around your house is a perfect natural home treatment for fleas.
Plants that repel fleas are:
- Lemongrass
- Rosemary
- garlic
- Penny Royal
- Peppermint
- warm wood
- Chrysanthemums
- Spearmint
- Basil, marigold, lemon balm, and
- Lavender
Baking soda
Vacuuming is one of the best home treatments for flea control if people have trouble knowing how to keep them away from humans. Pulling fleas out of the carpet and furniture fibers aids in flea removal. However, there is a way to make this more successful, and it involves baking soda.
With a firm brush, press baking soda into the fabric of carpets and furniture to make this natural flea cure effective. Then, give the house a good vacuuming, empty the vacuum’s contents into a bag, and put the bag in an outdoor dustbin.
Salt to remove fleas
When combined with vacuuming, salt is an excellent natural flea home cure, similar to baking soda. Adult fleas can be eliminated by using salt as a dehydrating agent.
Take some finely powdered salt and spread it all over the carpets and sofas in each room of the house to treat fleas naturally. After letting the salt sit for a couple of days, thoroughly clean the entire house and put the debris into an outdoor garbage can.
Set up flea traps
The non-toxic traps remove adult fleas. Purchase some flea traps, and place them where you observe the most fleas, such as close to your pet’s bedding. The fleas will be drawn to the traps by the light and warmth they emanate, but a sticky paper inlay will capture them. You can remove and replace the paper insert after it has accumulated excessive fleas.
Flea traps are adequate for tiny infestations but aren’t a viable solution for larger infestations because they don’t destroy flea eggs.
Use boiling water to wash your bedding
Fleas frequently bite at night, suggesting that bedding may be their home. After stripping the bed, wash blankets, sheets, and pillowcases in the hottest setting. This should rapidly resolve the issue because it will kill fleas and flea eggs in your bed.
Conclusion
Humans may like Vicks, but insects do not. Apply a little to your arms, legs, neck, or other exposed skin regions to keep fleas away. Commercial insect repellents work better at avoiding bites, though. A white crystalline chemical called camphor, extracted from the Cinnamomum camphora tree has been used for millennia as a spice, an ingredient in incense, and a medicine.
In addition to its usage for treating upper respiratory infections, Vicks contains a significant component that may be used to repel mosquitoes and even fleas. It also works as an insect repellant and flea killer.
References
Moog F, Plichart GV, Blua JL, Cadiergues MC. Evaluation of a plant-based food supplement to control flea populations in dogs: A prospective double-blind randomized study. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2020 Apr.
(Video) How To Get Rid of Mice With Vicks Vaporub and Baking soda
Miarinjara, A., Bland, D.M., Belthoff, J.R.et al.Poor vector competence of the human flea,Pulex irritans, to transmitYersinia pestis.Parasites Vectors14, 317 (2021).
FAQs
What can I put on my skin to keep fleas off of me? ›
- Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. ...
- Covering skin with long-sleeve clothing and pants will minimize exposure to bites.
Natural flea repellents such as citronella, eucalyptus, peppermint, and geraniol may naturally repel fleas. If your pet doesn't mind a spray bottle, dilute a few drops of your chosen repellent into 10-13 fl oz of water and spray directly onto your pet's coat.
What scent kills fleas? ›Cedarwood
Cedarwood or atlas cedarwood are incredibly effective at both repelling and killing fleas. By using a diluted form of cedar essential oil, you can revel in the knowledge that the fleas will soon be very, very dead.
While peppermint oil may deter fleas and other insects, it's not a guaranteed treatment. Peppermint oil can kill fleas, but using essential oil or a spray made of essential oil does not guarantee you'll be able to get all the fleas.
How do you keep fleas out of human hair? ›You can also try home remedies made with natural ingredients like apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and tea tree oil. The best way to prevent a flea infestation in your hair is to keep your pets and surroundings clean.
What to do if fleas are biting you? ›Flea bites typically don't need treatment. Over-the-counter anti-itch creams or ointments and antihistamines can relieve itchy skin and discomfort. However, see your healthcare provider if more severe symptoms develop after a bite (allergic reaction, fever, headache or body aches).
Why do fleas keep biting me? ›In addition to the chemical makeup, other people believe that fleas are simply attracted to some scents more than others. This is why they might prefer a certain individual due to their natural body scent, sweat, and/or the products they apply to their skin, such as soaps, shower gels, deodorants, etc.
Does rubbing alcohol repel fleas? ›Alcohol. Rubbing alcohol will kill fleas and ticks, but if you're going to use alcohol, make sure to use it correctly. Experts recommend dropping fleas or ticks into a glass or jar filled with rubbing alcohol.
What homemade spray kills fleas? ›This natural powerhouse also can kill fleas! Mix 1/4 cup of distilled vinegar with 3/4 cup water in a spray bottle for a homemade flea spray. Use the spray on any water safe surfaces you've noticed fleas on. You can also add vinegar to the wash when cleaning color safe pet beds and linens.
How do I get rid of fleas in my bed naturally? ›Wash Bedding in Hot, Soapy Water
Hot, soapy water kills fleas, so wash your cat or dog's bed every week. And if your pets sleep in your bed or with your kids, make sure to wash everyone else's bedding, too.
What attracts fleas? ›
Fleas are attracted to light, movement, heat, and CO2 because these elements help them find suitable hosts to feed on. Being able to use these as tools against them is a good way to help get your flea infestation under control.
How do you keep fleas off at night? ›- Wear long pants tucked into socks. ...
- Spray flea repellent onto clothing or skin. ...
- Launder clothing and bedding. ...
- Vacuum upholstered furniture and carpets.
- Lavender Essential Oil.
- Lemongrass Essential Oil.
- Peppermint Essential Oil.
- Rosemary Essential Oil.
- Rose Geranium Essential Oil.
- Cedarwood Essential Oil.
- Clove Essential Oil.
Tips for managing fleas include vacuuming and dusting, washing all bedding, using topical flea treatments on pets, and, using EPA-registered insect repellents, and more. Fleas are some of the most annoying pests to deal with.
Where do fleas hide on humans? ›It's known to feed and live on humans. These fleas burrow into the skin of the host. For humans, they often attack feet.
Do human fleas lay eggs in human hair? ›Can fleas lay eggs in human hair? No. Fleas don't lay eggs on your scalp. These insects can only breed on specific animals, such as cats and dogs.
Can you get fleas in your pubic hair? ›When fleas impact humans, they may flock to the eyelashes, the eyebrows, the head, and the pubic region. Hair loss may occur on the body where the fleas are located.
How do you tell if you're getting bitten by fleas? ›- It is extremely itchy.
- A red, swollen weal develops within half an hour of the bite.
- After a day or so, the weal (lump) may develop into a blister or small wound.
- The legs and feet are often targeted.
- Secondary infections caused by scratching are common.
They may bite three times in a row. This is known as “breakfast, lunch, and dinner.” Typically the initial bites do not cause a lesion in the skin, but once an individual is exposed to the fleas for a longer period of time, they develop a hypersensitive reaction.
Do fleas stay on you after they bite? ›The short answer is that fleas may bite people, but they won't live on you. Fleas will seek out your dog or cat as their preferred host. If you see fleas in your pet's fur, it's only natural to wonder if fleas can live in human hair, too.
Why are fleas biting me and not my husband? ›
Possible Explanations for the Flea Biting Preference
The first and most common theory that a lot of people stand behind is the individual differences between the chemical makeups of human skins. In other words, different skin reactions, as well as the levels of gases, differs between humans depending on their genes.
Insects Love “O” Blood Type
The interesting thing is that some blood types emit more heat and carbon dioxide than others. Humans that are from the “O” blood type are hunted by parasites.
In the United States, some fleas carry pathogens that can cause human disease, including: Plague — most commonly transmitted to humans in the United States by infected ground squirrel fleas, Oropsylla montana, and globally by infected Oriental rat fleas, Xenopsylla cheopis.
What can I spray on my bed for fleas? ›Spray Vinegar and Water Solution Onto Sheets
You can easily make a flea-killing solution at home. Combine equal parts water and vinegar and spray over the fleas. Then, sprinkle salt all over the affected area. This helps keep the area dry, which aids in killing the fleas and larvae.
Alcohol can be toxic to animals. It's easily absorbed through their skin, and if they ingest a large enough amount, it could be fatal. Alcohol is also really flammable, so it's not a good idea to spray it on your furniture, bedding, or carpets.
Does hydrogen peroxide repel fleas? ›Outdoor Flea Removal
A 3% hydrogen peroxide solution may just be your answer. Peroxide is a common insecticide used in gardens and other agricultural sites. Not only does it kill fleas due to its toxic nature, but it can also eradicate other pests from your foliage as well.
Wash the bites with antiseptic soap to reduce the risk of infection. Apply an icepack frequently to help relieve swelling. Use calamine lotion, anaesthetic creams or similar to treat the itching. See your pharmacist for advice on appropriate antihistamine medications to reduce the swelling.
Does Vaseline repel fleas? ›But wherever the idea stems from, the short answer is; No! do not use vaseline to treat ticks or fleas on your dog. Putting vaseline, alcohol, or anything else on a tick to get it to release on its own can make the tick regurgitate some of its saliva into the dog. This increases the chance of infection.
How do you know if you have fleas on your skin? ›A flea bite will produce a red bump on the skin that will begin to itch and become increasingly irritated. These bumps may swell or be filled with pus. It may remain infected for a week or more, and itching may be localized or widespread.
Can humans get fleas in their skin? ›Fleas do not live on humans, but they can still bite us. In the United States, the most common fleas are cat fleas. These can live on both cats and dogs, so don't let the name confuse you. There are also dog fleas, but they are less common in the U.S.
Do fleas like VapoRub? ›
In one word, yes, Vicks repels fleas and can keep you and your family safe. Vicks VapoRub is one of the most popular household items on the planet. It's a popular staple in every home, especially if you have pets and have to keep them all warm and snug.
What will smother fleas? ›Much like diatomaceous earth, baking soda and salt dehydrate fleas and their eggs. Liberally sprinkle the mixture around your house and use a broom to work it into carpet fibers or under furniture. Leave for a day or two and vacuum thoroughly.