Does Baking Soda Kill Fleas? Myth or Effective Remedy Against Fleas?

Owning a dog can be quite a monthly and even annual expense. However, this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be prepared for this, or even worse, that we shouldn’t take proper care of our dogs. 

That is one of the reasons why many pet parents switch to natural remedies in order to help them for any condition, and even in the fight against fleas and ticks. Another benefit of these natural remedies is that they won’t affect your household and the members living there. 

Many people swear by baking soda as a natural flea remedy, but does baking soda kill fleas? 

The Claim: Does Baking Soda Kill Fleas?

When you include a new natural remedy, you first must make sure that it will be efficient for all 4 life stages of fleas. The truth about baking soda is that it does not kill adult fleas. This basically means that it will do almost nothing in protecting your dog from fleas. 

The best thing about baking soda is that it is excellent at absorbing smells, and it is recommended because it “may” dry out the first two stages of the flea (eggs and larvae). 

I will share with you one personal experience that is similar to and related to baking soda. When I moved to my new apartment, I realized that it had cockroaches on the balcony. I read somewhere that it can stop them from reproducing, so I sprinkled my balcony with it. Believe it or not, cockroaches stopped showing up. I can still see at least one every two weeks, but it is nothing like how it started. So, I support this theory for baking soda, but I don’t think it is the ultimate solution! 

Our advice is that sprinkling baking soda on your carpet or furniture definitely won’t do harm. It can only bring benefits. But make sure to leave the baking soda for at least 24 hours before vacuuming. Another tip is that you can add salt to it and make a powerful mixture that will dry out the eggs. 

Many DIY pest control websites and pet care blogs have promoted this method as a natural, safe alternative to chemical treatments. But of course, it achieved the highest popularity on platforms like TikTok, where users share quick home solutions. 

And why did owners adopt this measure? Well, simple, it is natural, non-toxic, and inexpensive. 

What Does Science Say?

The catchy thing with fleas is their life cycle, which is quite complex. They have 4 flea stages, including eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. 

Their complex life cycle means that even if a treatment kills visible adult fleas, the eggs, larvae, and especially the dormant pupae remain unaffected, leading to new waves of infestation.

The scientific evidence published by Flea Science reveals that baking soda has minimal effectiveness against fleas. Baking soda does not kill fleas. Flea larvae weren't affected when their substrate was treated with 2-5% sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3).

However, as I mentioned in my personal experience, this evidence proves the same. Baking soda can be effective against cockroaches. It is not highly insecticidal, but it can kill a lot of roaches in 24 hours. 

But the tricky part is that the mechanism appears to be different from simple dehydration. The science is straightforward: sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, reacts with an acid to produce carbon dioxide gas within the cockroach's digestive system, causing internal damage that proves lethal within the 24-hour window.

Baking soda lacks true insecticidal properties. It may cause slight dehydration to some fleas it comes into direct contact with, but this effect is insufficient to eliminate populations or interrupt the lifecycle effectively.

But does baking soda kill fleas in carpet? While baking soda doesn't kill fleas, it does have some legitimate household benefits. It can help clean carpets by absorbing odors and moisture, which may create a slightly less hospitable environment. 

The point is that you shouldn’t rely solely on baking soda because it is not a long-term solution that will bring you a lot of benefits. 

Common Myths Around Baking Soda & Fleas

The popularity of this home remedy is mostly because people notice cleaner, fresher-smelling carpets after treatment and mistakenly think that they’ve managed the problem with fleas. 

What we all must realize as pet owners is that baking soda is simply a cleaning agent with a minimal pest control value. 

Here are some of the most common myths related to baking soda and fleas: 

• Myth 1: Baking soda kills fleas overnight.

This is completely false according to veterinary experts. Baking soda does not kill adult fleas and will do nothing to protect your pets. According to PetMD, there is no evidence that using baking soda to kill fleas is effective at all.

• Myth 2: Baking soda and salt combo is a natural pesticide.

According to WebMD, salt and baking soda both can hurt fleas by drying them out, but this is not long-term and effective pest control. Be also aware that the amount of salt required to kill flea eggs and larvae is toxic to your dog if they lick it or get it up their nose. 

These natural remedies in small quantities are harmless to dogs; however, in large quantities they can lead to serious consequences. 

What Actually Works to Kill Fleas?

The best approach to kill fleas is to get vet-approved solutions. This is because only professional flea control can target all lifecycle stages with proven methods. Flea and tick prevention now comes as chewable tablets, topical solutions, or collars. 

As vets, we must warn you that effective treatment must address four life stages to a flea: the egg, larva, pupa, and adult. You need a product that controls the entire life cycle. 

GetFurLife offers a wide range of products that can help your pet. So, here are the most effective products that you can use to get rid of fleas: 

• Flea & Tick Shampoo: This shampoo is gentle on pets, but tough on pests. It helps kill fleas on contact and soothes irritated skin. It contains a synergistic blend of Rosemary Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Sesame Oil, and Geraniol.
  

• Flea Collar: This collar offers long-lasting protection (up to 8 months). It is water-resistant and vet-approved. It contains natural ingredients like Citronella Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Rosemary Oil, Geranium Oil, and Cinnamon Oil.
  

• Natural Flea Spray: This is a plant-based formula safe for pets and home use. Ideal for carpets, couches, and beds due to the synergistic blend of cedarwood oil, spearmint oil, and sesame oil.
  

• Flea Treatment Chews: A tasty and effective way to protect from the inside out. They contain natural biotics that address the intermittent itchiness and support the immune system. 

Note: To have permanent results, you need to break the flea life cycle, not just kill visible fleas.

Natural Prevention Tips (That Actually Work)

Here are some tips from us that you can use daily that will help you reduce the number of all 4 life stages spreaded around your home: 

• Frequent vacuuming: This will remove flea eggs, larvae, and adult fleas from carpets, upholstery, and cracks where they hide, disrupting their lifecycle before they can mature.

• Washing pet bedding: Weekly hot water washing of your pet's bedding, blankets, and toys eliminates eggs and larvae that have fallen from your pet's fur.

• Yard treatment: Maintaining your outdoor space by keeping the grass short, removing debris, and treating problem areas prevents fleas from further reproducing. 

• Natural essential oil-based sprays: Pet-safe essential oil sprays can create an environment that's less hospitable to fleas when applied to furniture, carpets, and pet areas as part of an integrated approach.

Read More: Find out more about essential oils like neem oil here and learn if it can help in reducing the flea number!

To Sum Up: Does Baking Soda Kill Fleas on Dogs?

So, does baking soda kill fleas? Baking soda isn't the flea-fighting silver bullet that social media and home remedy blogs claim it to be, it is simply a useful cleaning aid that can freshen carpets and absorb odors. It only causes minimal dehydration to some fleas, but it lacks true insecticidal properties.

You should stop wasting your time with ineffective home remedies and try vet-approved solutions from GetFurLife that could actually help. So, why not try it today?