Can Dawn Dish Soap Kill Fleas: Expert Opinion

Fleas and ticks are more annoying than you might think. These tiny parasites can make your life and your dog’s life a nightmare. They will not only infest your dog, they will also invade your home just as fast. 

Home remedies are very popular among pet owners, mostly because they seek for natural options, but also because they are the cheapest options. Among them, Dawn dish soap became very popular for flea control. Social media is flooded with pet owners who recommend this Dawn dish soap. 

But can Dawn dish soap kill fleas? Is it safe for pets and helpful as a flea remedy? Let’s explore how it works, so you can make an informed decision and not gamble with your pet’s health! 

Fleas and Their Life Cycle

Even if you don’t have extensive veterinary knowledge, you must understand the four life stages of fleas to determine which product would be beneficial for each stage. Or even better, what product would be the most beneficial for all stages?

Here are the four flea stages!

Egg Phase

This is where it all starts, with flea eggs, which are tiny, white, and you will find them all over your home, and even your pet’s coat. Numbers say that a single flea can lay up to 50 eggs per day, so a small flea rapidly multiplies. 

Larva Phase 

After a few days, the egg hatches into larvae that look like a worm. These tiny creatures like to avoid light and hide well in coats, cracks, or flea dirt. This stage can last up to a few weeks!

Pupa Phase 

In this phase, the larvae spin cocoons and enter this new phase in which they can stay for even 20 days. This is the phase with “waiting” - waiting for the perfect conditions (movement, warmth, moisture). 

Adult Phase

Once the perfect conditions are reached, the adult phase starts. This is the feeding phase, and in this phase, the flea attaches to the dog’s coat and feeds itself. But the flea will not emerge from the cocoon until there is a clear presence of a host. After their first meal, the adult flea can start reproducing, and the never-ending cycle will start again. 

So, what is the biggest issue here? 

The biggest issue is that an adult flea can lay hundreds of eggs if not prevented on time. So, for the treatment to be successful, it must affect all the life stages. If a certain home remedy affects only one stage, that is not enough!

How Does Dawn Dish Soap Affect Fleas?

We guess you want to hear if Dawn dish soap really affects fleas. The answer to that question is: yes, it can kill fleas, but it does not fully solve the problem.

Dawn dish soap reduced the ability of the flea to float in water by reducing the water’s surface tension. This causes sinking and drowning to fleas. 

This is not all, Dawn dish soap also breaks down the flea's exoskeleton (the flea’s outer shell), which is actually a waxy coating that keeps them moisturized. When this is gone, the flea goes through dehydration and then rapidly dies. 

You remember the 4 stages of fleas that we’ve mentioned? Well, if you see one flea, you can imagine that there are many more eggs, larvae, and pupae. 

Many pet owners ask themselves: can I wash my dog with dish soap to kill fleas? Yes, you can, but Dawn dish soap will most likely affect only the adult fleas, but the other 3 forms of fleas will remain on your pup, or somewhere around your home. This means only one thing: you haven’t solved the issue with fleas, because you need to address their entire flea life cycle. And one more thing: you don’t know the safety of it, so let’s discuss it a bit! 

Safety Considerations for Using Dawn on Pets

Dawn dish soap is originally formulated and used for washing dishes. It is one of the top-selling brands in the US, and that is why this trick is being used mostly by Americans. Since it is not formulated for dogs, it can cause them some serious issues. 

It can wash away the animal’s natural moisture, which causes skin irritation and dryness. This moisture maintains hydration and a healthy skin barrier. Animal shampoos and soaps also affect the skin and might cause some level of dryness, but they are all specially formulated for pets, and the side effects are none to minimal. 

That is why we at FurLife recommend that you use only specially formulated products for pets, and we are also here to suggest some, but more on that later. 

Disclaimer: We always advise consulting with a veterinary professional before using any non-pet-specific products. Although many pets won’t have any side effects from using Dawn dish soap, we don’t recommend it as it does not offer full protection. 

Limitations of Using Dawn Dish Soap for Flea Control

The limitation of using Dawn dish soap for fleas is simple: it does not affect all the life stages of fleas, and they can return shortly after the treatment. Fleas usually return to the pet’s coat once the coat is dry and clean for a new reproduction cycle. So, in general, this is not a product we would recommend for full prevention. 

Also, bear in mind that fleas can hide anywhere in the environment, including: 

• Carpets 
• Bed 
• Furniture 
• Cracks 
• Clothes 
  

So, you will only solve a small percentage of the whole problem. Most of the fleas will stay alive and get ready to jump onto your dog. 

Another limitation is that Dawn dish soap can dry out and irritate the dog’s skin, which leaves an open space for new infections on the hairless patches. 

Disclaimer: Dawn dish soap should not be used as a replacement for regular flea treatments. 

Flea Treatment Strategies

We advise you to fully rely only on proven and vet-approved flea treatment solutions because these are the most effective and safest approaches. But you should also remember to protect both your pets and your environment, so here are our suggestions! 

For Pets Protection

Here is what you can do to protect your pets: 

• Topical treatments (usually recommended and given by vets) 
• Oral medications 
• Flea collars: You just need to check their efficacy and see how long you will have protection 
• Flea comb 
• Flea protection shampoos 

For Home Protection 

To prevent your home from fleas, you also need to take care of your environment. This is what you can do: 

• Frequent vacuuming: Take care of cracks, carpets, rugs, and furniture because it can help you remove eggs, larvae, and pupae. 
• Pet bedding washing with warm water 
• Use environmental flea sprays

Natural Alternatives to Chemical Flea Treatments

Some natural ingredients can also be helpful when dealing with fleas, and this includes neem oil, cedarwood oil, lemongrass, rosemary, and peppermint oils. 

Neem oil works by reducing the insect feeding, repels fleas, and also interferes with the hormone system of fleas. There is also scientific evidence that proves that the active substance azadirachtin is useful in flea prevention.

The benefits of natural products are the following: 

• Gentle on the skin 
• Appropriate for long-term use 
• Cost-effective 
• Easy to use 
• Eco-friendly 
• Anti-inflammatory properties

FurLife's Natural Flea & Tick Solutions

While there are many products available on the market, FurLife’s aim is to provide pets with head-to-tail full protection with natural ingredients. This will ease the repelling and elimination process of fleas and ticks at every stage, while also protecting your home. 

It offers a fast-acting custom formulation with no toxic chemicals and up to 8 months of protection. 

Here are some of the products from FurLife’s range!

Anti Flea & Tick Collar

This collar is waterproof and suitable for any size. The biggest benefit is that it prevents pets from ticks, fleas, and bugs. The main ingredients are the following: 

• Citronella oil 
• Cedarwood oil 
• Rosemary oil 
• Geranium oil 
• Cinnamon oil 
  

So, with natural ingredients, you can protect your pet from dangerous diseases and make prevention much easier. This product also provides long-lasting protection for up to 8 months. 

See what our customers say about the collar:
“I’ve been using the collars for about two months, and they're working great so far. I’m so excited because this is the season for fleas, and they typically attack my border collie mix, Patch, badly. My pitbull mix Tiny, doesn't get them nearly as much as Patch. However, I noticed that there are no fleas on them at all.”

Anti Flea & Tick Chews

These chews are organic and gluten-free, and they consist of 100% natural ingredients. They prevent ticks, fleas, and bugs, prevent excessive scratching, tick paralysis, flea dirt, and both internal and external stress in dogs.

The vet-approved key ingredients of these chews are the following: 

• Brewer yeast 
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B3 

Customers say that FurLife chews have blown them away with the results, with only 8 months of usage. They say, “My dog has never been happier and healthier, and I no longer have to worry about pesky fleas and ticks.” 

Conclusion

So, can Dawn dish soap kill fleas in dogs? Yes, but only adult fleas. The problem will continue to exist, and you need to solve it as soon as possible to avoid new infestations both in your pet and your home. 

You need to provide your dog with safe and effective flea control methods, like the products from FurLife we have suggested. FurLife can easily become your daily flea prevention strategy from now on. Take a look at the most effective products here!

We are curious, what is your opinion on Dawn dish soap for fleas? Let us know in the comments below!