Does Pine-Sol Kill Fleas? Vet-Approved Facts & Safety
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Disclaimer: The information about these products has been fact-checked by one of our licensed veterinarians, but the purpose of this post is not to diagnose illness or prescribe treatment. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the veterinarian. We recommend contacting your pet’s veterinarian before using the products described.
If you keep seeing black spots jumping around your home and have noticed tiny red, itchy bumps on your skin, you probably have fleas in your home. If you have pets, they’re probably to blame, but not always. Either way, it’s less important to know how you got them and more important to know how to get rid of them. Pine-Sol is an effective disinfectant that can be used on many surfaces. Not only does it have deodorizing properties, but it can kill most germs as well as those pesky fleas.
Although it isn’t an insecticide, Pine-Sol contains ingredients that are toxic to fleas and a few other insects. Provided the instructions are carefully followed, Pine-Sol should not pose a risk to your pets. However, like many powerful household cleaners, it contains ingredients that can be irritants, toxic, or even deadly to your furry family members if used incorrectly or if your pet ingests or comes into contact with undiluted cleaner.
So, before you start treating the house, you should speak to your vet about the best way to treat and control fleas on your pets; Pine-Sol must not be used to treat them.
Why Pine-Sol Is Effective at Killing Fleas
If you have spotted fleas in your house, you probably have every stage of a flea’s life cycle, too, which means you have an infestation. Pine-Sol is a great product because the alcohol it contains kills flea eggs, larvae, cocoons, and adult fleas on surfaces.
Another reason it’s so effective is its inclusion of pine or eucalyptus essential oils. These essential oils have been added to the solution to give off a fragrance that makes your home smell fresh and clean. The scent also happens to repel certain insects, such as fleas.
Pine-Sol can be used on various surfaces, including wood, carpet, cement, and ceramic tiles.
How To Use Pine-Sol to Get Rid of Fleas Effectively
It’s worth noting that to be effective outside the house, Pine-Sol would need to be used undiluted, which is unsafe for pets, so we don’t recommend using it.
Mop Your Floors
Be sure to dilute the Pine-Sol according to the directions on the bottle. Use this mixture to mop your floors, including the pantry, garage, and entertainment areas. Pay particular attention to cracks, crevices, and hard-to-reach spaces.
Avoid surfaces where your pets spend a lot of time or where their food and water bowls are kept, and ensure you keep food and water bowls out of the way when using this product.
Focus on Your Carpets
Fleas and their eggs can hide in carpets, and you can shampoo your carpets as you normally would but add 1/8 cup of Pine-Sol to the rinse water. After a thorough cleaning, along with the additional Pine-Sol, fleas will have a low chance of survival in your carpets.
Is It Safe to Use Pine-Sol on My Pets?
Although you can kill fleas using Pine-Sol on almost anything, you cannot use it on your pets. Pine-Sol contains toxic ingredients and should not be used as a flea treatment on their coats and skin. If it is, your cat or dog may ingest the chemicals and become very sick. It can also cause skin irritation as well as burns.
You can consult your vet about flea treatments you can use on your pets. Otherwise, go to your local pet store and get a flea and tick shampoo that has been specifically formulated for your dog or cat.
Your vet may recommend an oral or topical flea treatment, depending on which is easier to administer to your pet.
Conclusion
Pine-Sol effectively kills fleas, their larvae, and eggs. Although it is a surface cleaner and not an insecticide, its ingredients repel and kill fleas at every stage of their life cycle. With pets in the home, the safest way to use it is to dilute it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Never use Pine-Sol directly on your pets, and keep them out of the way when you are cleaning as it contains ingredients that can be toxic to them.
Featured Image Credit: Vera Larina, Shutterstock
