How to Kill Fleas with Dawn Dish Soap in 4 Easy Steps

If you’re the proud owner of a furry friend, chances are, you’ve had to deal with fleas on different occasions. With these pests having the ability to multiply at an alarming rate if they are not treated properly, flea control is crucial for you and your pet.

Granted, the goal is always to get rid of fleas without jeopardizing your health and that of your pet in the most affordable way possible. However, the price tag for store-bought flea treatments is on the higher side of the spectrum. Fortunately, Dawn Dish Soap for fleas gets the job done to perfection.

With that being said, let’s delve into how Dawn Dish soap can help you effectively get rid of fleas without making your life more stressful.

How Does Dawn Dish Soap Kill Fleas?

Dawn has the uncanny ability to get rid of grease, grime, and oil as a result of a simple chemical reaction. Therefore, when the soapy solution mixes with grease or oil, it forms tiny clusters of soap molecules known as micelles that trap the dirt.

Nonetheless, an entirely different process is needed to completely kill fleas. Exoskeletons allow fleas to float in water. As a result, dish soaps such as Dawn swoop in and create a surface tension that weakens the exoskeletons, making fleas sink. In a nutshell, Dawn Soap drowns adult fleas.

Can Dawn Dish Soap Control An Infestation Of Fleas?

It’s worth noting that Dawn wasn’t designed with flea repelling in mind, let alone controlling fleas for an extended duration. While it’s a beast at killing adult fleas, veterinarians claim that it doesn’t prevent nor repel infestations.

At best, it’s more of a temporary rather than a permanent solution to this pest problem.

Our furry friends only have a small percentage of fleas that are easy to get rid of. However, upon killing these itchy pests, you’re back to square one when other fleas from the environment restart the cycle of infestation.

Keep in mind that flea populations can spread at an astronomically high rate, requiring frequent removal. Each adult flea can lay a maximum of 50 eggs per day, most of which are female.

Does Dawn Soap Kill The Offspring?

Adult fleas lay eggs that hatch, a larval form that closely resembles a centipede emerges, the cocoon forms, and the cycle repeats itself. The issue that arises from killing adult fleas is that you don’t eradicate all previous stages.

Each time you bathe your pet with Dawn Soap and vinegar, the population of fleas keeps growing. In a nutshell, you can’t reduce the infestation of fleas with Dawn Dish soap alone.

Does Dawn Dish Soap Irritate the Skin of a pet?

Veterinarians don’t recommend using this soap to get rid of fleas if a pet suffers from skin-related ailments. For instance, if the pet is adversely itchy from flea infestations on the skin, Dawn Dish Soap may aggravate it. Therefore, be cautious of what you put on irritated skin.

Keep in mind that Dawn is not an ideal soap for pets that suffer from bacterial skin infections. Furthermore, it’s not labeled for canine or feline use, so proceed with caution. Consider products that are designed with animals in mind.

What Type of Dawn Soap Is Ideal for Fleas?

Any Dawn detergent will get the job done. Therefore, if you’re on a budget, settle for the most affordable option and kick-off the flea extermination process.

Can Dawn Dish Soap Be Used for Flea Treatment Two Days in a Row?

Dawn dish detergent has a neutral pH of 7, rendering it safe to use on human and pet skin. However, keep in mind that the frequent use of this detergent coupled with vinegar will dry your pet’s skin and coat, ushering in skin-related problems.

Furthermore, dogs are susceptible to bacterial skin infections, so avoid bathing your pet in this detergent within a day or two after using any flea treatment.

Can You Use Dawn Soap as a Flea Trap?

Yes! Pour a few drops of the detergent in a low-rimmed bowl of clean water and put a tea-light at the center to lure in fleas.

The soap reduces the water’s surface tension, killing the fleas. Leaving a few of these flea traps in each room every night will effectively trap all the fleas in your home.

A Step-By-Step Process of How to Use Dawn Dish Soap for Fleas

Getting rid of fleas using this dish soap is as easy as following the steps below to the letter.

Step 1: Use Warm Bathing Water

Your pet will enjoy the bath if you give the water is warm. Above all, you need your furry friend to be comfortable during flea-removal, which is why warm water is more suitable.

Once you fill a tub with warm water, clean your pet’s coat to thoroughly eliminate debris and dirt. Using a clear container, bathe your pet in the water, making sure you avoid irritating their nose and eyes.

Furthermore, you can add ½ a cup of white vinegar to the Dawn dish detergent soap solution. The strong smell will wear off after a while. However, you can also add scented water to mask the overpowering smell of vinegar. While there’s a boatload of essential oils that can curb fleas, ensure you test them before using them as pets react differently.

Step 2: Lather the Dish Detergent

Rub the Dawn Dish Soap on your pet’s coat to lather and get rid of any debris and dirt. Moreover, you can use a hairbrush or comb to scrub the dish soap on the fur. Nonetheless, the quantity of soap you use depends on the intensity of flea infestation.

Step 3: Rinse the Soap

After up to 10 minutes of combing and brushing your pet’s coat, you’ll notice visibly dead fleas. That’s your cue to thoroughly rinse the soap from the fur to remove the dead fleas.

Step 4: Keep Scrubbing

Wash the pet’s coat until you no longer see fleas in the bathtub water. Then, check crucial areas such as under the belly and head to avoid leaving any fleas.

The Bottom Line

While Dawn Dish Soap solution works its magic in killing fleas within minutes after giving your furry companion a warm bath in it, as with everything else, too much of a good thing can be harmful. Therefore, as you follow the steps above, remember, moderation is key.