Does Lysol Kill Fleas?

Few things are more annoying than a flea infestation. And unfortunately, my neighbor just realized this truth.

My neighbor wasn’t sure exactly how her dog, Chili, got fleas, but she was in the process of eradicating them from her home.

She mentioned she had heard from a friend that Lysol worked great at eliminating fleas so she was going to try that for the fleas in her home.

Although some people will hire a company to “bomb” their house, many people aren’t comfortable with their home being covered in chemicals or don’t have the money to pay someone to come into their home.

Though Lysol is a chemical, some prefer using something they can control what surfaces it touches. Plus, Lysol is far less expensive than hiring a pest control company.

However, the most important question is always, is Lysol safe for your pet?

Does Lysol Kill Fleas?

Yes, Lysol can kill fleas, but it requires direct contact and saturation.

Using Lysol as a spray in hard-to-reach areas like around baseboards can help rid your home of fleas.

Unfortunately, Lysol does not work on eggs but may work on larvae. That being said, it is essential to point out that killing the eggs is vital to ensure avoiding a reinfestation of fleas.

The upside is Lysol does help repel fleas. Fleas have a great sense of smell, so using Lysol regularly to clean your home is an excellent choice to help keep fleas from entering your house.

Lysol is effective at exterminating fleas, but the flea needs to be doused in Lysol to work, so if the flea walks through it later, it won’t do much but irritate the flea’s sense of smell.

How Does Lysol Kill Fleas?

Fleas breathe through their carapace, and when doused in Lysol, it eats away the protective layer of the outer shell, removing the coating and seeping underneath their shell.

Once the Lysol gets into the flea’s system it adversely affects the flea’s breathing, killing the flea.

How Long Does it Take for Lysol to Kill Fleas?

Lysol kills fleas fast. Once the flea is directly exposed to Lysol, it will die within minutes.

But again, it will take multiple applications to ensure you get all of the fleas, including any new ones that have hatched.

Though it is vital to kill fleas quickly, eliminating fleas from your home takes time, patience, and diligence.

When choosing the best option for killing fleas, choosing a solution that interrupts the flea lifecycle is best.

But if the option you pick only kills adult fleas, like Lysol, it will require multiple applications over the next few months.

Flea eggs may not hatch for up to three months until the flea’s ambient temperatures and humidity are optimal.

Is Lysol Safe for Dogs?

Lysol is not safe for adult dogs and is definitely not safe for puppies. Lysol should never be used around dogs or in their homes.

Lysol is phenol-based. Phenols, though naturally occurring, are toxic to dogs. Phenols can cause liver damage, ulceration of the mouth, and gastrointestinal system^[1].

Even skin contact can cause severe reactions in dogs, such as skin lesions, excessive salivation, anorexia, and muscular twitching^[2].

Bottom line, Lysol is not safe for use around dogs, regardless of its effectiveness against fleas.

How to Use Lysol for Fleas

If you live in a home that does not have pets, you can use spray Lysol as an effective option to kill and repel fleas.

However, if you have a dog, and likely you do if you are reading this, using an alternative option to kill fleas is a better option than using Lysol.

Alternative Options to Kill Fleas

Even though Lysol may not be the best choice for taking care of fleas, the good news is there is an abundance of other options available.

Coconut Oil – If you have ever read any of my coconut oil articles, you will know that I think coconut oil is a magical solution to many issues, including dealing with fleas.

Coconut oil will kill fleas fast, as in under 24 hours. Simply create a 50/50 mix of coconut oil and your dog’s favorite shampoo and bathe your dog.

For more information about coconut oil and how it can help kill fleas, check out my article – How to Use Coconut Oil on Dogs for Fleas.

Essential Oils – If you are looking to give your dog’s coconut oil bath an extra boost, try adding 2-3 drops of essential oils.

Essential oils are another excellent choice for killing and repelling fleas, with the bonus of making everything smell great.

Some of the more traditional essential oils used to eradicate fleas on your dog include peppermint, lavender, cedarwood, and rosemary. Just remember a little goes a long way, and when using on your dog, remember their

For more information about how you can use essential oils in the battle against fleas, click here.

Epsom Salts – Epsom salt is one of my top recommendations for home remedies.

While Epson salt kills the fleas, it will also help soothe your dog’s skin, plus act as a topical antibiotic reducing the chance of infection from the flea bites.

And Epsom salt kills all flea life cycles, which is vital when ridding your home and dog of fleas.

If you are looking for an alternative option to kill fleas in your home, you may want to consider:

• Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Home Spray
  • They also make other great flea products such as Flea wipes for your dog, Easy Spray for dogs, and Yard Spray.
• TropiClean Natural Flea and Tick Home Spray
  • TropiClean also makes several premium dog shampoos, including TropiClean Natural Flea and Tick Shampoo
• Adams Carpet Powder
  • Adams is a leader in the pet flea control industry and makes such products as flea shampoo, home spray, and yard spray

FAQs

Resources

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10914530/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6659305/