5 Ways to Kill Fleas on Dogs with Dawn Dish Soap

Fleas are pesky creatures that enter your home aboard your unsuspecting pets. And once these tiny creatures are inside, they can wreak havoc.

One of a dog owner’s biggest nightmares is a flea infestation. Most flea infestations occur in the summer when dogs are out running in the fields and woods. It’s all fun and games until these annoying fleas invade your dog and home. At times, trying to get rid of them can be a Herculean task.

If you spot your dog scratching more than usual, it may be fleas and flea bites causing itching and skin irritation. Fleas feed on warm-blooded animals and are most likely to be found under your dog’s arms and legs, near the tail, and around the ears and neck.

If left untreated, it can cause real trouble for your canine friend. Fleas can cause severe itching, skin irritation and sometimes inflammation. The best thing to do is kill fleas on dogs as soon as possible.

It all sounds pretty bad, but you probably already have the miracle cure handy. Dawn dish soap, used for cleaning, pest control and more, serves as a powerful weapon against fleas. The chemical in the dish soap cuts through the fleas’ waxy cuticle that helps them repel water, so they are sure to drown.

Caution: Bathe your dog with Dawn dish soap once a month to eliminate fleas. More frequent baths with Dawn may irritate your dog’s skin.

Natural Flea Treatment with Dawn Dish Soap

Continue reading to learn how to kill fleas on dogs with Dawn dish soap and put your pooch out of misery.

Method 1: Dawn Dish Soap

The simplest way to help your dog get rid of fleas is giving him a bath with Dawn dish soap. Just dilute the dish soap with some water, and you’re good to go.

Single-Step Method: Mix dish soap with water and add it to bath water

• Add ½ a cup of Dawn dish soap to a bowl of water.
• Mix the soap solution into a bathtub with warm water.

Bathing instructions:

• Soak your dog thoroughly in the water.
• Apply the Dawn dish soap solution to your dog’s body, starting from the ears to the tail. Ensure it doesn’t go inside the ears, near the eyes or nose, to prevent irritation. Keep scrubbing it in different parts of the body to reach all the fleas.
• Rinse your dog with clean water once you see dead fleas falling into the bathtub.
• Use a flea comb to remove any hidden fleas.
• Dry your dog’s fur and comb it out again just to ensure there aren’t any fleas left.
• Bathe your dog once a month with Dawn dish soap.

Method 2: Dawn Dish Soap & Vinegar

You can make your Dawn dish soap flea bath more potent by adding vinegar to the mix. Fleas and ticks cannot stand the smell of the vinegar. Plus, it will give your pet a shiny and healthy coat.

Things you’ll need:

• Dawn dish soap (kills fleas) — 2 tablespoons
• White vinegar (repels fleas) — 2 tablespoons
• Warm water — ½ cup

Single-Step Method: Bathe your dog with a blend of Dawn dish soap and vinegar

• Pour 2 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap into a spray bottle containing ½ a cup of water.
• Add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to it.
• Secure the nozzle tightly and shake the bottle well to mix the ingredients.

Bathing instructions:

• Use this solution just like your pet’s regular shampoo.
• Gently massage it around your dog’s body for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Rinse the body thoroughly with warm water.
• Comb the fur using a flea comb to ensure there are no fleas left.
• Store the leftover solution in a cool, dry place and use it to bathe your dog again after 1 month.

Method 3: Dawn Dish Soap & Apple Cider Vinegar

Dawn dish soap and apple cider vinegar are two powerful ingredients that can help you banish fleas. The dish soap kills the existing fleas, while the apple cider vinegar provides an unpleasant environment for fleas.

Things you’ll need:

• Dawn dish soap (kills fleas) — 1 tablespoon
• Apple cider vinegar (pungent odor repels fleas) — 1 tablespoon
• Warm water — ¼ cup

Single Step Treatment: Bathe your dog with a mix of dish soap and apple cider vinegar

• Add 1 tablespoon each of Dawn dish soap and apple cider vinegar to a bottle with a ¼ cup of warm water.
• Tightly secure the cap on the bottle and shake it well to ensure the ingredients are all mixed well.

Bathing instructions:

• Soak your dog with warm water.
• Apply this solution to your dog’s body, starting from the ears to the tail.
• Massage the solution over your dog’s body, and then let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Rinse it out with warm water and dry your dog.
• Use a flea comb to check if there are any fleas left.
• Bathe your dog with it once a month. The solution will stay good for 6 weeks when stored in a cool, dry place.

Method 4: Dawn Dish Soap & Lemon Juice

Lemon and Dawn dish soap are two ingredients that will not only save you money but also serve as a useful flea treatment. Lemon juice is acidic and creates an unfavorable environment for the fleas, while Dawn dish soap has chemicals that help kill fleas on dogs by drowning the fleas.

Things you’ll need:

• Dawn dish soap (kills fleas) — 1 tablespoon
• Lemon juice (creates acidic environment) — 1 tablespoon
• Warm water — 1 tablespoon

Single Step Treatment: Add Dawn dish soap and lemon juice to warm water & bathe your dog with it

• Add 1 tablespoon each of Dawn dish soap and lemon juice to a bottle containing 1 tablespoon of warm water.
• Secure the nozzle on the bottle and shake it well to mix the ingredients.

Bathing instructions:

• Spray this solution thoroughly onto your dog’s body, especially where you’ve seen fleas.
• Leave the solution on your dog for 30 minutes.
• Rinse it out with warm water and dry the fur.
• Comb the fur using a flea comb to ensure there aren’t any fleas left.
• Make a fresh batch each month to bathe your dog. Storing it for a long time may degrade the action of the citric acid.

Method 5: Dawn Dish Soap & Salt

Table salt is not just inexpensive but a natural and safe home remedy to free your pets from fleas. Since salt is hygroscopic, it absorbs moisture and dehydrates the fleas. Using salt with Dawn dish soap kills fleas by rupturing their outer body, in turn helping to eliminate fleas. This remedy also uses peppermint essential oil that helps soothe skin irritation and even leaves your pooch smelling fresh.

Things you’ll need:

• Dawn dish soap (kills fleas) — ¼ tablespoon
• Table (iodized) salt (dehydrates fleas) — ¼ cup
• Peppermint essential oil (soothes skin) — 2 to 4 drops

Step 1. Combine Dawn dish soap, peppermint essential oil & table salt

• Add ¼ of a tablespoon of Dawn dish soap to a ¼ cup of table salt.
• Add 2 to 4 drops of peppermint essential oil as well.

Step 2. Mix all the ingredients

• Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and store in a glass container.

Bathing instructions:

• Apply this mixture on your dog’s skin, focusing on where there are fleas.
• Massage it for a while.
• Rinse it off with warm water and dry your dog’s fur.
• Comb the fur using a flea comb to check for fleas.
• You can store this mixture for 2 months in a dark and dry place.

Tips to keep in mind

• While bathing your dog, the fleas may run to his head. Ensure you kill or drown them in a glass of water without letting the solution get into your dog’s eyes.
• Wash all your pet's bedding and vacuum it regularly to help control fleas in the environment.
• If the flea infestation is not improving, see your veterinarian.