How to Do It

• Thoroughly vacuum the area that you will be applying the solution to. This will suck up any fleas or flea eggs that may be loose. A cut-up flea collar in the vacuum bag will ensure that the fleas do not escape the bag. Dispose of the bag immediately after vacuuming, even if it is not full. If you have a bagless machine, rinse the filter and tank in a solution of 1:10 bleach to water.
  
  Sprinkle a combination of borax and salt on your flooring or any other surface that it will not damage. If you have wooden floors, work some of the borax-and-salt solution into any cracks or crevasses. There are no exact proportions needed, since both ingredients accomplish the same thing.
  
  Leave the solution on the surfaces for an extended period of time--again, there is no exact time frame. Some who have used the solution recommend a period of no less than 5 hours, while some leave the solution on for days. The longer the solution is left to sit, the longer it has to take effect on the fleas.
  
  Thoroughly vacuum the area to remove the borax-and-salt solution. If the solution has gotten wet, you may need to shampoo your carpet to remove the remains. Again, you should discard the vacuum bag or thoroughly clean the filter when you are finished. Common complaints are that the borax leaves a film on carpet and causes allergic reactions among those sensitive to the active ingredient of boric acid.
  
  

Why It Works

• Fleas are an insect that have an exoskeleton. Their skeleton is on the exterior of their bodies and protects their interior. When the flea comes in contact with borax and salt, both of which are sharp crystals, the exoskeleton will be lacerated. Borax will readily absorb the fluids leaking from the dying flea. Salt will exacerbate this process, drawing out fluids and dehydrating the fleas.
  
  

Efficacy

• The effectiveness of borax and salt is dependent upon a number of things. The solution will be less potent in a humid or moist environment. If animals and other household items are left untreated, the rate of reinfestation is great, and as such, those areas should be treated using appropriate methods as well. The borax-and-salt remedy may need to be repeated several times if a flea infestation is severe.