Does Dish Soap Kill Fleas? [New Step-By-Step Guide In 2023]
Flea control is vital for having an active, healthy, and happy pet in the house, which can be done in several ways.
Since Dawn dish soap is a handy kitchen appliance to remove oil, grease, and oil spills on wild birds, pet owners wonder does dish soap kills fleas safely and completely?
Truthfully, it’s a sensitive topic and lots of considerations subject to applying dish soap should be learned before making a decision.
Following the guide, we will have all the information related to applying dish soap to pets to kill fleas.
Does Dish Soap Kill Fleas?
In short, dawn dish soap can kill fleas within minutes, so it is one of the most effective ways to deal with pests. Despite the overall treatment process being straightforward, All you have to do is place the pot in a tub or in front of a hosepipe.

Then lather dawn dish soap solution into the fur and the whole body, including the belly.
After a couple of minutes, you will have a reverse die of fleas. In particular, the process is briefly discussed below along with the experts’ comments and other alternative solutions.
How does dawn dish soap kill fleas?
In general, dawn can effectively remove grime, grease, and oil from animals by mixing them with chemical reactions.
A combination of soapy water and grease or oil creates micelles that attract the gunk. So it needs a completely different method to kill fleas.
Fleas have exoskeletons to float in water and dawn makes a type of surfactant to compromise the exoskeleton and sink the adult fleas. Thus, dish soap can effectively kill fleas.

Does dawn dish soap kill fleas on kittens?
While medicated flea preventatives aren’t suitable for kittens and puppies, dawn dish soap can effectively treat fleas, as a temporary solution for a few infestations.
The applying process of dawn dish soap to kittens and puppies is the same as applying it to adult pets.
So if your kitten is already suffering from an active bacterial infection or flea bites, go ahead and rescue them, but carefully.
It would be ideal to consult with the vet so you don’t increase the skin irritation of the pet.
Usually, dawn dish soap is safe for adult kittens and puppies with healthy skin and a perfect way as a temporary solution.

Which dawn soap kills fleas?
Some of the best dawn soaps that can kill fleas are:
- Advantage Flea and Tick Household Fogger
- Hot Shot Fogger 6 with Odor Neutralizer
- Precor plus IGR Fogger Flea Control
How to use dawn dish soap for fleas on dogs
For safety measures, you should know that bathing a dog with dish soap is safe. So you can soak and wash the dog in Dawn dish soap and vinegar water.
Use the best dawn dish soap
Though the list of dish soap brands is quite large, Dawn dish soap is mostly recommended for its ample surfactants.
Apart from that, experts believe that the dawn soap dish causes the least irritation after rising properly compared to other brands.
Use luke-warm bathing water
Giving a warm water treatment will feel comfortable to the pet. Even it will let them enjoy the flea killing process.
Sp adds some warm water to the tub and cleans the dog properly of debris and dirt. While bathing the dog in a clean container, make sure the water doesn’t affect their eyes and nose.
In addition, add 12 cups of vinegar to the Dawn soap mixture, followed by scented water to mask the odor.
Some oil can kill fleas without repelling other people. But test them carefully before using them, as they can have harmful effects on a dog.
Lather the Dawn Dish Soap
To clean the dirt from the dog’s coat completely, rub the dish soap on the dog’s skin. Using a hairbrush can make the task straightforward.
One important thing is to measure the amount of soapy water based on the intensity of flea infestation.
Rinse the Soap
After combing and brushing for several minutes on the dog’s coat, you will notice some dead fleas.
At this time, soak the soap from the dog’s coat and remove those dead fleas. You should rinse constantly and carefully to clean all the fleas off the dog’s skin.
Continue to Scrub
Keep washing the pet’s coat until you don’t kill or remove all the fleas from the dog’s skin. Then check the head and under the belly of the dog to prevent leaving any fleas.

How to use dawn dish soap for fleas on cats
Mix Dawn Soap with Warm Water
Though cats aren’t like water and bathing usually, this fool-proof method still helps you remove or kill fleas on cats’ skin.
Pour some Dawn dish soap and vinegar into a container and blend them together. You can use one container of detergent for every pet for optimum effectiveness.
Flea Comb Using the Detergent Water
Using a flea comb on the cat will help reduce flea infestations. So rinse a flea comb during bathing with dawn soap before combing the cat.
Following the technique will help remove fleas from the pet’s coat and sink in the detergent-laced water, resulting in death in the tub.
Brush the Cat
The dawn soap will soften the layer of the fleas and suffocate them. Continue brushing the cat using soap water to remove the flash completely.
Following are some other alternative yet effective ways to kill fleas using dawn dish soap.

Clean the Environment using dawn to prevent fleas
Keep the environment around the dog clean to prevent flea irritation and other skin diseases. This is where Dawn dish soap can help you most with optimum performance.
Use a tablespoon of Dawn along with the regular cloth detergent to wash all the soft toys and bedding. Dawn dish soap is also useful for removing fleas from carpets.
To know more about dishwasher detergent click here.
It will weaken the fleas and cause them to dehydrate, making them easier to remove and kill. The process is:
Mix two cups of water and one tablespoon of Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle and spray it carefully over the surface of the carpet. Wait up to ten minutes to let the mixture sit on the carpet properly.
After that blot, the carpet dries using a towel. Use a vacuum to clean the dead fleas easily and completely.
Finally, dispose of the fleas in a container to prevent them from re-infesting the area.
Make a Flea Trap
You can make an excellent homemade flea trap using dawn and place it in the environment. Attracted by the light and heat, fleas will go towards the trap sink in the Dawn solution.
But keep the flea trap in a safer place from the kids so they can’t reach it and play with the trap. To make the flea trap, you will need a shallow pan.
After getting the pan, fill it with some drops of Dawn soap and water. After that, place the flea trap close to the area where the dog mostly sleeps.
During the night, place a lamp straight over the trap, turning all the lights off. It will attract the fleas, trap them, and end up drowning.

Can Dawn Dish Soap irritate a dog’s Skin?
Truthfully, dawn dish soap isn’t completely safe for pets’ skin. Thus, some veterinarians suggest avoiding dawn dish soap due to a potential skin-related issue.
If the dog is suffering from skin irritation because of numerous fleas, putting dawn soap on it can make it worse. Despite if you have a dog with bacterial skin infections, you shouldn’t use dawn.
It isn’t intended for canines. Instead, go for the product that is specially manufactured for pets.
So, Should You Use Dawn Dish Soap on Pets?
Well, you can hardly use dawn soap, especially if your dog is severely affected by fleas and you need to remove them immediately.
Despite you should use the flea preventatives based on the age recommendation set by the manufacturer.
Still, if you have to use dawn soap on a young dog or kitten, apply a very small amount mixed with water. After that, use a flea comb to clean the dead fleas.
Conversely, a pet may be exposed to fleas from other animals from pet daycare or boarding facilities, though it hardly happens.
Thus, you should keep the dog on tick prevention and year-round flea prevention to keep them away from becoming infected in the first place.
That’s why you should be always getting ready to prevent the awkward situation but stock an effective solution like Capstar. It can quickly kill fleas on the dog.
Likewise, dawn soap, this caster also offers a 24-hour solution to kill adult fleas effectively in cases of infestation.
Despite this, topical preventatives and prescription oral medications can also kill fleas and keep the dog safe from infestations efficiently.
Finally, consult with a veterinarian to get an effective and safe flea control product based on the specific dog’s health and lifestyle.
FAQs About Does Dish Soap Kill Fleas?
Does dish soap kill fleas?
Yes, most dish soap can kill fleas. These detergents usually lower the surface tension, perform as a surfactant, and effectively damage the exoskeleton of the fleas, resulting in the death of the fleas.
Will dawn dish soap kill fleas?
Yes, dawn is not only effective and gentle for wildlife but also suitable for the dog as well. However, it can have some side effects when applied to a young dog or more often.
You should use this dawn only if the dog is severely attracted to fleas.
Is dawn dish soap good for fleas?
Yes, dawn dish soap is a good and effective way to kill fleas within minutes.
But some considerations must be followed while using dawn dish soap. It shouldn’t be used more often or extensively, especially on young dogs or pets.
Will dawn dish soap kill fleas on dogs?
Yes, dawn dish soap can kill the fleas completely and prevent them from re-infesting the dog.
A mixture of dawn soap and water acts as a surfactant on the dog. Applying it for about 10 minutes and thoroughly rinsing the dog can rid them of fleas.
Will dawn dish soap kill flea eggs?
Dawn dish soap can kill flea eggs on the pet’s skin. However, these are easier to wash off and rinse down, as flea eggs are smooth and can’t stick to the pet’s skin.
Does dawn dish soap get rid of fleas?
Yes, dawn dish soap can remove fleas efficiently. Though it’s not an expert-recommended method, you can apply the dawn to get rid of fleas if the pet is affected seriously.
Final words
So does dish soap kill fleas? The bottom line is that dawn is an effective yet safe way to kill fleas and flea eggs.
Along with applying the dawn to the pet, it is also critical to properly treat the environment.
However, some experts are worried about skin infection, but they can only apply the dawn while maintaining the safety measurement and in a serious condition.
Except this, follow those effective methods of cleaning the environment and making a flea trap using dawn soap to get rid of fleas completely for a healthy, and pleasant dog.