Yes! Fleas and ticks really can be controlled without resorting to products that endanger the health of people and their pets. There are two key components of an effective flea control program. The first is to build up your animal's health and resistance through a healthy diet and lifestyle. The second is a regimen of thorough sanitation and cleaning.

To understand why cleaning is so important, let's look at life cycle of a flea. Adult fleas live three to four months. During that time they steadily lay white eggs that look like dandruff or salt crystals. Flea eggs hatch out into larvae that live in the cracks and crevices of carpets, upholstery, blankets, floors, earth, sand, and so forth.

These tiny larvae cannot jump or travel very far (less than an inch) but they feed on the black specks of dried blood (commonly called "flea dirt") that fall off along with the eggs when pets groom and scratch. The larvae go through a cocoon (pupae) stage then hatch a week or two later as small fleas--ready to hop onto the nearest warm body, bite it for a meal of blood, and begin the cycle all over again. During the warm summer months--"flea season"-- this entire cycle can take place in just two weeks.

For best results, begin a flea control regimen before the onset of flea season. In their best-selling book Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, Pitcairn and Pitcairn describe an effective, nontoxic flea control program that interrupts the life cycle of fleas and greatly reduces the number of adult fleas that end up on your pet. The program includes the following steps:

Steam clean carpets at the onset of flea season. Steam cleaning kills flea eggs.

Thoroughly vacuum and clean floors and furniture at least once a week. This eliminates most flea eggs, larvae and pupae. Concentrate on areas where your pet sleeps. Put part of a flea collar in the vacuum bag to kill any adult fleas that get sucked up or else dispose of the bag immediately. Mop vinyl floors.

Launder pet bedding in hot, soapy water at least once a week. Dry on maximum heat. Heat kills all stages of flea life, including the eggs. Carefully roll up bedding so that the slippery eggs don't fall off on the way to the washing machine.

Bathe the animal with a natural flea control shampoo. Use a nontoxic natural shampoo with d-limonene, a natural citrus extract, or add a few drops of eucalyptus or pennyroyal oil to a bottle of castile soap.

Use a flea comb to trap and kill adult fleas on the pet. Fine-toothed combs that trap fleas are available in most pet stores. Pets enjoy being combed as part of your time together. It's easy to do while watching TV. Depending on the degree of infestation and time of year you may need to comb daily, weekly or just once a month. Put a towel on your lap to catch falling flea dirt. Comb the pet gently but thoroughly and toss or dump trapped fleas into a container of soapy water. When finished, flush the soapy water and fleas down the toilet.

To repel adult fleas that try to jump onto your pet, use an herbal flea powder, herbal flea collar, or apply a natural skin tonic you can make at home. To make a mild tonic that can be used as often as needed, thinly slice a whole lemon, including the peel, and place it in 1 pint of near-boiling water. Steep overnight. Sponge the solution onto the animal's skin and let it dry. Lemons are a source of natural flea killing d-limonene. Some people also believe that feeding a pet garlic or brewer's yeast keeps the fleas off.

If your pet goes outdoors, be sure to mow and water your lawn regularly (to drown developing fleas), encourage (or stop discouraging) ants (they love to eat flea eggs and larvae), and apply agricultural lime or otherwise sterilize bare earth spots where your pet likes to sleep.

Will we ever be entirely rid of the bugaboo of fleas? Probably not. But, by implementing these safe and simple tips they'll be bugging us a lot less.