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Flea traps are a great way to trap and kill fleas that are infesting a specific area in your house. You can make your own DIY flea trap at home with a few simple tools and ingredients that you probably already have on hand. It’s important to note, however, that while flea traps are useful for killing fleas in a localized area, they have to be used in conjunction with other flea-control methods in order to be truly effective.
Steps
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Fill a large, shallow dish with water. Ideal containers for a dish soap flea trap include cookie sheets, rubber tote lids, plates, and pie plates. You want a container with a large surface area and short sides. [1] X Research source- A shallow dish will help you catch as many fleas as possible, because the short sides won’t act as a barrier for jumping fleas that might land in the trap.
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Add dish soap. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) of liquid dish soap to the water. Swish the water around with a spoon or your finger to distribute the soap throughout the water.- Fleas don’t drown in plain water because they aren't heavy enough to break the water’s surface tension. Adding liquid dish soap to the water reduces the surface tension. When the fleas jump into the trap, they will sink and drown. [2] X Research source
- You can also add some Alka Seltzer to the water to make the trap more effective. [3]
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Expert Source
Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
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Place the trap where fleas have been. A homemade flea trap doesn’t have the power to attract fleas, so it’s best to put it somewhere that fleas have already been in your house. Place a towel on the floor to catch spills, and lay the trap on top of the towel on the floor. Make multiple flea traps for different rooms if necessary. Common places to find fleas include: [4] X Expert Source Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.- On carpets and rugs
- Near pet bedding
- Near windows,doors and food
- Around pillows and furniture
- Around pet bowls
- Near drapes and curtains
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Leave the trap overnight. Fleas become active a couple of hours before sunset and stay active all night long, so the best time to catch them is overnight. Once you lay the trap, try to leave it undisturbed for the rest of the night. When possible, close the door to the room to keep pets and kids out. -
Empty and refill the trap each morning. In the morning, check the trap for dead fleas. If you caught any, dump the soapy water and rinse the dish. Fill the dish with fresh water, add more dish soap, and lay the trap out again on the towel for the next night.- Repeat each night until you stop catching fleas. [5] X Trustworthy Source EDIS Electronic database of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences's peer-reviewed articles Go to source
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Use a lamp to attract fleas. Place a directional or table lamp beside the trap. Before bed, turn on the lamp and position the bulb above the trap, so the light shines into the trap. The fleas will be attracted to the light and warmth, and when they jump toward the light, they’ll land in the trap below. [6] X Expert Source Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.- Use an incandescent or other heat-producing bulb for your trap to attract the most fleas possible.
- Make sure the lamp is sturdy and not at risk of being knocked over into the water. Use this attractant only in rooms where you can shut the door and keep people and pets out while the lamp is on.
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Use a yellow-green filter on a light. Fleas are, for some reason, twice as attracted to yellow-green light as they are to other colors of light. You can increase the efficacy of your lamp attractant by using a yellow-green bulb, or by installing a yellow-green filter on a lamp with a regular bulb. [7] X Research source- You can buy colored light bulbs at many department and superstores.
- You may be able to find filters and gels at camera and art supply stores.
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Place a candle in the center of the dish. You can also use a tea light to create light and warmth that will attract fleas to the trap. Place a tea light or votive candle at the center of the trap, and light the candle before bed. As the fleas try to get close to the source, they’ll fall into the trap and drown. [8] X Research source- Place the trap away from walls, drapery, and other flammable objects.
- Always exercise great care and proper fire safety measures when burning candles.
- Close off the room to prevent people and pets from entering when the candle is lit.
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Place an indoor plant beside the trap. Fleas are attracted to carbon dioxide, and this is part of the mechanism they use to find a host. Because plants release carbon dioxide at night, placing one beside the trap may help to attract more fleas. [9] X Research source- Dormant flea pupae are particularly sensitive to carbon dioxide, so this may be a great way to catch young fleas before they have a chance to lay eggs. [10] X Research source
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Bathe and comb your pets . Pets are the most likely culprit for bringing fleas into your house, so keeping your pets clean and groomed will help stop the infestation at its source. [11] X Research source To treat your pet:- Comb your pet’s fur with a flea comb , concentrating at the neck and tail especially
- Swish the comb around in soapy water after each brush to kill fleas
- After combing, soak your pet with a hose or in a tub
- Lather your pet’s fur with a flea controlling shampoo
- Leave the shampoo on the fur for a few minutes
- Rinse your pet down
- Repeat regularly during the spring, summer, and fall
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Vacuum regularly. Adult fleas, eggs, larvae, and pupae can hide almost anywhere in your house, so you must vacuum three to four times each week to stay on top of them. Use a strong vacuum that will suck fleas and eggs from the nooks and crannies in your house. [12] X Research source Use a brush or nozzle attachment for hard to reach areas.- Vacuum floors, carpets, sideboards, furniture, around windows, and especially around areas where your pet spends the most time.
- After vacuuming with a bag-style vacuum, remove the bag , tie it tightly in a plastic bag, and remove it from the house immediately.
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Wash bedding , drapery, clothes , and rugs. Fleas and eggs won’t survive a trip through the washing machine and dryer, so launder everything that can go into the washing machine, and hand wash everything else. Use the hottest water setting and highest heat setting in the washer and dryer. [13] X Research source Items to wash include:- Blankets
- Sheets
- Pillow cases
- Pillows
- Shoes
- Clothes
- Pet toys
- Pet bowls
- Towels
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Consider an insecticide. Flea infestations can persist for months if you're not successful at removing all the fleas and their eggs . For stubborn infestations, use a pyrethrin-based pesticide with an insect growth regulator, such as Ultracide or Onslaught. Apply the insecticide inside and outside.- Get everybody out of the house. Put on gloves, goggles, long sleeves, and a respirator to apply the insecticide. Use a dust or aerosol and apply a light mist on floors, walls, furniture, and all other surfaces inside the house. Allow the dust or spray to settle before letting people back in. Vacuum after 48 hours.
- Outside, apply a layer of dust or spray to the garden, on bushes and shrubs, around tall grass, in wooded areas, and around windows and doors.
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Join the Discussion...
I'm mortified to be here asking this but I'm desperate at this point: I have fleas in my house and I dont' know how to get rid of them. They seem... Read More
I assume you've done this already but if not, start with a DEEP clean, and of your entire house - not just the couch or anywhere the dog goes (bu... Read More
I highly recommend taking your pet to the vet if you suspect fleas in the home. That's always the first step. The next step is to wash all of the... Read More
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References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79giyJSFEt0
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63kWWe1XB7k
- ↑ Scott McCombe. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
- ↑ Scott McCombe. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
- ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1103
- ↑ Scott McCombe. Pest Control Specialist. Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.
- ↑ http://fleascience.com/flea-encyclopedia/life-cycle-of-fleas/adult-fleas/what-attracts-fleas/
- ↑ https://www.rapidhomeremedies.com/remedies-to-get-rid-of-fleas.html
- ↑ http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=826
About This Article
Article Summary
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To make a flea trap, begin by filling a shallow dish with water, then stirring in 1 tablespoon of dish soap. Next, put the dish in a place where you’ve seen fleas and let it sit overnight. In the morning, empty the dish with the dead fleas and refill it with more soapy water. Then, repeat this process until the fleas are gone. If the dish isn’t attracting enough of the fleas, try placing it under a lamp or near a candle, since fleas will be drawn to the warmth and light. For tips on keeping fleas out of your house in the first place, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "The article educated me on the many ways to attack the flea problem. In retrospect, I should've been more proactive in prevention to avoid an infestation. I've never had a flea problem, but after this I'll be using flea preventive products on my cats from now on. " ..." more
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"The article educated me on the many ways to attack the flea problem. In retrospect, I should've been more proactive in prevention to avoid an infestation. I've never had a flea problem, but after this I'll be using flea preventive products on my cats from now on. "
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"I had read, or perhaps heard about the pan of dish soap and water as a flea death trap. What was new for me was the all the rest. The green-yellow light bulb, the carbon dioxide, the night time activity. Thank you for such a great article!"
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"Thank you. I wasn't aware of the lamp trap or the TV trap, or that light or heat were things that fleas are drawn to. The soap to water ratio also helped, and that fleas could survive the water and soap mixture, if not using enough soap."
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"We've tried the soapy water to find out if there are fleas in the house & it does work. But the Borax method is a waste of Borax & time as the fleas can breed elsewhere faster than you can remove them. They don't all live in the carpet."
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"This article gave doable, simple to follow instructions for getting rid of fleas in my home. They were also ways that were affordable, which is very important since so many flea products are expensive. This was a very good article."
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