How to Make a Flea Trap

Co-authored by Scott McCombe

Last Updated: December 14, 2022 References Approved

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.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Making a Dish Soap Trap

1
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]
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- 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.
2
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]
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- 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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3
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]
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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
4
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.
5
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]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Attracting Fleas to the Trap

1
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]
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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.
2
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]
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- 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.
3
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]
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- 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.
4
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]
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- 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]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Keeping Your House Flea-Free

1
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]
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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
2
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]
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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.
3
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]
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Research source} Items to wash include:
- Blankets
- Sheets
- Pillow cases
- Pillows
- Shoes
- Clothes
- Pet toys
- Pet bowls
- Towels
4
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.