Content

• Steps

Flea traps are a great way to catch and destroy infecting fleas in a specific area of ​​the home. You can make your own flea traps at home using a few simple tools and ingredients available. However, you should be aware that while it is helpful in killing fleas in a certain area, traps must be used in conjunction with other flea control methods to be truly effective.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Making a trap with dish soap

1. 

   Fill a large, shallow bowl with water. Ideal for traps is a cookie sheet, plastic box lid and pie mold. A container with a wide surface and low surrounding wall should be used.
   • A shallow dish will help you catch as many fleas as possible, as the low wall does not prevent them from jumping into the trap.

2. 

   
   
   Add dish soap. Add 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) of dish soap to the water. Stir with a spoon or hand.
   • Fleas will not drown in normal water because they are not heavy enough to break the water's surface tension.
   • Add soapy water to the water to help reduce surface tension. When jumping into the trap, the flea will sink and drown.

3. 

   
   
   Place the trap in a place where fleas are present. Home-made flea traps are not strong enough to lure in fleas, so it's best to set them up in a place where fleas have been. Place a towel on the floor to catch any water overflow, then place the trap on the towel. Place as many flea traps in different rooms as needed. Common sites for fleas include:
   • On floor mats and tapestries
   • Near a pet's sleeping area
   • Near windows, doors and food storage
   • Around pillows and furniture
   • Near the pet's food bowl
   • Near curtains and blinds

4. 

   
   
   Leave the trap overnight. Fleas are active several hours before sunset and continue throughout the night, so the best time to trap is overnight. Set the trap in place all night. If possible, keep the doors closed to keep children and pets out of the room.

5. 

   Fill it with water and replace it every morning. In the morning, check the trap for fleas. If so, pour out the old soapy water and rinse the dish. Change to new water, add soap to the dish, then place the trap on a towel and leave overnight.
   • Repeat every night until no fleas are caught.
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Part 2 of 3: Lure fleas into traps

1. 

   Use lights to lure fleas. Place a directional light or table light next to the trap. Before going to bed, turn on the light and position the bulb above to let light into the trap. Fleas will be lured to the side of light and warmth. When jumping towards the light source, they will land in the trap below.
   • Place strong light or other heat generating bulbs near the trap to attract as many fleas as possible.
   • Make sure the light is stable and does not fall into the water. Use flea lights only in rooms where doors can be closed and do not allow other people / pets to enter while the lights are on.

2. 

   Shines light through a banana-green (yellow-green) filter. For some reason, fleas are more likely to be attracted to green light than other colored lights. You can increase the effectiveness of a flea luminaire by using a green-light banana light bulb or installing a green-yellow filter on a light with normal light.
   • Colored light bulbs are available in many stores and supermarkets.
   • You can find color and gel filters at camera accessories and art stores.

3. 

   Place the candle in the center of the plate. You can also use candle lamps to provide light and warmth to lure fleas into traps. Place a candle in the center of the trap and light it up before going to bed. When fleas try to access a light source, they will fall into a trap and drown.
   • Keep traps away from walls, fabrics and other ignitable materials.
   • Always be very careful and take precautions against fire and explosion when lighting candles.
   • Close the door to prevent other people and pets from entering the room while lighting candles.

4. 

   Place the indoor plant next to the trap. Fleas are attracted to CO2 and this is part of the mechanism by which they find a host. Since plants release CO2 at night, you can place a pot next to the trap to help lure more fleas.
   • Fleas in the pupal stage are especially sensitive to CO2, so this is a great way to catch small fleas before they lay eggs.
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Part 3 of 3: Preventing fleas in the home

1. 

   Bathing and grooming pets. Pets are the main culprit in bringing fleas into your home, so keeping your pets neat and clean can help prevent fleas from infecting in the first place. Here's how to take care of your pet:
   • Use a flea comb to brush pets' fur, especially on the neck and tail.
   • Stir the comb in soapy water after each brushing to kill the fleas.
   • After grooming, have your pet soak in the bath or spray with water on them.
   • Apply flea soap to your pet's fur.
   • Leave the soap on the pet's fur for a few minutes.
   • Rinse off the soap.
   • Repeat often in spring, summer, and autumn.

2. 

   Vacuum regularly. Adult fleas, eggs, larvae and flea nymphs can hide almost anywhere in the house, so you must vacuum 3-4 times per week to control them. Use a high-powered vacuum cleaner to suck fleas and eggs from crevices and crevices in your home. Use a suitable brush or suction nozzle attached to the vacuum cleaner to handle difficult-to-reach areas.
   • Vacuum floors, carpets, cupboards, furniture, around windows and especially around the places where pets are most frequented.
   • After vacuuming, take out the bag in the machine, put it in a plastic bag, tie it tightly and take out of the house immediately.

3. 

   Wash bedding, curtains, clothes and carpets clean. Fleas and their eggs cannot survive a single wash, so you need to put things that can be machine washed in the washing machine and hand wash something else. Set the washer to hottest water and dryer set to highest. Items to wash include: Items to wash include:
   • Blanket
   • Bed sheets
   • Pillowcase
   • Pillow
   • Shoes
   • Clothes
   • Pet toys
   • Pet's food bowl
   • Towel

4. 

   Consider using an insecticide. A flea infection can persist for months if you cannot get rid of all the fleas and their eggs. In severe cases, you should use an insecticide containing pyrethrin with an insect control product, such as Ultracide or Onslaught. Spray insecticides inside and outside your home.
   • Get everyone out of the house. Wear gloves, long sleeves, goggles and a respirator when spraying insecticide. Use a spray or aerosol spray to spray a thin layer on floors, walls, furniture, and all other indoor surfaces. Let the insecticide settle down before you let everyone in your home. Vacuum after 48 hours.
   • For outdoor treatment, you can spray or spray a repellent in your garden, over bushes, around tall grass, wooded areas, around windows and doors.
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